My very first Flight.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

My very first flight was in a blue Auster in the late 1950s. It was a pleasure flight from Elstree and consisted of a circuit around the reservoir. My dear Dad, who until then had only flown in a Dakota, came along too and I remember how he gripped my shoulder in alarm when the pilot throttled back on base leg. I loved it so much that I bullied him into coughing up for a second ride. He resolutely remained on the ground.

[chiglet]

Mine was an "Air Experience" flight in a T21 Sedburg from Burtonwood in the winter of 1961/62...the first of 50 odd types I've flown/flown in

[alisoncc]

Chippy at RAF Chivenor August 1957 ATC camp. Didn't throw up, unlike most of my fellow cadets. I think the intent was that we all should have done. :O

This was followed by a Varsity at RAF Locking in '61, and a VC10 in '65 to RAF Muharraq, Bahrain. Subsequent to this discovered that whenever I cut myself I could smell the avgas/avtur in the blood, and never looked back.:ok:

[Lancelot37]

Mine was 8 hours in a B29 from Marham about 1952 with middlesbrough A.T.C.

[wd413]

A BEA DC-3 from Heathrow to Jersey circa 1958 ... think I was eleven at the time.
Then less than a year later a 3 minute flight in a Slingsby T31 at RAF Booker.
These childhood experiences got me really hooked on aviation and 50 years later I potter around the skies of New Zealand in my Tecnam Sierra and still get the same thrill.

[treadigraph]

An Auster from Lands End to St Marys in 1969 with me dad and his cousin who was flying.

[GANNET FAN]

A Dragonfly chopper (brand new from HMAS Albatross) in 1948 in Oz

[Richard Coomey]

Mine was in G-APAA, an Auster Alpine, a short pleasure flight out of Sandown IOW, must have been 1972 or 73.

[MReyn24050]

An Avro Anson at HMS Peregrine, RNAS Ford 1955'ish with the RN Section of the School's Combined Cadet Force. We were made to wear parachutes and they had us running towards the aircraft, as one ran the parachute swung and hit the back of the knees. Fortunately none of us fell over. However the flight was magic and remains etched in one's memory.

[JEM60]

Dragon Rapide, B of B day RAF Halton. Pilot smoking pipe in flight. Leading on to second flight 2 weeks later in Beverley as an ATC Cadet. Staff Cadet at 613 GS, Skydiver, PPL, pax on Concorde flight deck once. Vampire T.11 round Snowdonia. Not much piloting. LOTS of observing.etc,etc

[KING6024]

:OMy first flight was also from Elstree in an Auster,G-AGXT,I had saved my pocket money.This aircraft had gained some notoriety having been used to dump a body over the Romney Marshes I think.This would been 1954 -55ish.I later had a 2nd flight in this aircraft,what mark was it?

The names Setty and Hume come to mind,although who murdered who and dumped the body I can't rememember.I later went on to fly in Ansons and a Devon from Bovingdon,gliding from Halton and Chipmunks from Abingdon and Cottesmore.One of the Anson trips was in the right hand seat and I can remember a Polish pilot and engine priming pumps in the cockpit.The Cottesmore flight was memorable as I'm sure the pilot was determined to make me use the sick bag.He didn't quite succeed!!

[Airclues]

BEA Pionair, Wick to Orkney, 1961. T21 at Hawarden few months later. No looking back once bitten by the bug!

Dave

[Tankertrashnav]

Dragon Rapide at Prestwick, 1958. Ten bob for 10 minutes, saved up for weeks and paid for it myself. Took a black and white snapshot of the a/c which still lives in my logbook on the "aircraft in which flown" page. I see it's £140 for a 40 minute flight from Duxford now which I reckon on a cost per minute is 70 times the 1957 price. It was either a bargain then or a rip-off now!

[Davidsoffice]

First flight was BAW BAC1-11 Manchester to Edinburgh circa 1973 followed by BIA Herald Blackpool to Manch a year later (also my first mid-air throw up!). First rotary was a Squirrel sight-seeing out of Monaco. First front seat was Musketeer G-ASWP(?) out of Barton.

