Hunt The Wind

          *     *     *     *     * Flag of Germany. Frankfurt Coat of Arms.       Frankfurt am Main. Frankfurt in the 1600's.       The airport ( Flughafen Frankfurt am Main ) had three unusual runways.   The average international runway length, I was discovering throughout the world, was usually 10,000 to 12,000 feet.   At Frankfurt all three runways were in excess of 13,000 feet.      Perhaps due to the U.S. Air Force Base ( Rhein-Main Air Base ) located on the south side of the field; where the monstrous C-5 Galaxies were loaded with troops and supplies for the wars in the Middle East.   Apparently, they needed the extra runway footage when operating at maximum gross weight. USAF C-5 taking off at Frankfurt. On Final Approach at Frankfurt.      In winter Frankfurt was also notorious for its fog with snow.  The exclusive international airport where I was required, upon occasion, to enter a holding pattern from backed up traffic because of the weather.      As for the city, it

            *     *     *     *     *     The Union Jack.   London's Coat of Arms.       Finally 20 th June 1988 arrived, and I got my first trip to London via Dubai.  Hooray!  I’d been champing at the bit for this trip.      And what was so special about this trip, dear reader?  Actually this:  With SAUDIA I had previously flown to London merely as a passenger or deadhead.  Never had I been allowed to pilot a flight into London Heathrow Airport. London Heathrow Airport. The Heathrow Airport is surrounded by important archeological sites.                             Taxiing “me” Big Top to the gate at Heathrow after landing.                    As luck would have it, I got to operate the leg from Dubai to London, and all went smoothly on this beautifully-clear spring day.  As London Approach Control had me intercept the localizer quite away out for Runway Two Seven Right (270°/090° magnetic, West/East) – deliberately slowing us down for traffic landing in front of us – allowin