SFO - San Francisco International Airport - 1964 & 1967

[@mggordon]

Pure, unadulterated bliss. Simply incredible footage from a bygone era. I lived in SF in the 80's and drove to the airport to watch planes and kill time. The best, and last, vantage point was a parking lot along the 101, right at the foot of 10R. Then 9/11 happened and the airport authority thought it would be safest for everyone if that spot was shut off from the public permanently and an ugly wall built. If I had to pin down the absolute best year for plane watching, it had to be 1985. At that time in airline history, 707's (some 720's too) and DC-8's were plentiful (not sure any Convair's were still flying though), as were the 727 100's, 747 100's as well as DC-9 10-30's, L-1011's and DC-10's. The Vicker's VC-10 may also have still been flying as well. I'm getting wet just thinking of it.

[@stephanlarson8899]

Grew up right across the freeway from SFO. Back then you could hang out anywhere in the airport even the gates without going through any kind of security

[@mcdonnell220]

I grew up in Burlingame (1961-76), the son of an airline pilot & former stewardess, and I hear you.

[@wesbervig1272]

Stephan Larson No TSA douche bags to be found.

[@barefooboy17]

Yep, grew up in San Bruno. I remember those days well!

[@johnscanlan6337]

When I was a kid in the late '60s my dad and I would spend lots of time at JFK in New York watching the new jets - all very exciting and absolutely NO security!!!

[@stratus262j2]

One of your best. Growing up in the 60's I was privileged to fly on every single plane in this video except the TWA CV-880. I spent many enjoyable times on that SFO observation deck. When commercial aviation was fun.

[@seoceancrosser]

Those aircraft engines put out rumble you could feel on your insides. I miss that!

[@monte61]

Outstanding footage and really liked seeing that TWA CONVAIR 880 !!

[@airailimages]

So glad that people took movies then, as we make video now. A great look back. Thumbs up!

[@DaemonicNimrod]

I miss those smoky black trails of the 727...Stellar footage as always, and as always appreciative of the upload!

[@douglasdixon524]

You could always spot a B-727 from miles away.

[@asteiner321]

Wow. Such memories. I watched these planes in the early 60's when SFO had a viewer deck. What a treat to relive it.

[@Vektorer]

Home run! What a find! Catching the simultaneous parallel departures at the end was especially fortunate. DC3 vs. CV880...no contest in that dragrace! You nailed the sound. Thanks for putting this one up!

[@alexandrereis1393]

Wow, a very smokey 727 at 5:09!

[@janetengel8063]

Awesome shots on the parallels! But oh that black smoke!

[@sandiegotrojandawg]

Great video....I remember those days well and I miss all that smoke! That Delta DC-8 was arriving non-stop from Atlanta, fyi.

[@madrx2]

4:55 Even the outboard motors were art back then.....

[@robbalboni4179]

great video of these beautiful classic jets and props with smoke and all! I miss all these planes (707) (727) (convair) (Lockheed electras) (f 27) etc. love those planes racing at the end! cool stuff rob

[@gabrielhalston6726]

Smoke, smoke, smoke....glorious smoke!!

[@SuperBooboo02]

awesome video..love the convair, and the 727

[@richhowify]

Thanks so much for posting this; a flood of memories from SFO and those times came flooding back to me.

[@iamra_n3189]

That pure jet-roar, the smoke, the glistening metal...ahh, what glory days these must've been!

[@tenpiloto]

That smoke made them so much easier to see and avoid!

[@lvsluggo007]

Awesome... Good ole PSA Lockheed Electras.. That must have been the 1964 shots, as I'm pretty sure they'd started flying 727's in 1967.. That Delta Convair must have been the earlier 880, since I didnt see the wing pods that mark the later 990s.. Living in San Diego in the early 60s, used to watch those 880s and 990s coming off the Lindberg Field Convair assembly line

[@chrisnizer1885]

Only problem I can see with these videos is that there isn't enough of them! Thanks for another awesome video. Semper Fi!

[@mcdonnell220]

Thanks Chris for another great comment...we are military aircraft friendly around here, too!

[@cherifbar]

I have died and gone to heaven. Thank You!

[@elainefrantz9139]

cherifbar Great DC8 clips!

[@smaze1782]

Nice job with the audio. What a great look back!! Big thumbs up.

