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This weekend is the celebration of the Labor Day holiday in the United States.  Many of us will be traveling ... some through LAX; Gateway to the World!

So, with that no-so-subtle opening, you've guessed that travel is the theme of today's blog!  

Several months ago I spent some time testing a new lens photographing Airliners as they departed from LAX.  Because of the clouds in the sky, it was a great time to take pics of flying things.  The first image is of a Fed Ex Air Bus carrying cargo ... no doubt to  their major hub in  Memphis, Tennessee where it will be disbursed and shipped out with great rapidity.

The next two aircraft are both American Airlines Boeing 737's.  As you can see American is updating the paint scheme on its aircraft as part of the marketing of its merger with US Airways.  I like the new scheme which is shown in the second image.

And, here's Delta Airlines and United's 737's with their paint scheme?

This next image, shown earlier this year on the blog,  is that of an Antonov AN24 Russian Heavy Lift cargo carrier.  It is a monster aircraft .. one of the largest airplanes in the world.  

I'm not sure why ... maybe because another birthday is fast approaching ... but I've been thinking how amazing the change in technology has been during my lifetime.  In 1955, I took a trans-continental flight. I was 13 and I bet that fewer than 20% of the US population at the time had flown on an airplane.  And maybe 10% had taken a cross country flight?  

I wonder what those numbers would be today?  And, lest we forget the other half, I'd still bet less than 50% of the Worlds population has ever taken a flight in one of these amazing machines! 

Anyone know the answers?

Happy Labor day to my fellow countrymen.  

Travel safely!

Adam