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Originally Posted by Lady Jane
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I have a Cosmopolitan story... or more properly a Convair T-29 story. The US bought the design as both a transport (C-131) and a navigational trainer (T-29) with piston engines. A number were converted for VIP transport duties. (A few were later re-engined with gas turbines.)
In December of 1965 I went home to the Philippines for Christmas with my family. I was a college student and not high on the priority list for military air transport. I got to Hawaii with not too many days until school resumed and was stuck. "Now serving number 45; you are number 325." I somehow managed to hitch a ride on a RNZAF C-130 from Hawaii to NAS Moffett Field south of SF, but needed to get to LA where my ride back to school was waiting. I checked with station air ops and they said a USAF T-29 was leaving for Los Angeles after a while and I could check with the pilot to see if I could get a ride. I approached the pilot and asked if I might hitch a ride and he replied "Sure, get your stuff and get on the plane now and we'll leave just as soon as the general arrives." General? Uh, okay. So I boarded the plane and it was plush -- comfy chairs and tables, etc. Gulp! I made my way back and there were a few regular airline type seats in the back so I had a seat. A few minutes later an Air Force general sauntered back to see what kind of riff-raff he was giving a ride to. (I should mentioned that I was in ROTC my freshman year so I was wearing an Army uniform.) So I took a ride to LAX courtesy of the USAF in a VT-29 VIP aircraft. Made it to school on time, too.
