Almost a day Late 911 - Where were you?

[AAFO_WSagar]

I kick myself for nearly forgetting that day!

I think it is important to remember it so I'm going ask...

Where were you that morning in 2001?

Neal, Birgitta and I were sharing a sponsored (sort of) Cruise America "motorhome" in the generously donated space behind John and Jan Parker's American Air Racing Hangar.. I was scheduled for a backseat photo session in the T-6 pace plane, Neal and Birgitta had already gotten up, I love to sleep in, I opened up the door of the motorhome and I'll never forget Birgitta walking up.. "do you hear how quiet it is" "do you know what happened"

Then we went into Parker's hangar and saw the reality of it all on live TV

OK Hopefully not opening any wounds I just think it's worthy of remembering

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: Almost a day Late 911 - Where were you?

I was in the Al Goss "Warlock" pit & Al wanted to get some of the T6 drivers to go up & do a missing man formation & he was informed that nothing leaves the ground. Sad Day but well remembered.

[Leo]

Re: Almost a day Late 911 - Where were you?

At work, waiting to head to Reno the next day. Cancelled and stayed at work that week.

[Fence Sence]

Re: Almost a day Late 911 - Where were you?

I was on my way to my office to wrap up a few loose ends before I headed out to Stead. My plan was to be out there by 11am that day. Obviously things took a turn before I got there.

[Fawkes]

Re: Almost a day Late 911 - Where were you?

On duty at Memphis ARTCC. Phone from the Command Center in DC rang right as a controller returning to position told us what was on the news. Got everyone on the ground and then they sent me home so I could turn around and come back that night to liaison with the military as we continued to stabilize the system. While the shutdown itself was hectic and intense, that overnight shift was the one that left me exhausted - both mentally and physically.

Guessing most of you have seen this (or something similar) but still a cool visual of the shutdown...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh4V9PZT2VY&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3Zt2G3B_pzHL8-boFDGTHuF8yR0M1HiHu0iTn0hCy2jdNHpFgFsSUw_9I

James

[Reno Box 77]

Re: Almost a day Late 911 - Where were you?

I was on the runway (at O'Hare) waiting to take off (for Reno) and we sat their for an extended period of time, finally the Captain announced that we had been ordered off the runway. we pulled off and taxied to waiting area. Finally people were allowed to use their cell phones and we found out what had happened. A few minutes later Captain came on and said everything was on hold pending current situation. Minutes later Pentagon was hit. We sat on the plane for an 1:30 minutes, all of a sudden pilot told everyone to sit down we were going to be moving as soon as everyone was strapped in. We taxied back to a gate deplaned and were met by swat team that was locked and loaded. We were scrutinized by the team as we got off an told to wait in the boarding area till everyone was off and we would proceed as a group. After everyone was off we were escorted back through the concourse which was deserted, food was sitting on tables it looked like everyone in/on the concourse had disappeared (see Steven King movie Langoliers). We we re taken to baggage claim area which is where everyone was moved to. I later learned they were interested in our plane as it had came to Chicago from New York.
Hung out in baggage claim to see if flights would resume, no joy so returned home (2 hours from O'Hare). Rebooked for next day in hopes things would resume. Returned next day couldn't get into airport, went to local hotel hung out in the lobby watchin television hoping for return to flying, no joy with that. Cancelled all reservations and as they say the rest is history.

[airtj]

Re: Almost a day Late 911 - Where were you?

I was leaving for my LDS mission to NY, took off from SLC that morning and had a lay over in Denver. We saw the news on the TV that the twin towers have been hit. Had to wait a while before heading to NY. Was able to to visit ground zero a couple of weeks after, was very quiet and surreal. Heavy police a military around the area with there weapons on there back. I will have to see if I can find my pictures that I took.

[Bigger Al]

Re: Almost a day Late 911 - Where were you?

I was doing the daily routine thing. I got up, started coffee, and turned on the news to see what was up, and the images stopped me in my tracks. It had only been about 15 minutes since the first plane hit, and I sat spellbound, not believing what was transpiring. I roused my wife out of bed, and we watched until it was time to head off to work. It was really difficult to come to grips with the fact that my daughters, then 11 and 9, were going to grow up in a very different world than the one we grew up in.
The shop radio and the office TV were tuned into the news, and the entire work day was cloaked in a deep sadness, followed by an anger that most thought themselves incapable of. There was a sense of unity that I fear will never again be felt in the United States of America.

[TWD]

Re: Almost a day Late 911 - Where were you?

Was in the back of a 757 from Philly to Pittsburg with my pilot wife. We were going to day 1 of simulator training for the 737-200. Heard what happened in the terminal when we landed. Ended up catching a ride back home to Philly with someone who had rented a car. We actually did that first sim ride a week or 2 later, then moved to California while awaiting the coming furlough. Found life was good in California so never went back to the airlines.
TJ

[IcePaq]

Re: Almost a day Late 911 - Where were you?

Moved to orlando that april to attend Comair Aviation Academy. Got an apartment in the same complex as most of the instructors and students and got a job at toyota until the start of school.

Was working on a Celica GTS someone had mis-shifted and blew up the engine when I heard the news of the first plane. I answered "no big deal.....someone once hit the empire state building and it wasn't that bad."

I figured it was an accident so I kept on working until I noticed nobody left in the shop so I went to the waiting room just in time to see the second plane hit. I worked the rest of the day and called my Ex. who worked at the pentagon when I got home. She was outside smoking in the parking lot when someone said "that plane is hauling ass". She said she thought she saw parts coming off it before it went out of view and hit. Almost all of the observers were in the parking lot but I don't think any were on the face that the plane hit.

The next few weeks, I watched the instructors who used to strut around now driving with a domino's delivery light on the roof. Harsh way to pay off a 60 grand student loan.

I took it as a sign that I'm not supposed to fly commercial after also having eastern airlines fold in 1988/89 while I was in the "eastern airline pilot entry program" and the navy trying to tell me at the physical for nav/cad that I will fit fine in navy fighters. Dad was skeptical so we went off to his flight surgeon and he confirmed my 38 inch inseam disqualified me for most planes because I couldn't fit in the sizing jig.

[wadeh]

Re: Almost a day Late 911 - Where were you?

I was in my office at work, wrapping things up to head to Reno the next morning.

We actually kept our plans for heading down. We drove down on Wednesday and were in the stands early Thursday morning. My logic was that, even with aviation shut down, the races would be allowed to fly in their well-defined box.

I would call my logic flawed, except that I wasn't the only one with that line of thinking. After some delay, they launched a Formula 1 heat and I thought that we'd see some racing, but they were quickly called back and that was the closest that we got to racing. If I remember right, they did have some military planes do some fly-bys. On Friday, we went out to Virginia City. On Saturday, we took a leisurely drive back to Seattle, with some side exploration down some Forest Service roads in Oregon.