[The SSK]

Auster Workmaster G-APMJ, fifteen bob's worth of pleasure flight from Newcastle in Summer 1963 (I thought it might have been 1964 but I discover it crashed in Oct 63)

Second was a Sterling DC6 from Edinburgh to Copenhagen, student charter. Third was a BOAC 707 out of Heathrow, doing circuits and bumps at Bedford !

[Cunliffe]

1. Dragon Rapide pleasure flight from Heathrow.

2. Anson from Northolt.

3. Chipmunk from White Waltham.

[bobward]

Kirby Cadet TX3 from 611 VGS, Swanton Morley 1966........
Hell, I'm getting old!:bored::bored::rolleyes:

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Avro Anson, ATC camp, Colerne 1957. My wife's first was in a Bristol Freighter from Lydd on a family holiday. Later, whilst in the WJAC, she flew in an Auster at Hurn piloted by no less than Diana Barnato-Walker!

[allyn]

My first flight was JFK to SFO on an American Airlines DC10 back in the mid-70's...I was 12... This was at the end of a month long driving tour of the US. I'd never been on any kind of airline before so that DC10 looked HUGE! ;)

I remember dressing up for the flight in my best dark blue polyester slacks (remember when people dressed up for air travel?) and the Captain doing the PR walk through the cabin during the flight...

[Level bust]

Mine was a Channel Airways Viscount from Southend to Rotterdam about 1966.

I also flew in GAPAA on a pleasure flight from Sandown in 1972.

[Kieron Kirk]

1. Auster 5 G-ALYD Fairoaks August 1963.

2. Beverley C.1 XL130/K/242OCU Thorney Island 10th October 1965.

3. Hastings C.1.A TG570/S/242OCU Thorney Island 18th September 1966.

Happy days.

Ciarain.

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

My first flight was in 1957.
Cosford 29th Boy Entrants course .
Air experience flight in an Anson, flight out round the Wrekin and back.
Thought it was fantastic, not so a mate of mine, I never knew it was possible to look green in the face until I saw him getting out of the Aircraft.

Other memorable flights.

1987
Pre-arranged "Free" flights with Aerochago Cargo Airline, Miami to San Juan via Santa Domingo (Dom.Rep.)
First leg
4am Flight out of Miami to Santa Domingo in Aerochago (Belize Air International?) up front in C-97 Stratofreighter HI-481.

Second leg, next day.
Santa Domingo to San Juan in Aerochago "Connie" L-749A HI-422. At the time I think the only Airworthy "Connie".
Bulkhead seat behind Flight deck, no Sound proofing in cargo hold!!.
Sights and sound of both flights amazing. (Got some fantastic in flight Photos.
on slides so will show them sometime when I buy a Scanner)

OPF

[purplehelmet]

First flight was 1976,aged 13, east midlands to montpellier sth france on british midland viscount g-aznc,great views from the big old windows,and the first of many cockpit visits.
return flight was british airtours B707 g-apfd, which felt huge compared to the viscount,and as for the power on take off WOW.

[waco]

BMA 1-11 500 series MAN/BCN about a week after Dans lost a Comet on the same route.............
On the flight deck visit Capt pointed the approximate crash site !

[Fitter2]

Colerne, August '56, Anson right hand seat. Followed over the next three years by as many Chipmunk, Piston Provost, Varsity, Valetta, Hastings, Beverley, Comet 4 and Lincoln hours as I could blag, as well as 20 launches and solo in a Cadet Mk 3 at Kirton Lindsey.

The next 50 years carried on in much the same vein, although mostly in gliders with a few hundred hours behind propellors.

[D120A]

Miles Messenger G-AHZS of Air Kruise, Ramsgate to Ramsgate around the Isle of Thanet, 4 August 1953 (aged 8). Fare 5/- (25 pence), an absolute fortune in those days, so much so my dad couldn't afford to come with me.

[ExAscoteer]

A very tiny (future) ExAscoteer first flew on 1st August 1965 (I was just coming up 3 years old), strapped to my Dad's knee in a T21 Sedburgh, serial number XN148, at 423GS RAF Tangmere.

The flying pilot was Bill Verling.

