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Post by Andy on May 24, 2007 14:29:48 GMT -5
This thread is a bit off-topic but I thought it might be cool for us to reminisce about our first real-world flights and other "special" flights. I'm pretty sure I'm not the oldest person here (I'm 47) but I'm probably on the top side.
My first flight was as a boy of 8 in 1968 in a United DC-6 from KSBA to KLAX. The flight probably originated in Fresno but I don't remember that. We got on at Santa Barbara at the old stucco terminal. We were to connect with a United flight from KLAX to KORD (I presume a DC-8 since wide bodies were not in service yet). Anyway, we were late into KLAX and missed our connecting flight. We ended up on a red-eye American 707, which was obviously my first jet flight.
Another "special" flight was in 1984 when I flew on a wonderful defunct airline, Air One, from KSTL to KHOU for my own wedding. I flew that route with them two or three times during that carrier's short life. It was wonderful. All first class seating. They took your (alcoholic) drink order at the ticket counter and along came your drink as soon as you were airborne -- at no charge. And morning flights served steak and eggs for breakfast on real china. It was definitely a three-holer, I think a 727-100. But that close to my wedding, I think I could have flown without the aid of an airplane!
Then there was my first glimpse of Europe in 1988 through the cloud cover, from a TWA L-1011 as my wife and I approached Heathrow. Yes, the same gal I married in 1984 and to whom I am still married! I've been fortunate enough to make annual trips to London for pleasure the past few years but now I fly on 777s and A-330's and usually into Gatwick.
Then there was what I believe was a very close call in 1979. On May 24, 1979 I flew on an American DC-10 from KORD to KPHX. the next day, AA flight 191, a DC-10, crashed after takeoff from KORD. Watching the news in Phoenix, I heard them say that this very aircraft (N110AA) had flown KORD-KPHX the previous day! I can't swear to it but I don't think American flew more than 1 DC-10 daily on this route in 1979. I believe I flew on N110AA the day before it crashed. I flew back to Chicago a few days later on another American DC-10 just before the long-term grounding. American handed us $150 travel vouchers as we boarded our return flight. For many years after this I was nervous about flying.
Andy
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Post by Christian Page, RAI on May 24, 2007 18:20:17 GMT -5
My "first flight" was aboard a Frontier CV-580 from Oklahoma City to Bartlesville, OK a week before I was born in 1971. My Mom jokes that she almost gave birth to me aboard the plane because since it was such a short flight, it was at a fairly low altitude, thus the plane bounced all over the place due to thermals. The first flight I had my own seat on was the one that took us to Germany. We flew from Oklahoma City to Washington-National on Braniff, then Washington-Philadelphia on Allegheny and we were bussed up to McGuire AFB in New Jersey and flew out from there on a Seaboard World DC-8 straight to Rhein-Main in Frankfurt. In 1975, my Mom and I returned to the States on Pan Am via London and Chicago, then Braniff to Tulsa, as my parents' hometown of Bartlesville is only 45 miles from Tulsa.
I remember that KTUL did not have jetways in 1975, we deplaned down airstairs. It was a rough flight ino Tulsa, as a huge storm front was pretty much aligned with our route from O'Hare and a large tornado had hit the east side of Tulsa, just south of the airport about 20 minutes before we landed. In fact, my grandparents were evacuated from the gate areas of Tulsa International into the central terminal basement area, as the authorities thought the tornado was going to hit the airport. I'll still never forget that rough ride in, and the flight attendant at the door telling everyone "Y'all come back now, ya hear!" The Captain was equally "cowboy" - which was typical for Braniff - We were holding on the taxiway at O'Hare when he comes on and says "We ain't got much time to get outta here, so hold on, as I'm putting the spurs to 'er!" and I swear he had those JT8-Ds on that 727 spooling to full power as we turned on to the runway. But that was Braniff - they were notorious for their wild style.
Anonther memorable flight was in 1977, when my Mom and I returned rom Germany. My Dad had to stay a little longer and go through the mustering-out procedure with the Army. She and I flew on a Pan Am 707 from Frankfurt to London, the a Pan Am 747 to Boston - first time I'd been on a 747. It had to be an early model, which were infamous for the failing MTX in-flight entertainment systems. The movie was "Network", but the projector in our cabin failed. I remember watching the movie leaning out into the aisle and watching it on the screen in the cabin ahead. We landed at Boston and had a few hours layover, I remember watching Dick Clark on In think it was "$10,000 Pyramid" then at a snack bar in Logan, eating the first true American-style hot dog I'd had in years, as opposed to Bratwurst and Knackwurt - which I love, give me a Brat with curry ketchup anyday, but I'd just not had the American style with French's yellow mustard and Heinz's relish in years. We then flew out on an American 727 for LaGuardia - my Mom was really nervous about being in New York City, and we literally ran from gate to gate. I guess you can't blame her, NYC in 1977 was a scary place - the Son of Sam was still around, the Puerto Rican Nationalists were blowing things up (including the LaGuardia terminal, and killed a dozen or so a few years earlier), but New York from the end of World War II up to Guiliani, when it was sleazy and disgusting, has always been a object of fascination for me.
