Word: jumbo
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...again, off-again preparations for Khomeini's return began to take definitive shape early last week. Prime Minister Bakhtiar reopened Iran's airports, which had been closed solely to prevent the Ayatullah from coming back. Khomeini's representatives in Paris hurriedly chartered a jumbo jet from Air France, settled insurance terms and agreed that the plane would fly only half full. Thus if it were not allowed to land in Tehran, there would still be enough fuel aboard for a return flight to Paris. Because of fears of sabotage, no Iranian women or children were allowed on the flight (though...
Along the 150 members of the international press aboard Khomeini's flight was TIME Correspondent Bruce van Voorst. "Shortly after takeoff, the Ayatullah climbed the spiral staircase to the jumbo jet's lounge section, removed his turban and sandals, curled up on several Air France blankets and slept for 2½ hours," reported van Voorst. "His personal security guard, suffering from a toothache and numb from aspirins, sat at the bottom of the steps. At sunrise, somewhere over Turkey, the Ayatullah said prayers, then was served an omelet for breakfast. When the captain announced that the plane had flown into Iranian...
...Khomeini's headquarters at Neauphle-le-Château, aides had set up a table under an apple tree and begun taking press reservations for seats on the jumbo jet that was to carry Khomeini home. Unfazed by news that Iran Air was grounded, the Ayatullah's entourage chartered an Air France 707. After hearing that the army had occupied all the country's major airports, a Khomeini aide, Dr. Ibrahim Yazdi, explained that the plans had to be changed and "takeoff sadly will be delayed...
...other main disputes involved the number of cruise missiles that could be put aboard a plane for aerial launching. The Soviets were seeking to restrict the number to 20 per plane, the most that can be loaded onto a B-52 bomber. But because the U.S. is considering outfitting jumbo jets to carry as many as 80 cruise missiles, Vance pressed the Soviets for a compromise that would set an average limit of about 30 per plane...
...rockets like the SS-18, for which the U.S. has no counterpart, could eventually be loaded with dozens of warheads, Washington is pressing for a limit of ten to 14 per missile. For their part, the Soviets want to restrict cruise missiles to 20 per airplane; without limits, a jumbo jet could carry as many as 80. The question of "modernization" of older missiles also remains open...