The Aircraft of MDT: KC-135 Stratotanker

Welcome to the twelfth regular installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

The KC-135 Stratotanker was the United States’ first jet powered tanker aircraft. Prior to its adoption in 1957, the U.S. Air Force’s primary tanker was the piston-engined KC-97 (also called the Stratotanker). The KC-97 served a vital role from the time it entered service in 1950, but it was not ideal for fueling jet aircraft. The fighters and bombers it typically served had to lower their speed and altitude in order to accommodate the relatively slow tanker. The jet-engined KC-135 solved this problem. Also, because the KC-135 operated on the same type of fuel that it was supplying to other aircraft, there was no need to keep the two supplies segregated. This change, along with its larger size, meant that the KC-135 could carry a fuel load more than three times the volume of the KC-97 (31,000+ gallons compared to 9,000 gallons).

Aft view of a KC-135. Note the boom control surfaces
extending above the tailplane.

The KC-135 Stratotanker was built by Boeing and is a sibling to their premier jetliner, the 707. The KC-135 is not a derivative of the 707; instead, both aircraft are derived from the 367-80 prototype that Boeing built in the early 50s. When the 135 was in development, it was known internally as “Model 717,” a designation that would later be used publically for the airliner that started life as the McDonnell Douglas MD-95.

The KC-135 Stratotanker employs a “flying boom” fueling system. This system uses a rigid boom that is lowered from the aft center of the tanker. The boom has flight control surfaces near its tip that allow it to be maneuvered by an operator aboard the tanker. Watching from a small window, the boom operator steadies the boom and extends it to mate with a receptacle on the receiver aircraft. Not all aircraft fit for aerial refueling are equipped for a flying boom system. The most common alternative system is the “probe and drogue,” in which a flexible hose with a cone-shaped drogue is lowered from the tanker, and the receiver aircraft positions itself to insert an extended probe. The boom on the KC-135 can be fitted with a drogue adapter that allows it to refuel aircraft of this type. In addition, some KC-135s have been outfitted with under-the-wing drogue refueling pods.

The KC-135 carries more than just fuel, too. It has an upper deck that can be outfitted to carry up to 83,000 pounds of passengers and cargo, depending on the fuel load. KC-135s have also been used by NASA. They have served as a platform in various research endeavors, and, until it was replaced in 2004, the KC-135 (minus the tanker equipment) functioned as NASA’s infamous “Vomit Comet.” Flown in parabolic arcs, the plane simulated weightlessness for astronaut trainees. One of the specially modified tankers was used to film scenes of weightlessness for the movie Apollo 13.

A KC-135 conducting touch-and-go maneuvers at MDT.

A total of 732 KC-135s have served the United States Air Force since 1957. That record makes it one of only six fixed-wing military aircraft (including the C-130) to have served for more than 50 years with their original operator. It is estimated that the fleet of KC-135s could potentially continue flying until 2040, but, since some of the aircraft would be more than 80 years old at that point, the Air Force has initiated a plan to replace them much sooner. In February 2011, a tanker based on the Boeing 767 was selected to fill the role of the 135. The new tanker, called the KC-46, is scheduled to enter service in 2017.

Your Turn - Parking Feedback

We're continuously pursuing what's important to our customers in their airport experience at Harrisburg International Airport.  This translates into making sure we have the amenities that are important to you!

Parking Garage at MDT

Would you mind taking a few minutes to share your thoughts on our onsite parking facilities by completing a short survey?  Your feedback would be invaluable to us!

MDT's Parking Questionnaire

Again, we thank you for your time and feedback and we look forward to seeing you in the coming days, weeks and months at MDT!  Speaking of customer amenities, are you a member of our airport loyalty program?  Check out Flyer Rewards before the next time you fly to/from MDT!

Many wishes for a safe and happy holiday season as we all travel to see our friends, family and loved ones this time of year.

The Aircraft of MDT: A-10 Thunderbolt II

Welcome to the eleventh regular installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

Although the only military aircraft with a permanent home at Harrisburg International Airport is the EC-130J, others are still a common sight. Several factors contribute to the preponderance of military air traffic at MDT: the size of the runway, the presence of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard base, and proximity to Joint Base Andrews. Some military craft come with business at the Guard base, but most come to practice “touch-and-go” maneuvers, in which the plane begins a landing, but then takes off again without ever coming to a complete stop.

One of the military aircraft you may see on the ground or in the sky around MDT is the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog.” The A-10 is a twin-engine, single seat jet used by the United States Air Force for close air support, attacking ground targets in support of nearby troops.

An A-10 Thunderbolt II parked at MDT

Named for the World War II era P-47 Thunderbolt, a fighter that served in a close air support role, the A-10 Thunderbolt II is the first U.S. Air Force aircraft designed and built solely for CAS. The USAF began planning for a new attack aircraft in the mid 1960s. By the early 70s, there were two prototypes competing to be that aircraft, the Northrup YA-9A and the Fairchild-Republic YA-10A. Ultimately, the Fairchild-Republic design won the contract, and production of the A-10 began shortly thereafter. The Air Force received its first A-10 in 1976 and 714 more over the ensuing eight years.

The A-10 can carry a wide variety and large quantity of air-to-ground and air-to-air weaponry, but its primary armament is the 19 foot long 30mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon. The GAU-8 weighs in excess of 4,000 pounds when fully loaded and fires at a rate of 3,900 rounds per minute. When fired from 4,000 feet, 80% of the rounds fired from the GAU-8 will strike within a 40-foot diameter circle. The Avenger cannon was developed for the A-10, and the A-10 is still the only aircraft that carries it.

