I’m Often Asked About My Favorites, From Travel Accessories to Destinations to Stories. Here they are…Proven Travel Accessories that Satisfy a Professional Traveler I’m in my 25th year as am airline pilot, and I also traveled quite a bit before that. As a professional traveler, I have encountered a lot of over-priced and junky travel gear, as well as some truly outstanding accessories. I only put up with and personally use things that function well and are a good value. I am often asked about my favorites, not only what my favorite travel accessory is, but also plane, city, airport, and stories. On this page I seek to fill you in on the things that I am frequently asked by others. Favorite PlaneThis is the question I am most often asked.The answer depends on the context. The overall most fun plane I have ever flown was back in my Air Force Pilot Training days, and hands down the T-38 wins.
The problem is that your head and stomach couldn’t keep up with that. The T-38 is basically a rocket with wings, and it was a great lead-in jet to the fighter I flew, the F-4. As far as my favorite airliner, there are two answers.
I have a lot of good years and memories flying those around the Caribbean. Great fun. Now I just moved up to the Boeing 777. This will sound silly, but I also love it because it has a bunk bed. On our long flights, we take 1 or 2 additional pilots so we can have rest breaks. There is a small bunk area where we can lie down and get some sleep. It is far superior to the business class seat we used on the B-767. This is private, so I don’t have to worry about being in uniform, or if I am snoring, drooling or anything else (yes, pilots have flatulence too) while I nap. I know passengers can be jealous of this. The nap can make a huge difference when on a 15 hour flight. You do want your Captain rested and perky for landing I assume. Pilot Paul’s Favorite Travel AccessoryIf I were to pick on travel accessory that I would miss the most if I didn’t have it along, I would have to say it is my white noise machine.You can learn more if you click on the link, but this device, which works in all countries, masks out noise that would otherwise wake me. We end up sleeping during the day because we fly all night, and this device can be a lifesaver. My main priority on a layover isn’t going out and having a good time, it’s getting enough rest. That’s what passengers expect. There is nothing worse than flying all night, sleeping poorly during the day, and then having to fly all night home. The
white noise machine makes a huge difference to me.
Luggage, the Most Important of all Travel AccessoriesI am not a fan of pricey, designer bags, but there is one luggage brand that I like the most of all.It is
Briggs and Riley .
This means it’s an exceptional value. I love travel accessory companies that stand behind their products so well. Favorite Travel Accessories MerchantThis one is easy, again because of their guarantee.I personally buy most of my travel accessories from Magellans. Why? Because not only do they have excellent travel accessories that are reasonably prices, but they stand behind everything the sell. I have tested this guarantee out and they replaced a travel accessory I was dissatisfied with. Here is what they promise: ” Our promise of 100% satisfaction has not changed since we began Magellan's in 1989. If for any reason, at any time, you are not completely happy with any purchase, let us know. We'll make it right or cheerfully refund the full purchase price of the product.” Here's a link to their current specials: Favorite City to VisitParis. There is just so much to see.I have found a good site for seeing Paris on foot:
Click here to get some good walking tour informaion
My wife recently accompanied me on a night Paris bicycle tour. It was one of the most enjoyable things we have done in years. Fun, informative guides, taking us around Paris at night, including a boat ride with wine and snacks.
Here’s where you can find out more.
Pilot Paul’s Favorite Beverage- Really, This one is Important…My favorite beverage is also an essential travel accessory. That is because I am totally hooked on ACT, a Healthy Energy Drink.As I mentioned, being alert while flying is of utmost importance to me. I used to be a coffee and diet cola addict, but now I keep energized and deal with jet lag with ACT. Unlike most energy drinks, which are full of sugar and caffeine, this is healthy, and gives a long steady energized feeling with no crash when it wears off. Pilot Paul’s Favorite HotelsI love Intercontinental Hotels. There is just something special about them. I like the friendliness of the staff, the cleanliness, facilities and properties. Everything about them makes for an enjoyable stay.I spend many years flying the Caribbean, central and South America, and had the good fortune to stay and many Intercontinental Hotels. There wasn’t’ one that ever disappointed me. I also have a fond personal memory concerning Intercontinental Hotels… We adopted our children in Colombia. We stayed at an Intercontinental Hotel twice during the process. I have tender memories of being an exhausted, clueless, new parent, pushing a stroller around the grounds of an Intercontinental Hotel. Pilot Paul’s Favorite AirportI’d have to Say it is Chicago O’Hare. The controllers are hands down the best and most professional in the world. The airport is set up well and runs smoothly. It is especially safe and unlike many major airports, taxiing planes don’t have to cross active runways.There is a uniqueness about the ground control there… The inbound planes are on a different control than the outbound planes. Sometimes it is a bit challenging (in that you are on your own because it is hard to get though to ask) when inbound and outbound planes are crossing each other’s paths when doming and going in to the gate areas. It reminds me of a mall parking g lot on the weekend before Christmas. You just g slowly and cautiously, and it all works out. I am a bit concerned about the expansion, as the new runway configuration will make the ground operations much more complex, requiring more ground control frequencies and runway crossings. They are doing it to have more capacity with takeoffs and landings, but I foresee it taking much more time on the ground. Time will tell if it is a good trade-off. I’ll also tell you my least favorite airport. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. It is very complex to operation in and out of and the runways are too short. I think I only exists for the convenience of the politicians. If you stray off the procedures, you could be shot down from the White House! I’m all for the best protection for the President. I just don’t want to have to fly a jet full of people near it, which is required to operate in and out of Regan Field. Pilot Paul’s Favorite Myth to DispelScott Rubin, an author/speaker friend of mine, recently asked me what was the most common misnomer or myth I find my self explaining to people.My answer was that people sometimes think that we are nervous, white-knuckle fliers in the cockpit. My dentist is a nervous flier. When he was noticing that my teeth has damage form clenching (I do that for some reason when I sleep), he naturally concluded that I was so tense when flying, I was sitting there all tightened up, squeezing the control wheel and clenching my teeth. The truth is that I am extremely relaxed while flying. It is an adventure, and most of the time it is boring. Uneventful, boring flights are the good ones. I want to stay out of the newspaper and CNN. Even in difficult situations, it is a challenge and problem to be solved, and not some nerve-racking experience. Pilot Paul’s’ Favorite Flying StoryThis one even got published. My tale is in a book of flying stories entitled ”True Pilot Stories”, by Patricia Lorenz.You can read my tale here. If you like flying stories, one of my associates, Ed Owen, wrote a fantastic collection of fun flying stories with homespun wisdom. You can learn more about Ed's books here. I hope that this gives you a satisfactory glimpse of my favorite travel accessories as well as other things. If you have other questions or want to see other things covered, please contact me.
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Hi, Pilot Paul Here.
This jet was lightweight, extremely maneuverable (it could roll 720 degrees a second) That’s right, if you put the stick fully and abruptly to the side, you would do two complete rolls in a second.
That is my current favorite jet as they designed it so well, the t it is comfortable and fun to fly. You learn new tricks with the computer systems every trip, as it can do so much...
