With so many of us flying regularly these days, I thought it would be interesting to hear about your first flying experience....and I am talking aviation here, not solvents etc.......aargh, remember that plastic model glue !!!
I digress.......
So many younger than me have got used to flying as a child and so many memories may well have escaped them, mine though, I can remember quite vividly as I was a teenager at the time.
So, to start the ball rolling, my first flight was in 1979, and I am proud to say it was on DC-3 / C-47 G-AMPY of Intra Airways out of East Midlands Airport on a 20 minute local flight. My older brother, bless him, let me sit by the window in row 1, on the starboard side. I can remember seeing the flame from the exhaust lap over the wing on start up. Unfortunately, my other lasting memory is of the ringing in my ears for days afterwards....., but I was hooked
Is there anybody out there?
Mine was a small Cessna (Probably a 172 but I can't be certain) and I'll never forget the instructors words as I got in - "If you happen to look at the fuel gauge and it says empty, don't panic because it doesn't work".
My wings are like a shield of steel.
Mine was in An RAF Valetta from the navigation School at Gaydon in the late sixties. I was in a party of cadets being taken up for an air experience flight. The aircraft had navigation training desks down the sides. We each sat at a desk, and were made to wear smelly rubber masks to use the intercomm. The combination of excitement, rubber masks and bumps from a hot summers day gradually had their effect and one by one the passengers succumbed to airsickness.
BY the time we landed back at Gaydon the inside was awash, the aircraft was parked at a remote part of the airfield and an early lesson learned, you clean up your own mess..... Lunch was optional that day.
AWA
It was 1970 something and a British Airways 1-11 from London to Jersey..
I can still remember walking down the rear central stairs (before they sealed them up) between the engines, god were they loud!
Mine was in a Veritair Jetranger in 1985 on a 10 minute pleasure flight from Margam Park, near Port Talbot.
Remember some nice views of the countryside to the east of the town.
As far as I can work out it was back in the 60's in an Iberia Caravelle to Palma and I have a weird recollection that there might have been a KLM Electra beside us. Once I knew a bit more about aircraft, my first flight was in a British Airours 707 to Palma and then - much more memorably - a Dan-Air Comet 4B to Marseilles (wonderful, smooth aircraft).
A Chipmunk of course!
RAF Manston back in 1991.
The very patient Squadron Leader dutifully flew a few aeros (was very please to not spew) before letting me loose on the stick. I nervously flew in a straight line.
We flew over the Channel Tunnel entrance which was busily under construction back then.
Top memories!
July 27th, 1992.
Flight DL065, Manchester (MAN) - Atlanta (ATL) on one of Delta's wonderful TriStars. It was actually N765DA. Can't believe I was lucky enough to get my first flight on my favourite aircraft type.
Viva la Widget!
Titch
Vidi, Vici, Veni. I saw, I conquered, I came.