Its close air support role demands that the A-10 fly in hostile territory at relatively slow speeds and low altitudes. As such, it is built to be extraordinarily hardy. The cockpit is surrounded by a 1,200 pound “bathtub” of titanium armor to protect the pilot from projectile weapons. All of the A-10’s fuel tanks are self-sealing, protected by fire-retardant foam, and designed to be isolated from the rest of the fuel system in the event of damage. All of the aircraft’s flight systems have redundant hydraulic backups and mechanical systems to fall back on in case both the primary and secondary hydraulic systems are disabled. In a worst-case scenario, the A-10 is designed to be flyable even when missing one engine, one elevator, one tail, and half of one wing.

One of the A-10s most distinctive features is its aft section, with its large engines and twin-tail configuration. With the engines placed high off the ground and behind the wing, the chance of foreign object damage is reduced when operating from damaged or otherwise sub-standard runways. The engine placement also supports faster turn-around time in combat. The wings on the A-10 are closer to the ground than they would be if the engines were mounted underneath them, making them more accessible to ground crews. Also, because the engines are out of the way, they can be left running while the aircraft is serviced and rearmed. The twin-tail also provides dual benefits. The most obvious is redundancy, but channeling the engines’ exhaust over the tail planes and between the vertical stabilizers reduces the A-10s infrared signature, making it harder to hit with surface-to-air heat-seeking missles. 

The Aircraft of MDT: EC-130J

Welcome to the tenth regular installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

An EC-130E taxis at MDT

Although the EC-130J Commando Solo operates all over the world, it has only a single home base, the Pennsylvania Air National Guard Base at Harrisburg International Airport. Utilized for psychological operations missions, exclusively by the 193^rd Special Operations Wing, the EC-130J is a specialized modification of the Lockheed Martin C-130J.

The United States Air Force issued the initial call for a new transport to replace aging World-War II era piston-engine aircraft in 1951. Ten design submissions were offered up by five companies, but the aircraft that ultimately filled the role was the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The first production C-130s were delivered in 1956. Since then, more than 2,300 C-130s have been built. Production of the latest version of the aircraft, the C-130J Super Hercules, continues, making it the only military aircraft ever to have remained in continuous production for more than 50 years with its original customer.

In the foreground,  an EC-130E, and in the
background, an EC-130J
(note the number of propeller blades on each).

The base model C-130 has gone through several design upgrades over the years. The C-130J is most easily distinguished from all of its earlier counterparts by the six-bladed propellers. The original C-130A had 3-bladed propellers, and subsequent models featured four-bladed propellers. Each design iteration has served as the basis for numerous variants, including gunships, tankers, and aircraft outfitted for search and rescue, weather reconnaissance, firefighting, and Arctic/Antarctic operations.

The EC-130J Commando Solo III (and, until the last one was retired in 2006, the EC-130E Commando Solo II) is a variant modified to broadcast television and radio signals over a wide area. The X-shaped antenna on its tail makes it easy to distinguish from other C-130s. At its maximum altitude of 23,000 feet, the EC-130J has a broadcast range of up to 194 miles. The psychological operations (PSYOP) missions of the EC-130(J) may involve broadcasting information to local people regarding US military operations, or in support of US military goals. Recently, the EC-130J was used in Libya to warn Libyan shipping vessels not to leave port during the international military intervention that took place in the spring of 2011. The EC-130J has also been used in support of civil affairs. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the aircraft broadcast a message from the Haitian ambassador to the United States, as well as information on where citizens could find aid.

An EC-130J parked on the PA Air National Guard Apron

If you look east from the Harrisburg International Airport terminal, you will usually see several of the 7 EC-130Js that have been built parked on the PA Air National Guard Apron.

Experiencing the Turkey Hill Experience

Today we share the first blog post of MDT staff member, Cheryl W.  She works in our customer and guest information department and has a passion for sharing her love of the local area with passengers and customers at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT).  Cheryl and a coworker recently took a tour of the Turkey Hill Dairy Experience and found it quite a delicious and delightful endeavor! 


Sitting vacant for nearly three decades, the building that formerly housed the historic Ashley & Bailey Silk Mill has become The Turkey Hill Experience.  You can find the Turkey Hill Dairy (THD) Experience conveniently located between routes 441 and 30 in Columbia, Lancaster County (Just 35 minutes from MDT).  Upon your arrival, you are promptly greeted by a familiar animal, the Turkey Hill Cow.  Although she doesn’t have a name, she is Turkey Hill’s famous traveling mascot.  You are now ready to begin your journey through the Turkey Hill Experience.

COMPANY:   The actual Turkey Hill Dairy is located 6 miles from” The Experience” in Manor Township.  Turkey Hill Ridge was given its name by the Susquehannock tribe for the wild turkeys they found there.  The Frey family obtained farm land on Turkey Hill from the sons of William Penn, Thomas and Richard, in 1817.   Fred and Alice Frey began working the farm, which included a small herd of dairy cows, 70 years later.  Their son, Armor, began bottling and selling milk from the dairy in 1931.   The first bottle of milk he delivered was to a family in Columbia.  Armor sold the dairy to his sons in 1947 and today his grandson, Quintin Frey, is the president of Turkey Hill. 



REGION:   Before entering the interactive exhibit area, you will first see exhibits featuring Conestoga Native Americans, Early Settlers, the Susquehanna River and dairy cows.  There are many different breeds of dairy cattle.  The Turkey Hill cow is a Holstein cow.  They are the most common breed of dairy cow in the United States and are well known for their high level of milk production.


