World's largest cruise ships on trials

[airboatr]

A, "Stossel" decked hull variant, foot steer, aircraft engine powered (Franklin 140) .... She was a beut. ... I miss her

[Airspeed]

I see.
When I was younger, they were known as Swamp Gliders.
I even got a model of one by sending in cereal box tops and some cash.
It was moulded in khaki plastic, with a rubber band powered 4 bladed prop.
I used to zoom it across puddles in the garden.
The real one looks the goods!
Why don't you still have it, Joe?

[airboatr]

Hi Mike,
... When I was knee high to a grasshopper there was a TV series called Gentle Ben. Stared Dennis Weaver and Clint Howard.. I used to think about what it would be like to ride airboats and muck around the swamp.. And although I never made definitive plans to do those things they came to pass... Amazingly enough.
.. I should dig up some photos of our camp out in the swamp. It was real nice (I'll explain "was" later)....
The airboat went years back... crimany.. . 18 years ago.
I had a severe back injury in 98... So that was that.. I gave up all my photography gear even. Just can't be bothered with all that... Anyways no hopes of ever getting back out to camp. The glades have been taken away from us. A lot of reasons why they say... But then with all the pythons taking over out there.. I'm not sure about sharing my bunk with one of them.
.. Mike.. They eat alligators!

btw I wanted a airboat model back when I was a kid watching Gentle Ben with my parents.. I got a rubber band powered balsa wood airplane ... (stop laughing Booker.. It wasn't very funny).. Anyways I got the last laugh.. I grew up to fly the real ones.. Still do.

[Airspeed]

Sorry about your back, Joe.
Wise move, giving those pythons a wide berth!
Get those old photos out...
What do we want?.....PHOTOS!
When do we want them?......NOW!
What (etc)

[airboatr]

Hi Mike,
probably not till Sunday... I'm loaded with all sorts of things.. Managed to finally replace the window motor in my van last night. Which has been on the list for months...
I haven't been on FS for...
... was supposed to be testing something on that too... Missed the freebie of that Ireland scenery mentioned yesterday.. I tried on my tablet but couldn't get past the new account page. Some luck that was.

[Paul K]

Missed the freebie of that Ireland scenery mentioned yesterday.. I tried on my tablet but couldn't get past the new account page. Some luck that was.

I wouldn't worry too much about that, Joe. So far, the only thing I've successfully downloaded is the confirmation email. It's a very nice email of course, and it was free, so I shouldn't grumble.

[airboatr]

Paul,
I left a comment in the payware forum thread because we're pushing the limit on changing subject per thread topic ....

[Steve M]

Now there's a thread to evoke some memories.
I joined the Methane Progress as a first trip Deck Cadet in 1979 on the Canvey to Arzew run but mid trip we had a dry dock in St Nazaire.
I still have vivid memories of cold spotting in her ballast tanks for frost patches where the tank insulation had broken down. I knew the thing inside out by the time I paid off.
I also served on Alinda which was one of the Midships and Aft "A" class. Another very happy ship. Some very fond memories of time on Shell Ships.

Steve M

[DaveB]

Paul,
I left a comment in the payware forum thread because we're pushing the limit on changing subject per thread topic ....

I'm not exactly sure where this thread is now Anyway.. on the tankers theme.. I remember being a nipper on one of our many weekend excursions (probably in the Reliant 3-wheeler though it may have been a coach trip) we ended up at Barry Island of all places. My memories of it are vague but for one thing. Dad always got 'twitchy' when close to the sea and on this occasion, he dragged us all down to the docks and blagged his way onboard this old girl (she wasn't old then).. BP British Trust


My mom, who could feel sea sick paddling in the sea, wasn't overly impressed

Looking briefly at BT's history.. it appears she may have been intended to be launched as British Thrush but the lady doing the 'I name this ship..' called her British Trust and that's how she stayed. There are variations on the theme too and no firm evidence supporting any of the theories but 'Trust' stayed
ATB
DaveB

[Airspeed]

Hi Dave
I'd forgotten all about the 3 wheeler Reliant!
I like the photo-that's a real ship!