GROWTH THROUGH EXPERIENCE

We returned to Hawaii several times after that first trip.  Each trip having its own unique twist or dynamic.  We were there when the Brady Bunch filmed their famous Hawaii episodes and played in the waves and sand with the Brady kids behind the historic Royal Hawaiian.  We vacationed with my mom’s mother, sister and my cousin.  At least once we rented a green VW Thing and toured the island, jungles and mountains.  Visited Air Force friends of my parents and my sister and I stayed the night with them and learned about Man O War jelly fish when we had to forego a dip in the ocean.  We stayed on Kauai and Maui and I stupidly passed on one trip to stay home to attend a summer high school class, then stupidly again several years later cut a trip short to return to my college girlfriend. 

My last trip to Hawaii was June 1999.  It was my father’s last flight as a commercial pilot.  He was based in Honolulu and was a Captain on the 747.    At that time commercial pilots had to retire when they turned 60 and his birthday was in June.  I’d never flown on a flight when my dad was in the cockpit over the 32 years he was with United.  It was an opportunity I was not about to miss.   My mother and I met up in Chicago and went full fare, first class.  By 1999 United had done away with the hump being only an aerial bar on the 747’s and it was now all seating, conveniently right behind the cockpit.  Airlines were still in the innocent pre-nine-eleven terrorist era which provided the opportunity for me and my mother to join my father in the cockpit before take-off.  I got to sit in the Captains seat and we took many pictures to memorialize the day.   Upon landing in Honolulu the flight attendant announced this was Captain Ed Bunten’s last flight and not be alarmed by the airport firetrucks that would be spraying a ceremonial arch of water over the plane as we taxied to the gate.  The plane erupted with applause.  As the plane disembarked my dad stood at the exit door and accepted the accolades and gratitude from the passengers in his customary stoic manner.

 Aside from trips to the Hawaiian Islands we made several trips to Europe, a lot of the United States.  We even flew to San Francisco for dinner on my sixteenth birthday.  I enjoyed pass riding for as long as I could, but eventually I aged out and the requirements of a “grown-up” life took hold and the need to travel was suppressed for what I thought were more important goals.  More youthful stupidity.

Sidebar

My dad never seemed impressed by what he did, never the stereo typical jet jockey portrayed in movies, while others, my friends included were always in awe.  He always contended he was just, “a glorified bus driver.”  His 32 year career saw significant changes in the airline industry and air travel in general.  Hijackings, introduction of airport security, strikes, mergers, fuel crisis, more and more cramped occupancy and several airline crashes, several of which occurred in the United fleet.  To my knowledge he only had one in flight incident that could have turned worse if not for his experience, calm demeanor under stress and intelligence.  It was late in his career when he was domiciled in Hong Kong.  Shortly after taking off from Hong Kong he lost an engine.  I believe it went up in flames.  He was able to retain control and brought the plane back to the airport.  He was a celebrity for a few days in Hong Kong.  I always thought highly of my dad as a pilot and was always super proud when my friends or others expressed their respect and curiosity.   I still see my dad today in most pilots that I encounter or are put in front of the media after some airline event.  His decision to go multi-engine those many years ago led to my wanderlust.