PRODUCT:   As you enter the interactive exhibit area, you will learn about the history of tea.  Tea is the #1 beverage on earth.  Step inside an oversized tea bottle to find out how Turkey Hill iced tea is Cold Fashioned; every bottle is made cold, bottled cold, shipped cold and sold cold for freshness.  It is kept at 38 degrees protecting the taste and keeping it fresh until you drink it. Have a seat in the Chill Zone where you can watch an informative video. Smell different varieties of tea leaves as you move on to take a computerized personality test to find out what iced tea best suits your personality.  The many flavors of Turkey Hill iced tea are sold in over 45 states.  Turkey Hill is the Nation’s #1 selling refrigerated iced tea.


Now let’s move on as you become an ice cream maker and develop your own ice cream flavor creation. While moving through the ice cream making process, you can choose your ingredients, pick a name for it, design your package and star in your own commercial. Along the way, shoot a laser ray, slide down a chute and play in the ball pit.  Try to guess the ingredients of Turkey Hill ice cream flavors, practice filling batches of mix into cartons and step inside a mock freezer.  A highlight is getting to watch actual ice cream production on the dairy cam.  Turkey Hill is the #4 best-selling ice cream in the nation and is now sold in 26 states.  Taste a sample of ice cream and a have a sample of iced tea before having your picture taken inside an authentic 1960’s milk truck, but your experience won’t be complete until you pull up a stool to milk a lifelike cow.  


As your tour concludes, stop at the Creamery for more ice cream treats and Wi-Fi is free so you can share your experience online with friends on Facebook or Twitter.



Do you have a favorite Turkey Hill Dairy ice cream or iced tea flavor?  When will you be planning your trip to the THD Experience? 

Wondrous Wanders: Anchorage, Alaska

Today we feature the 7th post in our guest blog travel series.  This series highlights the favorite travel destinations that inspired wonder in each guest blogger as they wandered there.  Today's post is from Clayton Stambaugh and he's sharing about is his wondrous wanderings in Anchorage, Alaska.  Clayton is a graduate assistant at Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he's researching social media and airports.


I must admit, when I was made aware of my fiancee's invitation to be a bridesmaid in one of our high school friend’s wedding last December, I was greatly concerned.  Why the animosity on something so special?  Well, when I thought of the fact that this friend, an E-5 Staff Sergeant (SSgt) in the United States Air force station at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, I immediately started to calculate the potential cost in my head.  “We’re broke college students from Illinois”, I stressed to my future wife, “And, not to mention who would ever want to go to Alaska in the middle of the winter! Isn’t it dark the entire day?”

You would have thought I was being shipped to work on a crab boat.  In retrospect my assumption of Alaska is quite embarrassing. In my defense though, I had no conceptual framework of the State.  I was only slightly aware of the beauty and adventure Alaska held, and rather more familiar, unfortunately, with the horror that reality TV portrays it to be; and I’m not talking about Sarah Palin.

In the end I reluctantly let go of my lower 48 state predispositions. I swallowed my pride, paid my fare, and decided to make the best the situation as I boarded my flight to the unknown.

I recall arriving at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) around 12:00 p.m. Alaska time and snow was falling, much to be expected, as we pulled away from the terminal headed toward Wasilla where my friend lived.  It was extremely dark and hazy.  From what I could make out from the snow obscured streetlights was a beautiful white blanket that covered every imaginable surface.  I had been to northern snowcapped states in winter, but something was different as I stared into the deep black darkness faintly making out what appeared to be shadowing giants.  Those giants creeping in the darkness, were in fact mountains, which were made ever more apparent passing the famous star on the mountain pass.  As we pulled into my friend’s home, my attitude about the trip had completely changed, and I couldn’t wait to awake to daylight.

That morning, when daylight finally arrived, it was like a child awakening on Christmas morning as I hastily walked out the door of the house to see just where I had arrived.  Opening the door that day is nearly indescribable.  The smell, the sight, and the feeling are unlike anything I would have ever imagined.  I immediately realized this was a trip I would never forget.

It was the day before the wedding, and although everyone was caught up in the rush, I couldn’t help myself but absolutely live in the moment. The day was indeed madness, and everyone found themselves during the day setting up for the upcoming wedding and reception, held downtown Anchorage in the beautiful Marriot, yet shortly after it was time to celebrate the upcoming festivities.  Unfortunately I remember little of that night, it must have been the northern climate, but I do remember the world famous Chilkoot Charlie's a venue of nightlife that you cannot miss.

The wedding and reception the following evening was beautiful as expected and the short time in Alaska preceding proved to be just as memorable.  As a fan of Alaskan king crab I made it a personal ambition to go Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse featured on Man V. Food: Anchorage.  This was not a mistake.  The food was absolutely excellent, not to mention the vastness, much like that of the wilderness of Alaska, in beverages available.  Also, not to be expected being a proud supporter of possibly the greatest pizza in the world found in Chicago, I must admit the pies found at Mooses Tooth are something to contend with.  They’re not deep dish, or thin crust, yet the home brew provided will help anyone rethink the concept of pizza.  Trust me.  Do not miss this place.  I personally recommend the Blackened Rockfish: topped with a cajun-seasoned fish, diced red onions, diced roma tomatoes, zesty sour cream sauce, parsley, mozzarella, provolone, and garlic oil.

Although, due to money constraints and time issues my future wife and I never had the chance to visit the wilderness outside the Anchorage area in Alaska, but I can assure you this is the greatest destination I have ever ventured to.  The cost was minimal compared to the experience, and even though arriving late December when there was only three to four hours of sunlight provided, one of my initial concerns, the breathtaking hours of dusk reveals the “twilight” you can’t find in books.  In fact, I contend that the Anchorage area itself is enough to visit Alaska, and despite my initial unfortunate reservations, I long to return to the final American wild frontier of Alaska.

