h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello Phred,

I just have one query regarding the opening paragraph where you say:

'In the early 1970s, you could walk onto a jet with a pistol in a shoulder holster or with a bag of carry-on dynamite and settle back in your seat to smoke a Camel. Many people did.'

Is that true - was it really ever possible to go on planes in the USA with guns and dynamite - even back in the 1970s when security clearly wasn't so tight? You say 'many people did' - do you have evidence to back that up, do you have any facts and figures? I just find it really diffcult to believe!

Other than that, I'd just like to say what a great entry - a real adventure story, I was totally engrossed!



I've also left this message on Leo’s PS.

My first flight on a jet was in 1963 to begin military basic training. There was no "security" check at all back then to board a passenger plane. The flight was from Tampa to to San Antonio. At the time, you actually walked from the small Tampa terminal up a ramp that rolled on wheels to the plane. This lack of security made it possible for a series of hijackings to occur. It was quite common for planes to be hijacked to Cuba, for example.

It seems strange now to remember that each passenger's seat had an ashtray and that one could board a plane with a weapon or bag of dynamite with no check of any sort being conducted.

Yes, it is absolutely true. The world has changed and moved on in fifty years. It is a more sinister and less trusting place.

I think that the FAA gave the airlines a month to begin searching passengers and their luggage in December, 1972. Smoking was banned in the late 1980s as I recall.

http://savvytraveler.publicradio.org/show/features/2000/20000915/security.shtml

You are right - the world certainly has moved on since those more trusting times. I think I'll put your first paragraph in a footnote - it helps emphasise just how different things were back then. Thanks for the the link, I'll add it to the References section.