Shoup Airlines

Are You Saying I’m Fat?

For some odd reason I felt like frequenting Carl’s Jr. for lunch today. I guess I thought it was a good idea at the time, or maybe it was more like a ‘gee, I haven’t clogged my arteries there in a while’ thought. I ordered one of those stereotypical combo meals that includes fries and a drink.

Never having been one for the super sized portions, even in the “pre Morgan Spurlock” days, I order the medium version of said combo meal. After I finish paying, the cashier hands me my cup, which HAS to be a mistake.

“Oh? No, I ordered the medium, not the 128 gallon vat ‘o swig, my good man.”

Amazingly, this was lost in translation as I got the deer in the headlights stare.

“Are you sure THIS is the medium size cup?”

“Oh! Si! Jeth, thith is the right copa.”

“Okay?”

When in this great wide, 1,000 mph spinning, blue-green orb we affectionately call a world, did they decide that a medium cup is now 32 frelling ounces? That’s 4 soda cans to a medium cup! FOUR!!

And officials are baffled as to why the U.S. suddenly has an obesity problem!?

The High and Mighty Island in the Sky

This week’s edition is a two’fer! Paramount FINALLY released the DVD versions of two fantastic films adapted from Ernest K. Gann novels: The High and the Mighty, and Island in the Sky. If you’re asking yourself who Gann is, you’re not a pilot. However, you’ll soon want to be after reading one of his novels. Ernie was THE consummate pilot that wrote masterful stories of the sky, especially capturing the golden age of the airlines. His crowning achievement, Fate Is The Hunter.

The High and the Mighty stars John Wayne as the washed up first officer with a storied past that must corral the competent but worried captain, played by a very young Robert Stack, when their commercial airliner loses an engine mid-flight from Hawaii to San Francisco. One of the first movies filmed in Cinemascope, the cinematographers take full advantage, displaying the vastness and freedom of flying through the clouds. A bit on the long side, the movie does drag at times, but is still an excellent portrayal of all the struggles occurring on a plane that might not make it to shore. How often do you get to see a first officer actually bitch slap the captain, especially when it’s John Wayne giving it to Stack? The movie is well worth that scene alone!

Island in the Sky also stars John Wayne as the scruffy captain of a DC-3 flying for the Air Transport Command during WWII. Flying across the Atlantic, the crew encounters severe icing and have to put down in Labrador, where they find themselves in a battle against the elements to survive. The ensuing search employs a large cast of stars including James Arness and Andy Devine. Carl Switzer even makes an appearance as a co-pilot. Who, you ask? Carl Switzer is none other than ‘Alfalfa’ from Our Gang fame!

Island is by far the better movie of the two, if only for the Gooney Bird (I’m biased). The aerial photography is top-notch, even by today’s standards. They did an outstanding job of making the aircraft a main character. The real characters are also well developed and Gann’s writing skills shine brilliantly as you get sucked in till the very last drop.

Connelly, don’t even bother, it’s black and white.

Those Wild And Wacky Spectators

Some of the funnier signage throughout the marathon:

“Today, You Are All Kenyans!”

“Short Cut: This Way”

“Need Knee Replacements? Call Dr. Nick Riviera!”

“You Can Dooo Eeet!”

“Why?”

“Run, Forrest, Run!”

“Just Think Of All The Calories You’re Burning”

And the best line, yet most obscure:

“Is It Safe?”

A beer on me, if you know the reference. Dad, you don’t count, you already know it.