My unconditional advice is to use Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), or any other airport, as your gateway to adventure… Don’t let your presumptions get the best of you – the airport is your gateway to anywhere. 


Have you been to Alaska?  What about this beautiful, northern state has captured your heart?

Gobble up Thanksgiving Travel tips!

Thanksgiving travel is upon us! 

For those of you traveling to visit family for the holidays between now and the end year, we have a few helpful travel tips to fly your way!

The key for a successful and less stressful trip is to be prepared. By following these simple suggestions, traveling to/from Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), or any airport for that matter, will a bit easier and more convenient:

1) Be an informed packer!  Know the security rules before you pack. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a 3-1-1 campaign to educate travelers on the carry-on baggage restrictions. For specific details, visit www.tsa.dhs.gov before you pack your bags.

2) Keep flight info handy! Call your airline’s toll-free flight tracking phone number or visit their website to set up email/text alerts for updates on your flight before coming to the airport. Flight status information is also available on your airline’s website.

3) Arrive early! Arrive at a MDT parking lot about 90-minutes before your scheduled departure.

4) Know where to park! Follow the signs and park in the Long Term/Economy lot. Shuttle buses run (24 hours a day) every 8-10 minutes from the numbered shelters in the lot and brings you curbside at the terminal building.

5) Picking up a guest? When picking up a passenger arriving at MDT, please use our free cell phone lot until your passenger arrives. Federal security mandates prohibit parking along the terminal curbside. Only the active loading and unloading of a vehicle is permitted in front of the terminal building.

6) Don't wrap your gifts just yet! Regarding the holiday gifts and food you want to travel with: gifts packed in your carry-on and checked luggage should be unwrapped. Don't pack snow globes in your carry-on luggage, please put them in your checked luggage. Please be sure to review the TSA's policies for how to travel with holiday foods.

Finally, we ask that you bring patience and a smile! Generally the weather looks good nationwide for the upcoming holiday travel week, however delays can happen at any time. The airlines want to get you to your destination safely and on time, while the TSA has a responsibility to make sure that everyone getting on an aircraft is doing so without any prohibited items.

What do you still have questions about that we've not covered? 

Wondrous Wanders: Iceland

Today we feature the 6th post in our guest blog travel series.  This series highlights the favorite travel destinations that inspired wonder in each guest blogger as they wandered there.  Today's post is from Zach Sundquist and he is the Air Service Analyst at the Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford, IL. When he's not talking to airlines or other airports about new routes, Zach is exploring the world, spending time with friends across the country, or taking a road trip to a new city he's never been to.

In May of 2009 I had the opportunity to visit the most incredible place on Earth. Sitting near the arctic circle on the Mid-Atlantic ridge, the country of Iceland awaits. The task was to drive all the way around the island in seven days and see and do everything there is to see and do in Iceland. Needless to say I failed, because the fact of the matter is there isn't enough time in life to see and do everything there is in Iceland. The ever changing landscape is growing every year and every time you look away and come back something has changed. So allow me to give you a quick overview of some of the highlights of Iceland.

Once you touch down in Keflavik (35 miles outside Reykjavik) you really wonder if the pilot didn't take a wrong turn and you ended up on the moon. Lava fields stretch as far as the eye can see with a mountain range off in the distance. As you continue to drive you slowly start to change scenery as you enter Reykjavik and start to encounter about 75% of the country's population (Only 300,000 total).

For a quick visit there is plenty to do in the capital of Reykjavik. Take in a concert at Harpa, shop at one of the many boutique stores, eat a wide variety of seafood, and then party into the night at one of Iceland's many pubs and clubs. Reykjavik is always hosting some sort of Festival from fine arts to music and Film. In an effort to recover from the economic collapse of 2008 Iceland has been focused on inspiring tourism and has a campaign Inspired by Iceland (www.inspiredbyiceland.com). The President of Iceland is inviting you to a pancake breakfast with his family! How's that for hospitality! If a breakfast with the president is a little too personal for your tastes don't fear, there are many companies which offer one day tours of the Golden Circle where you can enjoy three of Iceland's most unique venues, Geysir, Gulfoss, and Thingvellir. All three are amazing and give you a quick glimpse at what this country has to offer.

Another great trip is only 45 minutes outside of Reykjavik and that is the Blue Lagoon. Who knew a power plant could be so fun as you soak in a geothermal pool. This is Iceland's number one tourist attraction. While it is a bit pricey, it is after all a tourist stop, you will leave feeling rested and rejuvenated.

If commercial tourism isn't for you, then head off into the countryside. Trust me, you won't regret it! Once you leave the Reykjanes Peninsula the views are astonishing, with your brain telling you this had to be computer generated because nature doesn't do this! Every fjord you encounter is unique and then coming out of a fjord and over a ridge you see a huge Glacier. Iceland is home to Vatnajokull, Europe's largest glacier. A little further down the road you encounter glacial runoffs and one of the most incredible sites in all of Iceland is the icebergs that have broken off from the glacier and are slowly making their way to the North Atlantic.

As you travel further in to the country you encounter Volcanoes around every turn and it is clear based on the lava fields and black sand beaches that this is an ever evolving landscape. My second favorite place in all of Iceland are the black beaches along the southern coast. They stretch for miles and being the only one standing on that beach with a mix of grays, green and black you literally feel as though you're on a different planet.

