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Post by **Ron** » Tuesday Nov 29, 2005

Hi all,

I finally got back from my latest trip to Germany, just in time for Thanksgiving, and the perils of dealing with the airport in Detroit with a turkey day Lions game looming.

Thanks to JP for holding the fort down and trying to control the mayhem.

I may have to be heading back, possibly as early as next week, but I also have to go through a security check before I can return.

For those of you wondering what I was doing there, well, you could say I was helping to pimp a ride... A brand-new private 747.

The cost of the pimping? A bit more than half of the cost of the vehicle.

If there is anyone whose emails I missed or need anything like locations added or other stuff that I may have missed, please let me know.

- Ron

MOONDOGGY · Post by **MOONDOGGY** » Tuesday Nov 29, 2005

So what exaclty were you doing to a 747? That sounds pretty darn impressive already.

Welcome back by the way! Maybe you can start throwin down the law again and puttin some of these monkeys back in their place!

Bit*chenWomen1029 · Post by **Bit*chenWomen1029** » Tuesday Nov 29, 2005

welcome back ron!

Wow seems like a interesting story to come about!

If indeed you do go over again.... have a safe flight!

YankeeRose · Post by **YankeeRose** » Tuesday Nov 29, 2005

"Pimping a ride", and it's a private 747? That's SOME "ride"!
It sounds like very interesting work and I also hope to hear more about it, if you're not sworn to secrecy, that is.

Ditto, if you have to go back, have a safe trip!

Post by **Ron** » Wednesday Nov 30, 2005

The company I work for designs and builds equipment for in-flight entertainment systems, among other things. 4 of us were there as a support team for the initial testing and bring up of the system.

The size of a 747 is downright amazing. To put it in perspective, all of our equipment is interconnected via ethernet. The super high-end teflon ethernet cabling costs about 15 euros per meter, and there is more than 6 kilometers of ethernet cable on the jet.

MOONDOGGY · Post by **MOONDOGGY** » Wednesday Nov 30, 2005

So that's like $106,000 just in Ethernet cable right? Did they also pay for your trip out there and food and room? That's Friggin crazy!

YankeeRose · Post by **YankeeRose** » Wednesday Nov 30, 2005

Ron wrote:The company I work for designs and builds equipment for in-flight entertainment systems, among other things. 4 of us were there as a support team for the initial testing and bring up of the system.

The size of a 747 is downright amazing. To put it in perspective, all of our equipment is interconnected via ethernet. The super high-end teflon ethernet cabling costs about 15 euros per meter, and there is more than 6 kilometers of ethernet cable on the jet.

WOW!

Bit*chenWomen1029 · Post by **Bit*chenWomen1029** » Wednesday Nov 30, 2005

COOL!

Thats a very interesting job. Heck you even get a "vacation" in a way .

SMART people are awesome!...Yes this is you Ron.lol

Post by **Ron** » Wednesday Nov 30, 2005

I wish it was more like a vacation, but it is actually the opposite. We do get all of our travelling expenses paid, but it is 16 hr. days, 7 days per week while we're there. You also can't sit down anywhere on the jet, they don't want any possibility of something happening to the custom leather seats.
The quality of craftsmanship on the interiors of these custom jets is simply amazing. The entire forward cabin area and upper deck interior walls were all done in bookmatched birdseye maple, dyed gray. They have their own veneer cutting shop, since solid wood would be too heavy. It's all honeycomb fiberglass and composite panels covered with exotic veneers.

MOONDOGGY · Post by **MOONDOGGY** » Wednesday Nov 30, 2005

Bookmatched Birdseye Maple.....mmmmmmmmmmm!

AtoMikEnRtiA · Post by **AtoMikEnRtiA** » Wednesday Nov 30, 2005

MOONDOGGY wrote:Bookmatched Birdseye Maple.....mmmmmmmmmmm!

I think Moondoggy just got off hahahahaha =)

YankeeRose · Post by **YankeeRose** » Wednesday Nov 30, 2005

Ron, your work with the installation of the in-flight entertainment system was fascinating enough, but the descriptive you gave of the rest of the interior of the "pimped ride" gets another "WOW"! It does sound almost like a beautiful work of Art, but "Veneers", on a 747?
What some people spend money on simply boggles the mind.
Hopefully they allow you to at least sit on the floor, the snobby so and sos!

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Wednesday Nov 30, 2005

Ron, you need to chop a chunk of that wood off of there and bring it home so Moondoggy can make a new bass.

Bit*chenWomen1029 · Post by **Bit*chenWomen1029** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

Wow.... thats cool, i bet that is one heck of a work day though!

Starr · Post by **Starr** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

Ron wrote:The company I work for designs and builds equipment for in-flight entertainment systems, among other things. 4 of us were there as a support team for the initial testing and bring up of the system.

The size of a 747 is downright amazing. To put it in perspective, all of our equipment is interconnected via ethernet. The super high-end teflon ethernet cabling costs about 15 euros per meter, and there is more than 6 kilometers of ethernet cable on the jet.

You must be like, really...smart.

Bit*chenWomen1029 · Post by **Bit*chenWomen1029** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

Starr wrote: You must be like, really...smart.

Ummm Yeah! I Agree!
Well obviously he runs the rockpage!!!

Go RON!!!

Craven Sound · Post by **Craven Sound** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

That sounds like it would be a cool job for someone with no kids. Is there anything like that to be had locally?