Addendum: There were business-related reasons for sticking with the venerable 737 design: A new aircraft type would not have to be certified, nor would Southwest (biggest customer) pilots be required to train for certification to fly a new aircraft type.
Is something fundamentally wrong with the 737 MAX design? Or its manufacturing quality? Or both? One item I read at the time of the two MCAS-related crashes, by an engineer, suggested that when it was time to move on from the 737-900 series, Boeing should have done a clean-sheet design for its replacement and not attempted to rejigger the existing airframe and wings to accommodate larger-diameter turbofans.
Grandfather Jim, this is a great idea. I have promised the Grand Tour of Europe next summer to my 20 year old grandson and my 25 year old adopted Chinese son. I’ll be thinking of you and Deb when it happens. Best, Andy Andreasen.
I think it's a great age that you have chosen. And you are much less likely to have to do what my mother in law had to do--have the youngest travel with her older cousin rather than herself. Although she had a good time with her much older cousin and created a real bond with her, she did miss out on some one to one time with her grandmother.
What a wonderful new tradition to initiate! Amsterdam is a perfect city & it has so much to interest a 12 year old & his grandparents. The most dangerous aspect for me was avoiding being run-down by a bicycle. I recommend taking the short train(perhaps 20 minutes) ride to Haarlem, which is a smaller, quieter Amsterdam.
Yes, the bikes really are something. The first few times we heard "watch out for the bikes!" we thought it was some kind of pleasantry. Now we realize is an actual news-you-can-use survival tip.
Thanks for the Haarlem tip. We've been talking about an afternoon train ride some place. Will report back.
There’s so much nearby. I wish I had been there longer. My reference librarian & AAA travel past prodded me to send you another note. It would be lovely to see the North Sea and its beaches while in the country created by holding it back, thus Zandvoort an Zee is a beach town on the sea accessible by train & very near Haarlem, a 30 minute bus ride from Haarlem or a direct 30 minute train ride from Amsterdam.
It turns out that Haarlem is only 9 minutes by train from Amsterdam. So many tantalizing places nearby. I so wish we had a train system like Europe.
What good grandparents you are! The Rembrandt House is very atmospheric, and your grandson is old enough to read Anne Frank's Diary, which is inspiring. Don't get lost in the Rijksmuseum!
Bruce, today we saw: 1) The Amsterdam Houseboat Museum, which convinces you that a house boat can be a very nice place to live, if it's the one they choose for the museum; 2) the National Museum of Tulips, actually fascinating; 3) Anne Frank's House; and 4) Rembrandt's House, which is just a block away from where we are staying. And tomorrow the Rijksmuseum! We are thinking of you along the way. Plus a tour of the whole city today by canal boat. There is a lot here!
My mother and her three sisters instituted the family tradition of taking their grands abroad at 12-13. It worked out magnificently, with memories that they're all still talking about 20 years on. The grandkids are in their 30s now, and the two surviving sisters (Mom and her twin) are 87 and in a home. But they all still remember.
Among other things, it allowed the grandmas to draw our kids close just as they hit the age that they were starting to pull away from us. We know now that tight bonds with non-parental adults are critical to navigating adolescence successfully, so locking this one down right at that moment gave us all a critical shot of extra stability for the rocky years that soon followed.
If your experience is like ours, you're giving your grandson a gift that will keep on giving long after you're gone. Have the literal time of your lives, and eat lots of stroopwafel.
My mother in law took her two oldest granddaughters on cruises of their choosing when they each graduated from high school. The youngest granddaughter was given a trip with the oldest granddaughter because my mother in law no longer wanted to travel. They all loved their trips. What a great idea to start them even younger.
Thanks. We figured this was a target age (12 or so) to try — when they're younger it could be difficult, and when they're older "kids these days" tend to be booked for all kinds of activities.
That right there is a priority of priorities! Jack will have the memories of this adventure as long as he lives. Bravo the grandparents! The ones he'll always remember as the champions of love, caring, curiosity, open mindedness and Democracy, which he may not fully appreciate now, but will grow his life, and he'll carry with him forever.
Anders, out boring holes in the sky at 90 plus.....Priceless. Fly West My Friend, on feathered wings.
Addendum: There were business-related reasons for sticking with the venerable 737 design: A new aircraft type would not have to be certified, nor would Southwest (biggest customer) pilots be required to train for certification to fly a new aircraft type.
Meanwhile...
https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jun/16/faa-investigation-southwest-plane-drop-dutch-roll
Is something fundamentally wrong with the 737 MAX design? Or its manufacturing quality? Or both? One item I read at the time of the two MCAS-related crashes, by an engineer, suggested that when it was time to move on from the 737-900 series, Boeing should have done a clean-sheet design for its replacement and not attempted to rejigger the existing airframe and wings to accommodate larger-diameter turbofans.