Heading north you come to Iceland's second city and my personal favorite, Akureyri. This little town in the far north of Iceland sits at the end of Eyjafjordur, one of Iceland's longest fjords. Surrounded by mountains it’s a great place for skiing in the winter and sensational hiking in the summer. A quick 45 minute drive from Akureyri is my favorite place in the world. Godafoss (Waterfall of the Gods). Here snowmelt and glacial melt run north from Iceland's interior to the Greenland Sea. While I've seen thousands of waterfalls, Godafoss has the most incredible power and beauty. It is a definite stop on any itinerary that ventures to the north of Iceland.

All in all if you are looking for a trip away from the norm, but incredibly scenic and cultural then Iceland is a place you must visit.

Have you ever visited Iceland?  If not, what about this post inspires you to visit this scenic destination?  Are you a fan of colder weather vacations?

Wondrous Wanders: Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Today we feature the 5th post in our guest blog travel series.  This series highlights the favorite travel destinations that inspired wonder in each guest blogger as they wandered there.  Today's post is from Sandy Ward on her wondrous wanderings on Vancouver Island.  Sandy is the Marketing Director at Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour in Mukilteo, Washington, just north of Seattle.  She has been a travel, tourism and hospitality professional for over 30 years.

I’ve been traveling for years for work and play, but I’ve never been a high adventure, “end of the road” kinda gal. Not till I discovered two British Columbia, Canada, destinations that redefine the word getaway. You cannot drive to either one, cell service is iffy, wildlife far outnumbers humans and the night sky is so littered with stars it looks like someone threw glitter onto black velvet. Let the adventure begin!

Eagle Nook Wilderness Resort is in Barkley Sound on Vancouver Island’s west coast. And because I’m not a roughing-it kinda gal, I was delighted to stay at this four-star resort with 23 beautifully appointed rooms and two cabins, all with water views. No phones or TVs in the rooms. Gourmet food. A fully-stocked bar. A spa.  Getting there is half the fun.  Float plane, water taxi or private boat are the only options.

On our first day within the first five minutes of Eagle Nook’s nature boat cruise, we spotted two black bears picking through the rocks at the edge of the bay. We were about a hundred yards away, far enough not to bother the bears plucking clams but close enough that my low-powered telephoto got a full-frame shot.

This was only the beginning of a day of wildlife sightings and full-frame photos. Decked out in bright orange survival suits (for warmth, I was assured, on the deck of our open air boat), we saw California sea lions lounging on rocky islands, harbor seals popping up and down in the water like jack-in-the-box. Whales, too -- humpbacks, then grays and a pod of orcas intent on showing us how high they could spy hop. I lost count of bald eagle sightings within the first half hour, and I will never forget Regal Eagle Princess. Our guide Charlie had trained her to sweep within 20 feet of the boat to snatch the bass he tossed in the air. Another full frame picture without the aid of a telephoto.

On a kayaking expedition our guide led us to a shallow channel where he pointed out oysters the size of a shoe, sea slugs that looked incapable of moving, cartoon-character bat starfish and orange sea stars that looked like they fell into a vat of Halloween dye.

I was so awed I wanted more and the resort laid out options that included fishing expeditions, heli-sightseeing, guided kayaking in the pristine Broken Group Islands and solo hiking on trails the Eagle Nook owners have cut through their 70-acres.

My other favorite BC escape took me a little further out of my comfort zone (must be a bucket list sorta thing) to an uninhabited island a half hour by boat from the northeast edge of Vancouver Island. God’sPocket Resort, they had me at the name.

Six days of kayaking -- would I be able to keep up? In the whale migration zone – what if the leviathans mistook my kayak for something edible? And, like, what else was there to do?

On day one our guide cautioned: "Mother Nature has veto power, so we can't promise whale sightings."  But on day three Mother Nature smiled on us, presenting a pod of orcas that passed within 100 yards of our kayaks. They were close enough to hear and smell (!) but far enough that I didn’t feel threatened.

Kayaking the next day, we came nose-to-nose with a seal sleeping on the rocks. From there we made our way to a gorgeous cove and our guides laid out a lunch that rivaled any hotel buffet I’ve ever seen. And as far as keeping up, we paddled in double kayaks, so when our boat lagged behind, I just blamed my partner.

And we didn’t paddle all day, every day. We hiked through old growth forests where our guides entertained with native lore and nature facts. During cocktail hour, seals popped up and down in the cove as if they wanted a glass of Chardonnay, too. One day I played hooky, totally permissible at God’s Pocket, and wandered solo along a rocky beach.

God’s Pocket’s rustic cabins won’t pass for five-star, but here, it feels right. The food, however, was many-starred. We dined family style on meals built around local fresh seafood and veggies and spent the evenings making new friends, playing board games and watching bioluminescence fill the bay as if God himself had emptied a pocket full of sequins.

Does Sandy's post inspire you to travel to British Columbia, or remind you of a trip you've taken there?  What about this destinations fascinates you?

Are You Inclined to Recline?

The great seat debate!

To recline or not to recline?  That is the question.

