If I might add my comments regarding pianos on board aircraft.  When
the Boeing 747 first entered service, all operators used the upper
deck as a lounge area.  The seating was in the form of bench sofas
and occasional chairs.  Absent were the typical airline seats.  The
area was for first class passengers only.

Usually, a flight attendant was not stationed in the lounge area for
take-off and landing, and hence that area could not be occupied by
passengers during those phases of flight.  After the seat belt sign
was turned off, one or two flight attendants would open the bar area
in the upper deck lounge.  Passengers could use the lounge to play
cards and enjoy other activities while sipping a beverage of their
choice.

As the world suffered under its first oil shortage, recession soon
followed with a devastating drop in passenger traffic.  Under the
regulated industry rules, airlines could not change fares to fill
the empty seats.  The only form of competition was in the amenities
offered.

American Airlines soon added an electric piano to its lounge area
and proceeded to heavily advertise its presence.  The trouble was,
the people who played the piano in flight soon offended the rest of
the passengers.

Coupled with the huge capacity increase the 747 had brought to a
sharply declining economy was the introduction of the DC-10 and
Lockheed L-1011.  The  planes were all running well below break-even
load factors.  Lounges proliferated, even in the narrow body 707's.

By 1976, the whole sky was a cocktail lounge, with many airplanes
equipped with two lounges so that coach passenger could join the
party.

When load factors begin to increase, the lounges disappeared and
real passenger seats replaced them.  This happened some time after
the deregulation act of 1978.  In general, from 1970 through 1979,
almost every long-haul flight had lounges, and some had pianos that
were mysteriously inoperative after a disgruntled flight attendant
secretly pulled its circuit breaker.

Bob Taylor

 [ I believe that Bob is still a pilot with United Airlines, and has
 [ been flying ever since he climbed into the seat of the original
 [ pneumatic Link Trainer!  ;)  -- Robbie