Anyway, from KLGA, we flew American again to Tulsa via Memphis. I don't remember Memphis, I fell asleep almost as soon as we took off from LaGuardia. My Uncle met us at the airport in Tulsa and we drove to Bartlesville - he only thing I remember about that is my Mom asking my Uncle if he had a flat tire as his car hit the joints in the old highway - she got too used to smooth German Autobahns, I guess. That and my grandmother's horribly ugly 1970's avocado green velvet couch, which I fell asleep on as soon as I reached it.
In 1988, going up to Philadelphia to visit my Dad's best Army buddy - we changed planes at Atlanta-Hartsfield/Jackson and my cousin Terry was waiting for us (she lives in Roswell, GA) - my Dad had secretly tipped her off as a surprise for my Mom. That trip was also for me to look at some colleges in the Philadelphia area - I interviewed at Penn, St. Joseph's, and Villanova - and also to try and get me hooked up with Bridget, the daughter of my Dad's buddy, and the girl my Mom most wanted me to marry. My Mom actually blew the real possibility because she didn't want me moving all the way up to Boston to go to college at Boston University, while Bridget ended up going the next year to Boston College. It probably would have happened, had my Mom not been so adamant about my moving so far away. Bridget, her parents, and her sister Kristen (who is named for me, that's how close our families were) all were on that Pan Am flight to Boston in 1977, so that one defintely stands out.
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qxductape
Gate Agent
QX, now with flights over Jason house every 30 mins
Posts: 60
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Post by qxductape on May 25, 2007 0:27:30 GMT -5
Let's see it was March 1961, a North Central (of course) DC-3, from Ironwood, to Rhinelander, to Stevens Point, to Green Bay, to Oshkosh, & finally to Milwaukee. Where my Father & Mother got on a Capital Viscount so they could attend my Mother's Stepfather's funeral in New York. I stayed behind in Milwaukee with my 2nd oldest sister. We took the C&NW Flambeau "400" back to Ironwood, and I got to stand on the back platform and blow the whistle as the train backed the 2.5 miles from Hurley Wi to Ironwood. So that made that trip even more special, because I love trains just as much as planes. I still dream about that often, and if God willing, that will be one of my last memories on this earth.........  |
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Post by ElliottD on May 25, 2007 3:18:00 GMT -5
Mine, 1992 when i was about 2 years old, Iberia Boeing 727-200 from Dublin to Gran Canaria. At that age i couldnt remember anything except it was a narrowbody, so by process of elimination id say a 727. Which is ironic because now id love nothing more than to fly on a 727 (707 or DC-8 more though ;D)
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Post by chrisP on May 25, 2007 7:15:02 GMT -5
'76 Montreal-Amsterdam (KLM 747), Amsterdam-Frankfurt (Lufthansa 721), Frankfurt-Paris (Air France 722), Paris-Amsterdam and Amsterdam-London (KLM DC9), London-Montreal (BA 707). The really memorable bits were being invited over to the 747's flight deck in mid-atlantic where the captain explained to me the whole show, or so I guess since I didn't understand a word of English back then  . As a city boy, I couldn't get over just how dark the sky was from that flight deck. Also worth mentioning were being face-to-face with a BA Concorde in the departure area at EGLL and the "WOOOOOOIPshhhh" sound of the Conways starting up on our 707. Quite a trip! |
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Post by 727pilot on May 25, 2007 8:05:26 GMT -5
First flight: London-Zurich on a Swissair DC-9 in 1968. I was two years old then. So Andy - we both are relatively close together age-wise... Special flight: Amsterdam-London from gate to gate in the flight deck of a British Airways 757. That was 1987. A truly great experience! And all I did was ask the stewardess whether it was possible to visit the -crew after take-off. Well, the stewardess introduced me to the captain BEFORE take-off - and he decided to keep me there in the jump-seat right away! ;D Kind regards! Michael |
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Post by Andy on May 25, 2007 10:56:55 GMT -5
Good memories, all! When I missed that United DC-8 at KLAX, I missed my one and only chance to fly on a DC-8. Over the years I flew on many 707s but never a DC-8 and I don't suppose I'll ever get the chance now. I did fly on a TWA CV-880 KORD-KPHX once in 1973. I remember that it had no audio music system, which I thought was strange on such a long flight. Other than that, I have flown on nothing unusual. Believe it or not, I've not yet flown on a 757! I don't fly very often, maybe two or three trips a year -- one of those being transatlantic. On domestic flights, I always seem to get a 737 or an MD80, or one of those accursed Embraers where I can't stand up straight even in the center aisle! I did fly a NW DC-9-30 KMSP-KSTL recently. I had forgotten how loud those