This remains a hot button topic going back through a number of years of air travel.  Should passengers recline their seats on a commercial flight?  Over the past few weeks we inquired on Twitter and Facebook to get a temperature on this topic.  The responses we received were passionate on both sides of the argument!  We've sampled a few of those answers below: 

Pros:

• Mark states, "My rule is more the timing... Do it early in the flight before beverage service on shorter flights, or on longer flights with a meal I wait until the meal service is over so they're not scrunched behind you trying to eat."
• Greg says, "OK, since we are doing etiquette, The recline is there, and free to use. Whether we use it is up to us. It truly depends on the aircraft I am on, if I use it. Some of the older CR aircraft are not that comfortable. Some of the new 170-190, I never need to recline. The common theme, if I want to recline, I will always look back, check the person behind me and let them know I am coming back a little..."
• Christopher shared this, "Well...I always look behind me first...and if the person doesn't look like they would be uncomfortable by my seat going back a bit, I just do it. (airplane manners??) My logic is, I paid for the seat (literally on some airlines), so if it goes back a few inches...I'm going for it if I need to rest. In first class it's never an issue. If the plane has WiFi (US Airways, AirTran, Delta, Southwest) or satellite TV (JetBlue, Virgin) I'm upright enjoying technology!"
• Lee Ann conveyed, "It's polite to warn and ask the person behind you first! Nothing like having a full tray suddenly unexpectedly in your lap. Think first if it was YOU in the rear!"
• Max says, "yes but SLOWLY... and if you're going to lean forward to eat, RAISE IT!"
• Timothy espoused, "Certainly, you payed for those extra several inches of room!"

Cons:

• Bob says, "If you clearly see someone behind you with long legs or working on a laptop then the answer is 'no.'"
• Susan's thoughts on the matter, "NO!!! Space is very limited. Every time the person puts their seat back I feel like it is an invasion of my space. Suck it up like the rest of us courteous people. I have noticed that the people that normally recline do not seem like frequent flyers."
• Dan indicates, "I personally do not use that feature because I dislike when others do and never inform you they are and if you have a drink on your tray at the time is can and does spill. Most people are not courteous to even ask or inform the person behind them they are going to recline there seat."
• Evan opined, "No unless no one is behind you. I almost never recline my seat anyway. I I am tired enough on a flight I will fall asleep no matter what position my seat is in. I fly 20,000-30,000 miles a year."
• Jeff shared, "Not okay. I avoid it because I fear being perceived as rude by the person seated behind me."
• Ryan said, "I tend not to. They don't go back far enough to be comfy and it just annoys the person behind you."

A number of taller passengers indicated that due their above average height, they needed to recline for more space, but didn't care for seats being reclined into their knees.  So they were honestly on both the pro and con side of the seat reclining topic!   We found responses to our inquiry to be nearly an equal split for and against the idea of seat reclining. 

So, where do you sit on this matter?  Are you inclined to recline?  We'd be interested in hearing what solutions you have that could remedy this great debate once and for all in everyone's favor. 

The Aircraft of MDT: Shorts 360

 Welcome to the ninth regular installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

A Shorts 360 on the AvFlight apron.

The Shorts 360 (SD3-60) was introduced as a 36-39 passenger aircraft in 1981 by the Short Brothers company of Northern Ireland. The 360 was a derivative of the company’s 30 seat Shorts 330, itself based on the Short SC.7 Skyvan, a 19 passenger airliner introduced in the early 1960s. Although the 330 and 360 share an otherwise distinctive boxy cabin and have similar dimensions, the 360 is easy to distinguish from its smaller sibling because of its tail. The 360 has a single vertical stabilizer, while the 330 sports an H-tail design. Manufacture of the 360 ended in 1991 after a total production run of 165.

Interior of a Shorts 360 converted
for use as a freighter.

Due to their large square fuselage, the Shorts 360 and its predecessors have been very popular as cargo aircraft. At Harrisburg International Airport, you may see the 360 near the west end of the property, at the facilities of AvFlight, the fixed base operator (FBO) at MDT. The 360 is used to pick up cargo for DHL Aviation.

Extra storage in the nose.

The United States Army also uses the Shorts 360. The military version is called the C-23B+/C Super Sherpa. It is cousin to the C-23A/B Sherpa flown by the US Air Force and Army National Guard, a military version of the Shorts 330. Interestingly, when the military buys 360s, they remove the single tail and restore the twin-tail and large rear cargo ramp of the 330.

The Aircraft of MDT: Cessna 208

Welcome to the eighth regular installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

A FedEx 208B Super Cargomaster seen through the
heat haze of the cargo apron.

The Cessna 208 is a single engine turboprop aircraft used for short-haul passenger and cargo flights. The original 208, the 208A Caravan, entered production in 1985. Shortly thereafter, in collaboration with Federal Express (now FedEx Express), Cessna developed the 208A Cargomaster and the 208B Super Cargomaster. The Super Cargomaster, 4 feet longer and using a more powerful engine than its smaller sibling, first flew in 1986. The passenger derivative of the Super Cargomaster, the 208B Grand Caravan, made its maiden flight in 1990.

There have been more than 1,000 208s built, across all of the variants. Of those, FedEx operates some 250, more than any other carrier. They, and other freight carriers, use the 208 primarily on feeder routes, carrying packages from small airports to hubs where they are transferred to large jet freighters like the Airbus A300. The Cargomaster can carry roughly 3,000 pounds of freight, and the Super Cargomaster, 3,500.

A Super Cargomaster operated by AirNet Express
is loaded with cargo.

The Caravan and Grand Caravan variants have standard passenger capacities of 9 and 14, respectively. They are commonly used as short-haul regional airliners. The 208, though, is an extremely versatile aircraft, and can be configured to a variety of specialized situations. The standard landing gear, for instance, can be replaced with skis or pontoons to enable landing on snow or water. The 208 is also popular as a skydiving plane; in this case, the cargo hatch can be replaced with a roll-up door.

At Harrisburg International Airport, Super Cargomasters can be spotted on the cargo apron, supporting the freight operations of both FedEx and UPS.

