By STAN KASPRZYK

FlightLog Archive

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Aircraft Flown

Ma's Birthday 737 BBJ - Jan 2014

Basing our Piper Warrior at the Renton, WA airport has its advantages. The airport is close to home, the runway is wide and long, and the facilities are good at Renton. One other side benefit is seeing brand new Boeing 737s rolling out and flying away at a very steady pace. As the monthly 737 production rate soars to 40+ a month, we rarely see the same aircraft on the ramp between weekend visits to fly our own airplane.

As we started discussing a potential 'larger aircraft' than our Warrior, to carry more kids/grandkids and fly a bit farther and faster, Ma brought up the following comment "Look at all those 737s out there. I really think that with all those thousands of 737s that Boeing's producing, they wouldn't miss just one! That's it - you need to get me a 737!"

OK, while I admit that Boeing salaries are respectable, the purchase, care and feeding of a personal 737 is slightly beyond my current salary level. But when Ma makes a request, Dad needs to 'find a way'!

Since a major birthday milestone for Ma was about six months away, I started making some contacts within Boeing Commercial regarding tours of the 737 production line, as a way to at least get Ma closer to a 737. I then noticed a fellow member of our church wearing a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) jacket, and mentioned my 737 tour goal, and he started working some contacts on the BBJ team. He went right to the top. I quickly got a response from the head of the Boeing BBJ team, who said I should forget about a simple 737 tour, and instead work with him to coordinate a BBJ walk-around. Now the BBJ is the ultimate 737 configuration, outfitted as a luxurious top-of-the-line business jet. This was now starting to shape up to be a fun event.

As Ma's birthday was nearing, I got advanced notice that a BBJ would be available on a Thursday, just before her birthday, at Boeing Field, just a few miles from the Renton airport. I quietly informed other friends and co-workers to meet me to help celebrate, take photos, and also enjoy a BBJ tour. I told Ma a story about joining me at Boeing Field 'to look over some options our partner has about modifications to our current airplane', and she bought the story. A day before the event, the BBJ team informed me the airplane was staying an extra day in Dublin, so we re-scheduled for Friday, which turned out to be a rare sunny, crystal clear day in January in Seattle!

As we arrived at the Clay Lacy hangar at Boeing Field, Ma still had no idea this was anything special. That is, until we entered the BBJ office area, with friends pointing cameras and videos at us, and a large sign proclaiming "Happy Birthday Mary, Enjoy YOUR 737".

We then proceeded into the glorious sunshine across the aircraft ramp, as we passed 'small' business jets (a LearJet, Gulfstream, etc.) on our way to Ma's BBJ. Although the 737 BBJ was impressive in size compared to the other jets on the ramp, the exterior paint job was clean but not ostentatious. The ostentatiousness started as soon as we climbed up the boarding ramp, however...!

We knew this was a special airplane as soon as we reached the top of the boarding ramp, since everyone onboard had placed their shoes in the entryway and were wiggling their toes in the plush carpeted floor. The BBJ team was still tidying up from the recent Dublin arrival, and they greeted us at the entry door with a very nice 'Happy Birthday' rendition as Ma came onboard.

As Ma took in the wide cabin, large couches and plush chairs, we proceeded to welcome her to 'her 737 BBJ'! Quickly taking the hint, Ma grabbed a magazine and stretched out on the huge couch near the entry door. Everyone marveled at the comfortable furniture, wood grained appointments and large screen display on the wall. Continuing the tour of 'her BBJ', we proceeded to the master bedroom, where we received the best quote of the day from from my chief engineer, who also joined us on the 'birthday present' tour. After checking out the luxurious master bedroom suite, his comment was "You've ruined First Class on American Airlines for me forever"! Ma was just as impressed with the master bathroom, which featured a standup shower and a bathroom area over five times the size of a regular airline First Class restroom, with impressive sink and cabinet touches. As we toured the farthest aft portion of the cabin, Ma was pleased to see a second bathroom and bedroom combination.

We next had to take control of the cockpit, with Ma commandeering the pilot-in-command (PIC) seat, while I settled in as her co-pilot. Ground power was on, so the displays were alive with information. Another tour guest, my partner in our Warrior, jumped into the PIC seat after Ma exited to enjoy more of the passenger cabin.

Back in main cabin, we checked out the plush seats around the conference table, and discovered the wine frig, which was of course well stocked. After an hour and a half of 'owning' the BBJ, it was time to reluctantly give the keys back. We took a number of exterior photos, with Ma proudly holding her sign, reading "Happy Birthday Mary, enjoy YOUR 737". A last photo was taken inside with a large scale model of the BBJ, and Ma's very expansive smile proved that owning your own BBJ, even for a few hours, can definitely add to birthday cheer.

Happy Birthday, Ma!