Grandfather Jim, this is a great idea. I have promised the Grand Tour of Europe next summer to my 20 year old grandson and my 25 year old adopted Chinese son. I’ll be thinking of you and Deb when it happens. Best, Andy Andreasen.
Thank you Andy!
wonderful!
Thank you; we're having a blast. (We'll be sending Jack home with, among other things, some of his own wooden Dutch shoes. Don't tell his parents!)
Well done.
Thank you.
I think it's a great age that you have chosen. And you are much less likely to have to do what my mother in law had to do--have the youngest travel with her older cousin rather than herself. Although she had a good time with her much older cousin and created a real bond with her, she did miss out on some one to one time with her grandmother.
What a wonderful new tradition to initiate! Amsterdam is a perfect city & it has so much to interest a 12 year old & his grandparents. The most dangerous aspect for me was avoiding being run-down by a bicycle. I recommend taking the short train(perhaps 20 minutes) ride to Haarlem, which is a smaller, quieter Amsterdam.
Yes, the bikes really are something. The first few times we heard "watch out for the bikes!" we thought it was some kind of pleasantry. Now we realize is an actual news-you-can-use survival tip.
Thanks for the Haarlem tip. We've been talking about an afternoon train ride some place. Will report back.
There’s so much nearby. I wish I had been there longer. My reference librarian & AAA travel past prodded me to send you another note. It would be lovely to see the North Sea and its beaches while in the country created by holding it back, thus Zandvoort an Zee is a beach town on the sea accessible by train & very near Haarlem, a 30 minute bus ride from Haarlem or a direct 30 minute train ride from Amsterdam.
It turns out that Haarlem is only 9 minutes by train from Amsterdam. So many tantalizing places nearby. I so wish we had a train system like Europe.
Thanks. Much of today at Zaanse Schans, (sort of) a Williamsburg of Holland, which was great!
What good grandparents you are! The Rembrandt House is very atmospheric, and your grandson is old enough to read Anne Frank's Diary, which is inspiring. Don't get lost in the Rijksmuseum!
Best, B
Standing by...
I should have said "lined up and waiting..."
👍
Bruce, today we saw: 1) The Amsterdam Houseboat Museum, which convinces you that a house boat can be a very nice place to live, if it's the one they choose for the museum; 2) the National Museum of Tulips, actually fascinating; 3) Anne Frank's House; and 4) Rembrandt's House, which is just a block away from where we are staying. And tomorrow the Rijksmuseum! We are thinking of you along the way. Plus a tour of the whole city today by canal boat. There is a lot here!
My mother and her three sisters instituted the family tradition of taking their grands abroad at 12-13. It worked out magnificently, with memories that they're all still talking about 20 years on. The grandkids are in their 30s now, and the two surviving sisters (Mom and her twin) are 87 and in a home. But they all still remember.
Among other things, it allowed the grandmas to draw our kids close just as they hit the age that they were starting to pull away from us. We know now that tight bonds with non-parental adults are critical to navigating adolescence successfully, so locking this one down right at that moment gave us all a critical shot of extra stability for the rocky years that soon followed.
If your experience is like ours, you're giving your grandson a gift that will keep on giving long after you're gone. Have the literal time of your lives, and eat lots of stroopwafel.
Sara, thank you. I hadn't thought of exactly the phase-of-life issue you're describing from the kids' point of you, but I think you're exactly right.
Wonderful news!
Leslie, thank you. And you know *all* about world adventures with kids!
(As you probably know, Jack is Tad's son.)
Stroopwafel! Make sure the kid gets Stroopwafel!
We made a special stop on the street yesterday!
My mother in law took her two oldest granddaughters on cruises of their choosing when they each graduated from high school. The youngest granddaughter was given a trip with the oldest granddaughter because my mother in law no longer wanted to travel. They all loved their trips. What a great idea to start them even younger.
Thanks. We figured this was a target age (12 or so) to try — when they're younger it could be difficult, and when they're older "kids these days" tend to be booked for all kinds of activities.
That right there is a priority of priorities! Jack will have the memories of this adventure as long as he lives. Bravo the grandparents! The ones he'll always remember as the champions of love, caring, curiosity, open mindedness and Democracy, which he may not fully appreciate now, but will grow his life, and he'll carry with him forever.
Anders, out boring holes in the sky at 90 plus.....Priceless. Fly West My Friend, on feathered wings.
Thanks. I really appreciate that.
We're all just glad to know that all's well. In all seriousness, your country (and the rest of us) need you this year.
That is very gracious; thank you.