Wondrous Wanders: Santorini, Greece

Today we feature the fourth post in our guest blog travel series.  This series highlights the favorite travel destinations that inspired wonder in each guest blogger as they wandered there.  Today's post is from Dan Gellert on his wondrous wanderings in Santorini, Greece.  Dan is the CEO and Co-Founder of GateGuru, the leading in-airport mobile application for travelers.  In addition to his love of traveling and technology (hence GateGuru!), Dan enjoys outdoor activities, playing music and family. 

A little over a year ago, I visited Santorini with my wife as part of our honeymoon.  While this wasn’t my first time in Greece, this was my first time to the island of Santorini.  However, that trip will not be my last trip to Santorini.   In short, the island is the most perfect place I have ever been, and through that experience it has been elevated to my favorite travel destination.  Given that I have been to 6 continents and all 50 US states this is a big claim – so what specifically made Santorini my favorite travel destination?  In my mind, what made Santorini such a special place is the following:

Kirini Hotel

• Our hotel was right out of a dream.  Within Santorini, we stayed in the town of Oia, which is probably the most beautiful of the towns in Santorini (it is on the northwest coast of the island).  For those that don’t know anything about Santorini, the island was formed as a result of a volcanic explosion.  Many of the hotels, are basically carved right into the island, and as a result, they look like they are sitting on the edge of a cliff, creating amazing panoramic views of nothing but rock and blue seas.  Within Oia, we stayed at the Kirini Hotel.  We had the type of room where the doors opened up to a view of nothing but the deep blue Agean Sea – not a bad way to open your eyes in the morning!  Apart from the room, the hotel (along with many hotels in Oia) made sure our every desire was met and on our final night we had “The Experience Dinner”.  This aptly named dinner involves a 5-course meal where the diners are sitting on a jutted out part of the main balcony, creating a paradigm where it feels like you are the only two people in the world.  Simply amazing. 
• Lots of fun outdoor activities.  While I enjoy some beach time, I am not the type of person who can spend a week on a beach.  Luckily, on the island of Santorini there are so many fun and exciting activities.  One day we rented an ATV and went beach hoping to explore the island.  Another day we took a hike from Oia to Fira (the main town in Santorini) and another day we did a wine tour (there are lots of great Greek wines!).  Finally, we had one day to do nothing but sit by the infinity pool by the hotel (have I mentioned how much we liked the hotel J).  Overall, Santorini was a great mix of relaxation and activities, something that I would consider a requirement for my favorite travel destination.



Infinity Pool

• Worlds Best Sunset.  The sunset on Santorini is simply unlike anything I have ever seen before.  In short, it is the world’s best sunset.  Every night the people on Santorini go to the northern most tip of the island and everyone watches the sunset together.  The beauty of the Santorini sunset was one of those amazing moments that I will never forget in my lifetime.  

World's Best Sunse

The 4 days and 3 nights we spent on the island of Santorini were some of the most memorable of my life.  Despite my preference to constantly travel to new places, Santorini is one place that I will return to  in the coming years and I hope you have the chance to visit the island as well!

Have you been to Greece, specifically Santorini?   What have been your favorite aspects of traveling to this exotic destination? 

Wondrous Wanders: San Francisco & Paris

Today we feature the third post in our latest guest blog travel series.  The series highlights favorite travel destinations that inspired wonder in the guest blogger as they wandered there.  Today's post is from Benet Wilson about her wondrous wanderings in San Francisco and Paris.  Benet self-describes as a Mother; Multimedia journalist; aviation geek; excessive traveler; NABJ & ONA member; social media goddess; quilter; and your 'Aunt Benet!'  Find out more about Auntie Benet online!

I’ve been traveling since I took my first trip on an airplane – Pan Am, JFK Airport to London Heathrow – when I was six years old.  And truth be told, I haven’t slowed down since.

I’ve traveled the world, including Brazil, spots across Europe, Israel, Singapore, Seoul and even to Greenland (that’s for another post). When I was asked to pick my favorite place to visit, it proved to be a daunting task. So I’m not going to choose – I’m picking two.

First, is the city of my heart – and my birth – San Francisco.  Tony Bennett sums it up best:

I left my heart in San Francisco

High on a hill, it calls to me.

To be where little cable cars
Climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air
I don't care!

It has everything you want in a city – arts, culture, tourism, shopping, world-class dining, sports and funky neighborhoods, including the largest Chinatown in the United States.  The city makes a fortune selling sweatshirts, because, to (allegedly) quote Mark Twain “The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco.”

Three things you MUST do in the city by the Bay: eat a meal at Hang Ah Tea Room, which serves fantastic dim sum, tea and Chinese desserts; visit The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which has a world-class collection; and ride on the cable cars. Yes, it’s tourist and hokey, but it’s also a great ride and a wonderful way to see the city.

I told you I was doing two, and my second choice is Paris.  I vaguely remember going when I was in elementary school, but I went back as an adult in 1995 to cover my first Paris Air Show.  I was over there for almost 2 weeks for other work-related things, so I got a small taste of what it was like to be a Parisian.  I ate breakfast at a patisserie every morning, and spent time in the ubiquitous French cafes and bistros. 

I am an art museum fanatic and my favorite, by far, was the Musée d'Orsay, home to a wonderful collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings.  I also took a half day of cooking lessons at Le Cordon Bleu, visited the Rodin Museum, shopped at the many flea markets, took mass at Notre Dame Cathedral and ate a superb meal at Guy Savoy’s little bistro – great food at a fraction of the price of his three-Michelin-starred restaurant.

So you can’t go wrong at either of these world-class cities.  Enjoy your travels! 

Have you traveled to either of these fantastic cities?  What are some of your favorite spots to get lost in wonder in San Francisco and Paris?

