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It's like déjà vu, all over again!
May. 22nd, 2004 01:41 pmI stumbled across some shots of me that were taken during the Antonov offloading operation back on May 11.
Immediately upon the conclusion of customs formalities after landing, a small swarm of people boarded the aircraft to photograph the seals on the containers of ground support equipment. As you can see from the photograph, it's fairly roomy inside the cargo bay of the Antonov 124 (NATO code name: CONDOR), and I can tell you that the kinds of planes I am rated to fly, such as the Cessna 172, would fit easily inside, facing in the same direction as the direction of flight.
Among the photos taken during the offloading operation was one of me and some of the other members of the launch team just before going aboard the Antonov. I'm the one in the outlandish straw hat.
As we went aboard the aircraft, the pilot invited us to visit the cockpit. Now I ask you, what normal technically driven person would give up such an opportunity? So, after photographing the seals, me and the guys I was with went up to see the cockpit. (Even though I'd done this before during the last campaign, I went upstairs again...)
Unfortunately, the flight crew was still engaged in some postflight tasks on the flight deck, so our visit was brief. I got this shot of the co-pilot doing some paperwork.
And one of the team members caught me and one of the DTSA reps standing in the back of the cockpit compartment:
DTSA, by the way, is the Defense Trade and Security Administration, which apparently is along on the campaign to make sure U.S. export control regulations are enforced with regard to preventing "technology transfer" out of U.S. hands (part of the reason, I imagine, for the seals on the cargo containers and definitely the reason for the fairly impressive security arrangements around here). As far as I can tell, the checks and precautions are being undertaken on a доверяй, но проверяй (trust everyone, but cut the cards) basis.
* * * Olga F. reports that she is also having trouble calling home, and that it doesn't matter what time of day or night, apparently, the attempt is made; the line seems to always be busy.
* * * Among the issues resolved among managers recently is that visits to town will be accompanied by intepreters (or, if I heard the explanation correctly, by "bilingual personnel," which technically could include not simply us interpreters but members of the support staff who work in the office next door as well).
Another issue resolved is what I will be doing tomorrow. I am scheduled to go with campaign participants to Baikonur city for most of the afternoon. I am looking forward to the trip.
Cheers...
Immediately upon the conclusion of customs formalities after landing, a small swarm of people boarded the aircraft to photograph the seals on the containers of ground support equipment. As you can see from the photograph, it's fairly roomy inside the cargo bay of the Antonov 124 (NATO code name: CONDOR), and I can tell you that the kinds of planes I am rated to fly, such as the Cessna 172, would fit easily inside, facing in the same direction as the direction of flight.
Among the photos taken during the offloading operation was one of me and some of the other members of the launch team just before going aboard the Antonov. I'm the one in the outlandish straw hat.
As we went aboard the aircraft, the pilot invited us to visit the cockpit. Now I ask you, what normal technically driven person would give up such an opportunity? So, after photographing the seals, me and the guys I was with went up to see the cockpit. (Even though I'd done this before during the last campaign, I went upstairs again...)
Unfortunately, the flight crew was still engaged in some postflight tasks on the flight deck, so our visit was brief. I got this shot of the co-pilot doing some paperwork.
And one of the team members caught me and one of the DTSA reps standing in the back of the cockpit compartment:
DTSA, by the way, is the Defense Trade and Security Administration, which apparently is along on the campaign to make sure U.S. export control regulations are enforced with regard to preventing "technology transfer" out of U.S. hands (part of the reason, I imagine, for the seals on the cargo containers and definitely the reason for the fairly impressive security arrangements around here). As far as I can tell, the checks and precautions are being undertaken on a доверяй, но проверяй (trust everyone, but cut the cards) basis.
Another issue resolved is what I will be doing tomorrow. I am scheduled to go with campaign participants to Baikonur city for most of the afternoon. I am looking forward to the trip.
Cheers...
