Yeterday I did film the takeoff of the PH-BFU at runway 24. It was flight KL685 to Mexico City departing EHAM at 15.40hrs.
I do know the captain since a while. I did place a new bed at his home. When the work was done we had a long time of drinking coffee.
It was a nice and interesting conversation. I promised him to film some of his takeoff's and landings with the Boeing 747.
This remarkable pilot is for almost 20 years captain at the KLM 747. At this moment he has to do about 9 flights before he will retire.
After he entered the cockpit he contacted me several times about the clearance. So I was sure of the cleared runway for takeoff.
He departed at runway 24 and I was standing at the right place to catch him. He also gave a sign with the landing lights by turning on the runway.
Very cool when you know it's a signal for you.
This captain started flying in 1969. In 1972 he went to the KLS. After getting his Flyinglicense there was at that moment no work for him at the KLM.
So he went flying in Surinam as a privat pilot,flying the Dornier 28 and Cessna 206. This was also for keeping his license.
In 1978 he entered the company of KLM. At first as Co at the F27,and later as captain. In 1984 captain at a DC9 and 1986 captain 737.
Since 1991 he's captain at the Boeing 747-400. And that's aperiod of almost 20 years!
His father has also been a 747 captain. Beatiful,is'nt it?!
This old wingman did fly from 1947 till he retired in 1981. He did fly the old aircrafts like the DC3, Convair and Connie,but also the Electra,DC8 and DC9.
And the last period till 1981 he was captain at the Boeing 747.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7gU-riDKX4[/youtube]