The Aircraft of MDT: Airbus A300/A310

Welcome to the seventh regular installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

A UPS A300 freighter with its cargo doors open.

In 1967, the British, French, and German governments signed an agreement and began designing a new aircraft that would serve as an alternative for airlines interested in replacing their Boeing 727s. The company that resulted from that initial agreement was Airbus Industrie, and the aircraft would become the A300.

The first A300s entered commercial service in 1974. Four years later, Airbus began designing a shorter variant, then known as the A300B10. The ultimate designation of the new variant, which entered service in 1983, was A310. The A310 carries about 25 fewer passengers than the A300 and improves upon the range, able to travel 6,800 kilometers to the original A300’s 6,600. Also entering service in 1983 was the A300-600 variant that borrowed several of the A310’s advances, including a glass cockpit and new tail section design. The last A310 was delivered in 1998, and the last A300 in 2007.

UPS and FedEx A300s wait on the cargo apron.

Both the A300 and A310 were available in passenger and freight configurations. It is the freighter versions of the two airliners that you will see at Harrisburg International Airport. FedEx Express and UPS Airlines both maintain operations at MDT, and both airlines typically have at least one A300/310 parked on the cargo apron.

Finally, though it would be an unlikely sight in Harrisburg, no discussion of the A300-600 would be complete without noting that it serves as the basis for one of the world’s oddest looking airplanes.

A FedEx A310 touches down.

Airbus has manufacturing plants all over Europe, so to bring the pieces of their planes together for final assembly, they employ five Super Transporters. Known as the Beluga, for its oversized white body, the A300-600ST has the second largest cargo capacity by volume of any aircraft in the world.

Wondrous Wanders: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Today is the 2nd post in a guest blog series featuring some of our social media aviation community members. The series highlights the favorite travel destinations that inspired wonder in the guest blogger as they wandered there. Today's post is from Kristin Vanderhey Shaw.  She works for SITA and self-describes as loving her baby boy, airplanes, airports, classic cars, sports, Italy, and dessert; not necessarily in that order.

There’s something special about Halifax, Nova Scotia. This was my third trip to Halifax, and I count it as one of my favorite places in the world. As I wandered the streets recently for a few precious hours before my meetings began, I tried to put my finger on what it was. It’s not just the quiet elegance of the city, nestled in a now-popular cruise ship port. It’s not just the abundance of lobster, which is exported on 747s around the world. It’s not just the Halifax-Stanfield airport, which has clearly established a sense of place through natural décor, gift shops, and restaurants that reflect its personality. It’s not just the people, who are as friendly as you would expect from a Scottish-heritage town. It’s all of these things and then some.

Traveling to Halifax is not going to include a hopping night life and 5-star hotels and restaurants. The Westin is a little worn, but the rooms are clean and comfortable, the room service is well above par in terms of service and food (the crab cake and spinach-strawberry-goat cheese salad are excellent), and the chef called me personally to ensure that he understood my food allergies before proceeding.

Go to Halifax in the fall and wonder at the jewel tones of autumn in crimson, amber, and gold. Drive along the shores, and walk among the locals in town. You’ll find that you can learn how to navigate very quickly… up to the Citadel, and down to the boardwalk. Grab a lobster roll from Murphy’s on the water, and don’t forget to stop at the stand outside for a Beaver Tail (a delicious whole-wheat pastry fried and topped with various treats; I prefer the simplicity of cinnamon-sugar and lemon). In the evenings, seek out a local bar where you can hear lilting Celtic music and dance along, or watch the Halifax Mooseheads hockey team, a Quebec Junior Major League team with 16- and 17-year-olds training for the NHL.

If you have time, there are some fantastic quick trips you can take from Halifax, including Peggys Cove, the Swissair memorial site, and Lunenburg. If you’re an aviation buff, don’t miss the Swissair 111 site, a gorgeous piece of landscape just around the corner from Peggys Cove. Swissair 111 was lost in 1998 roughly five miles from the spot where the memorial site sits today. The site itself is not remarkable; it’s the serenity and natural beauty of the area that gives it an ethereal quality. For more information on the memorial site, click here.

From the Swissair site, follow the road around to the Peggy’s Cove lighthouse, which is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. A photographer’s paradise, if you’re lucky enough to catch it on a foggy day, you’ll find enough material here to fill a coffee table book.

Lunenburg is a picturesque village on the shores of southwest Nova Scotia, about 80 km from Halifax. Deeply mired in Maritime culture, the heritage of the town is easy to spot in the “widow’s peaks” (also called “Lunenburg bumps”) the fishermen’s wives used to look out from the tops of their houses to watch for their husbands’ return from the sea.

The Bluenose II is being completely refurbished in a warehouse in Lunenburg. You can tour the site and see how the restoration is coming along and see a piece of history in progress: the original Bluenose is featured on the Canadian dime.

Also famous is this seaside town is Iron Works micro-distillery, offering tasting tours and bottles for sale of their molasses-finished rum with a warm, smooth finish. They also sell silky-smooth blueberry, cranberry, and raspberry liqueur. In case you can’t make it to Lunenburg from Halifax, you can purchase these potables at the Bishop Cellar, just off the boardwalk in Halifax, and they will package them up properly for checking your bag or shipping.

You may not find the connection to Halifax that I have, but I’d be surprised if you didn’t. If you get the chance, visit this corner of North America and let yourself be carried along by the song of Atlantic Canada.

Have you been to Nova Scotia, specifically Halifax?  What did you enjoy most about your visit to this city?  If you've not been there, do this post inspire you to a future visit?