[@robytar]

5:08 looks like the 727 was on fire & trailing smoke from it! About as bad as 880 smokers.

[@Honest300Al]

Great stuff. You could drive onto the airport until at least the early 70's. Nice to see the electras, SFO helicopters and Pacific Air Lines.

[@richschindler8731]

Great video. Now those are classic airliners!!!

[@chicago90278]

Awesome! Nice to see that Delta Convair.

[@lorenj.238]

That was a Delta series 50 DC-8.....not a Convair.

[@chicago90278]

Oh, it looks like a convair on the thumbnail.

[@philmontejano5971]

You saved the best for last! That TWA Convair 880 takeoff was great

[@grqmedia3489]

5:13 HOLY SMOKES

[@patrickmgebroff9600]

Great video especially dual takeoff's at the end.

[@johannesbols57]

Was it an optical illusion, the Western 720 landing and it looked like the wheels touched down just over the runway threshold, like it would've landed in the bay if it had been a few feet shorter?

[@andrewandreas2625]

Heaven, thank you so much.

[@relaxpayourincometax]

This video is an absolute thrill! Portal to the happiest of childhood memories of these shapes, sounds and spoors. (5:10 - Jeewizz)

[@66TJP]

Ahhh... the good ol' days @ 5:08... ;^)

[@bobbypaluga4346]

Nice, those were the good days of commercial aviation. The DC-8's and 707's look so small, lacking in length. As well the 727-100's were pretty squatty also. The Western 720 seems to be coming in a bit fast, does anyone have any ideas about the suggested landing speed on the 707, 720, or DC-8's as well as the normal rotational speeds? Excellent video for 1964

[@WestTNbackyard]

Got the following info from the FAA approach speeds for Boeing Aircraft707-320/420 is 125kt, 707-320B is 128kt, 707-320C is 137kt. I would assume that the 720 is in that range, probably around the speed of the 707-320. The approach speed for the DC-8 is 133-143kt depending on type.

[@BrokebackBob]

Can someone tell me what made the engines exhaust so dirty back then and now you barely see the exhaust except for the heated air?

[@TroyMorePhotography]

It's a combination of different engines (older turbojets vs modern turbofans), cleaner fuel and unlike many early jetliners, modern designs don't use water injection to boost power on takeoff. Here's a pretty easy to understand article on it. jalopnik.com/why-were-old-jet-engines-so-much-more-smokey-than-newer-1720531271

[@michaelo1929]

5:08 through 5:42 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@ns81]

Old school airliners seem to climb out at a much lower angle of attack, and hardly flare at all on landing. What's changed?

[@TroyMorePhotography]

Less powerful engines meant a lower rate of climb. Engines also weren't as responsive so you needed to maintain a more gradual descent rate when landing. The 727 was the first jetliner to use a higher "sink rate" on approach. It also had four fatal accidents in its first year of service, which some blamed on this change.

[@fabiomendes7043]

Amazingggg

[@Ibirdball]

3:31 That looks like a Boeing 720!

[@WestTNbackyard]

Sounded like one too!

[@triplanelover]

and in those days pilots all knew how to make visual approaches even in SFO !!!

[@avtom_]

Up, up and away...

[@martin.B777]

Epic!

[@TheUtuber999]

I think I got lung cancer just watching this!

[@johnbernardini5444]

A lot of black smoke from those engines pewie !!!!!!!!

[@willamisbezerra2836]

Show de Vídeo

[@mehmetokay7073]

Boy did they belch smoke back then. The 727s look like they are on fire.

[@TXnine7nine]

And people today complain about aircraft noise and pollution XD

[@robertlizinski4898]

They obviously didn't seem too concerned about air pollution back then.

[@errorsofmodernism7331]

There is no need to dub the audio

[@robertlizinski4898]

They emitted a lot more smoke than today's airplanes.

[@worldwidebear1967]

Unbelievebal how much dirt they made in the past....

[@peyotepete2677]

This is awesome footage from a much better time in commercial aviation before those big ugly wide body jets came along and destroyed everything.

[@austwin1]

Loud and smokey. Hachachacha

[@mcdonnell220]

Damn right...anything else just doesn't cut it.

[@rudihardiansyah1108]

Pacific Air Lines, hehe,,,

[@MrJimmymapua]

Beautiful except for the exhaust, they helped today's climate change.