Yes Ward ..

 WD> The Hawker Siddeley 748 is not a private jet but a 42-
 WD> 50 passenger propeller plane which was heavily used in 
 WD> both military and civilian versions.
 WD>  
 WD> I've flown in it often.

As noted below my personal recall was the DH125 but the quote was taken
directly from the book-cited 748 on which you answered me.

 ML> It was during this time of high adventure that
 ML> Howard Hughes discovered
 ML> Watergate.  He was looking at a picture of an airplane in the London
 ML> Express when he noticed a story about the crisis he had unwittingly
 ML> caused.

 WD> As far as I know Howard Hughes name is nowhere even 
 WD> near-connected to Watergate.

I was quoting from the book here as well.  Another very close friend of
mine from college days at Texas A&M University back in the 60's was
surprised at a comment or two from the book on what you and I were
discussing here when I mentioned your reply in the echo.  His name is Mike
Clifford -- a very highly skilled hydraulics system engineer and
specialist.  He is also another high time pilot .. and as well ...

From long ago helping the then long ago as well pilot for the Goodyear
Blimp to get his instrument rating even earlier .. Mike got to fly the
blimp! The Goodyear Blimp was at that time hangered in Spring, Texas, where
both of these guys lived then and that's how that sort of came to be.  Mike
told me a week or so ago that he found out that the book "Citizen
Hughs" has been re-printed in paperback and can be bought now
directly.  He ordered a copy and has it - is reading it.  Is getting really
surprised about all that is there on things as well.

 ML> I'd recalled this as a DH125 some twenty years
 ML> after reading this book but then - my appologies.

 WD> The DeHavilland DH125 on the contrary is a very 
 WD> successful businessjet also marketed as Hawker 
 WD> Siddeley HS125 and as Hawker Raytheon 800.

I'm no expert on any of this.  Get caught in the crosswind as do all of us
at times on these journeys!  Chuckle.

 ML> " Stary stary night ..
 ML> amber fields of violet haze ..
 ML> very first time in public.

 WD> Make that Don McLean and I'm with you.


Correct.  Our company controller Charles Blieke who was with me at the
table then in Iowa was music related too.  His son was the rock band leader
whose band fronted for The Eagles.  Charles was the guy who did the
bookings and payments and all for them until .. one day The Eagles never
flew in from the West Coast and poor Charles went broke when he had to pay
off all the guarantees .. refunds, whatever.  He had to file bankruptcy. 
Wound up working for us as our controller after that.

Another aviation related comment from Charles which took me by surprise was
that the air taxi outfit who furnished the Lear that The Eagles used really
hated that contract.  Charles told me they absolutely hated having to clean
up all the residue from the sicky pooh in that Lear after many of the trips
with them post show and smell.

But .. that's not a personal observation, just from what he told me..


--> Sleep well; OS/2's still awake! ;)

Mike {at} 1:117/3001

--- Maximus/2 3.01