engines are. One of the neatest aircraft experiences I've ever had was not really a flight at all. A few years back while passing through KC, I talked my family into stopping at the Airline Museum at KMKC (home of the Save-a-Connie, which I have heard is now grounded due to mechanical problems). The volunteer guide was an old gentleman and very kind. After we toured the small museum, he took us out on the tarmac and turned us loose to climb all over, inside and out, the Connie and the Martin 4-0-4. Unfortunately, the DC-3 was not home that day. I had my wife take my picture standing next to the very tall nose gear on the Connie. There was an outside chance at that time that I'd end up working in KC and I resolved then and there that if I did, I would volunteer at that museum and maybe get to fly on the Connie to work some air shows. I ended up in St. Louis instead. Andy |
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Post by Ralf Maylin on May 25, 2007 11:45:45 GMT -5
I was 14 when I boarded an airliner for the first time, a Lufthansa DC10 from Cologne to JFK. In 1977 they still used the 707 on that flight so I missed the chance to fly on board of a "real retro" aircraft by one year.  Next leg to DTW as my final destination was a Northwest Orient 747, don't know if it was a 100 or 200 but I remember it had 3 windows on the upper deck. |
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Post by peterliddell on May 25, 2007 17:43:55 GMT -5
First Flight (im told): Austin Airways HS.748, Timmins-Toronto, then Air Canada 727 to Sasktoon (1982)
First Flights i remember: Air Canada DC-9-30 Timmins-Toronto, then Air Canada DC-8-60 to Calgary! (1983), then 727 back to Toronto and DC-9 to Timmins again.
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Post by Christian Page, RAI on May 25, 2007 19:11:54 GMT -5
First Flight (im told): Austin Airways HS.748, Timmins-Toronto, then Air Canada 727 to Sasktoon (1982) First Flights i remember: Air Canada DC-9-30 Timmins-Toronto, then Air Canada DC-8-60 to Calgary! (1983), then 727 back to Toronto and DC-9 to Timmins again. I guess this kind of demonstrates the "six degrees of separation" idea somewhat...one flight I was going to mention was in 1989 from Boston to Oklahoma City via O'Hare on United. We got stranded at O'Hare for a few hours, as the weather delayed the plane, which was mired up in Madison, WI. Earlier that day, I had bought a tape for the trip home from the Co-op at Harvard University - "The Trinity Sessions" by the Cowboy Junkies from Timmins, Ontario...lol! They moved to Toronto later, probably even were in Toronto then, but I always remembered the singer's last name was the same as the town - back then, if you looked up "sultry" in the dictionary, it would probably tell you to look her up, as she was quite beautiful and had a really haunting voice. Whenever I listen to that album, I always remember that trip. |
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Post by biggiraffe on May 26, 2007 16:30:05 GMT -5
My first flight was on United going from San Francisco to Seattle around 1964 or 65. I THINK it was a 720; I just know it had four engines. A couple of years later in 1967 we flew back to San Francisco and that was a 727, and also my second flight.
My most memorable flight was buying a ticket from San Francisco to Los Angeles just so I could ride a TWA L-1011, 1973 or 1974.
Take care,
Kurt
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Post by peterliddell on May 26, 2007 17:37:30 GMT -5
ok so now that i gave my 1st flights... heres my special flights: YUL-YYZ, AC L1011-100, 1992 (i think?), last week of Ac Tristar ops (BEFORE they brought 3 back to cover for the 767-300 delay) YUL-YYZ, AC 747-400 Combi, last flight, Oct 2004 YYZ-YUL, AC 777-300ER, Easter Weekend this year Earlton - Earlton, DC-3 (C-47A), Northern Wilderness Air Tours, 94 YYZ-MIA, 747-100, March 1995, Air Canada, executive 1st, seat 2a... awesome way to travel. thats about it for the REALLY special ones... |
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Post by peterliddell on May 26, 2007 17:56:32 GMT -5
First Flight (im told): Austin Airways HS.748, Timmins-Toronto, then Air Canada 727 to Sasktoon (1982) First Flights i remember: Air Canada DC-9-30 Timmins-Toronto, then Air Canada DC-8-60 to Calgary! (1983), then 727 back to Toronto and DC-9 to Timmins again. I guess this kind of demonstrates the "six degrees of separation" idea somewhat...one flight I was going to mention was in 1989 from Boston to Oklahoma City via O'Hare on United. We got stranded at O'Hare for a few hours, as the weather delayed the plane, which was mired up in Madison, WI. Earlier that day, I had bought a tape for the trip home from the Co-op at Harvard University - "The Trinity Sessions" by the Cowboy Junkies from Timmins, Ontario...lol! They moved to Toronto later, probably even were in Toronto then, but I always remembered the singer's last name was the same as the town - back then, if you looked up "sultry" in the dictionary, it would probably tell you to look her up, as she was quite beautiful and had a really haunting voice. Whenever I listen to that album, I always remember that trip. haha thats funny, i forgot all about them! Everything Timmins now is Shania this, Shania that... bah! |
