During the early ’70s, Pappy Wilkes, a former Piedmont Airlines DC-3 captain, was flying a pressurized Queen Air 88 along the east coast of Florida. He had been cleared to climb to 15,000. Being hot and heavy, the 88 was very slow climbing.
An impatient ATC controller asked Pappy when he expected to reach his assigned altitude.
Pappy, in his best Southern drawl, responded:
“What time do you get off?”
The controller said:
“1600.”
And Pappy replied:
“I might make it by then.”
Anyone who remembers Pappy will confirm that this episode was completely in character for him.
Jim Hamilton