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Post by Christian Page, RAI on May 27, 2007 13:58:17 GMT -5
I guess this kind of demonstrates the "six degrees of separation" idea somewhat...one flight I was going to mention was in 1989 from Boston to Oklahoma City via O'Hare on United. We got stranded at O'Hare for a few hours, as the weather delayed the plane, which was mired up in Madison, WI. Earlier that day, I had bought a tape for the trip home from the Co-op at Harvard University - "The Trinity Sessions" by the Cowboy Junkies from Timmins, Ontario...lol! They moved to Toronto later, probably even were in Toronto then, but I always remembered the singer's last name was the same as the town - back then, if you looked up "sultry" in the dictionary, it would probably tell you to look her up, as she was quite beautiful and had a really haunting voice. Whenever I listen to that album, I always remember that trip. haha thats funny, i forgot all about them! Everything Timmins now is Shania this, Shania that... bah! Ugh, my Mom loves Shania... Of course, here in Oklahoma we have Carrie Underwood, not to mention the triumvirate of Garth, Reba, and Vince - I like country, but not this crossover junk I refer to as "Nashville, Inc." and the media here just worships it to the point of nausea. The state has produced Grammy-winning bands in The Flaming Lips and The All-American Rejects, OKC's Hinder has sold millions of their first CD, Mason Williams from OKC - he did "Classical Gas" - and the whole "Tulsa Sound" of the 1970's with Leon Russell and J.J. Cale recording at the Church Studio there with Eric Clapton ("After Midnight" and "Cocaine" are J.J. Cale songs) - just this huge and diverse history, but it's all Carrie, Carrie, Carrie... Only a few years ago did Woody Guthrie get his due, now there's a huge celebration every year in Okemah and a Charles Banks Wilson painting of him was recently added to the ranks of Will Rogers, Wiley Post, Carl Albert, and Sequoyah at the State Capitol - for years Woody's left-wing politics kept him from being honored in this conservative state. Well, Will Rogers was also pretty left-wing by today's standards, but I always felt he wasn't any "wing" - just "common sense", which we could use some more of today. Woody, I pay tribute to him on "Miss Bettie", my Les Paul guitar with an image of '50's pinup Bettie Page on it - I won't post a photo here, as it's not family-friendly, but below Bettie, I have Woody's famous phrase he wrote on his guitars - "This Machine Kills Fascists." |
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Post by klm617 on May 28, 2007 9:55:39 GMT -5
My first flight was in March 1964 from Detroit to Frankfurt we flew from DTW to JFK on American and then From JFK to FRA on Lufthansa Boeing 707 do not remember this flight at all as I was only 18 months old. The first flight I do remember was in 1971 flying the same root DTW-JFK-FRA From Detroit to JFK on NWA and then to Frankfurt with a LH 747. I remember falling in love with flying at 8 years old. I still have the Emergency card inflight magazine and timetable. Imagine and 8 year old removing this from the aircraft and saving it for 35+ years.
My special flight were Summer 1980 I was flying Braniff FRA-BOS-DTW. ON the BOS-DTW leg the flight was over sold and they were looking for volunteers to give up there seats for $50 cash and take a Republic flight that was leaving 30 minutes later well being that North Central was my favorite airline and a Republic DC-9-50 still painted in NC colors just with Republic titles was the closest I was ever going to get to flying NC I was out of my seat faster than you can say Republic Airlines. We were driven a cross the BOS tarmac in a small bus as the RC DC-9 was loaded and just waiting for us.
My next memorable flight was 1982 this was the first flight I took for fun New York Air started service to DTW with very cheap fares to LGA. I left on a Sunday morning spent the day at LGA and returned to DTW that night. I was a great day after that when an airline came to DTW with cheap fares would hope on a plane in the morning on a weekend and return that night. AH those were the days.
Hey Ralf sounds like from your first trip we have been doing the same route just back wards for may years. I have made the DTW-Germany and back no less than 30 times. When was the last time you were in Michigan. When I was younger and single I used to fly this route any which way I could trying as many airlines as I could. I have flown every jet aircraft across the Atlantic except the 777 747SP and A310 that was possible in the 1980s and 90s.
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. As a city boy, I couldn't get over just how dark the sky was from that flight deck.
Next leg to DTW as my final destination was a Northwest Orient 747, don't know if it was a 100 or 200 but I remember it had 3 windows on the upper deck.