[Lancelot37]

Later, whilst in the WJAC, she flew in an Auster at Hurn piloted by no less than Diana Barnato-Walker ===================================

My wife and I flew with Diana and were with her in the Officer's Mess at RAF Middleton St. George when she decided that she would like to break the sound barrier. Several months later she did in a Lightning from Middy.

My wife was in the W.J.A.C, and later when it became the Girl's Venture Corps Air Cadets, for 42 years. I served on Committees and flew with Diana and Freydis Sharland (Leaf) Does Freydis still hold the womens records for flights which she set so many years ago?

[Steve Bond]

A Cambridge UAS Chipmunk from Bassingbourn in April 1960 during CCF Easter Camp.

[spook]

R.A.F. Britannia to Singapore 1967
1st Lesson - Beagle Pup - in Singapore

[His dudeness]

21st June 1966 - 12 days old in a Piper Comanche. Can´t say I remember it...but I´ve got pictures!

[India Four Two]

Ramsgate to Ramsgate around the Isle of ThanetD120A, me too, although a few years later, about 1956, in the infinitely superior Dragon Rapide. ;)

However, after looking at my PMs, I see you know that, since we corresponded about it and you concluded it was probably 'WK. The fare had gone up to 7/6d (37 1/2 p) and still a fortune for my Dad, who paid for three of us.

First glider flight - Air Scouts T21B at Lasham in 1963. Mine was the last flight of the day and we found a thermal at the top of the launch and went up to the dizzying height of 2200', followed by loops on the way down!

First jet flight - Vampire T11 at Shawbury, 1968.

I realized recently that I've flown or paxed in more DH types than any other manufacturer's.

[renfrew]

Anson PH829 in 1958 from Renfrew upto top of Loch Lomond then down the length of the Loch skimming the surface and skipping over the islamds.
This summer did a similar trip in Loch Lomond Seaplanes Cessna 208 G-MDJE.
This time the pilot stayed at a respectable height.
If anyone is visiting Scotland next summer this is your chance to sample a take off from the Clyde just downriver from Glasgow city centre.

[chevvron]

August 1962 I hitch hiked to Benson with another cadet and we got 2 hours in the circuit in an Argosy. I recorded the number in my 3822 as XP447 but I think this was wrong; it must have been '442. I actually only lasted 1.5 hours and having used 2 sick bags, they stopped and dropped me off.
My first 'real' flight (where I actually handled the controls) was a few weeks later when I flew in a Piston Provost from Little Rissington where we were at annual camp. This rather spoiled me as I never liked flying in Chipmunks after the luxury of the Provost.

[papajuliet]

Prentice VS331 at Ternhill in 1954 as a CCF cadet.Subsequent flights [ as a CCF cadet] in Piston Provosts and, from Shawbury, in Ansons and Lincoln.
It was the best part of my school days!

[merv32249213]

Late 1940's, ATC summer camp at Leuchars, Coastal command Lancaster to Kinloss and back.
Climbing over the "dustbin" my parachute pack got caught and some silk started to come out . Remember it well for all the wrong reasons.:uhoh:

[4mastacker]

Fokker Friendship belonging to Braathens SAFE in the summer of 1963. Newcastle to Sola for a school trip to Stavanger. Cause of a long-lasting schoolboy crush on the delightful Norwegian hosties.:O

[ICM]

Sometime in 1943/44, aged 2, in a DH Rapide of what, I think, was then Scottish Airways (pre-BEA), from Glasgow (Renfrew) up to Uist in the Hebrides. I have always claimed this as my earliest memory, including talk of 'air pockets' and my being sick!

Nothing after that until a BEA Vanguard flight Turnhouse to LHR in 1962, with the real business beginning at 1055 hrs on 14 January 1965 as Navex B1/B2 in a Valetta 'Flying Classroom' of No 2 ANS, RAF Hullavington. DCO; 50 minutes Day; Captain - Fg Off Robertson. (And I've just noticed that we went and repeated the same Famil exercises in a Varsity at 1205 hrs that same morning!)

[superspotter]

05th July 1974 and my parents and I were emigrating to sunny Zambia, A British Airways 1-11 from MAN-LHR then onto 9J-ABR, a Zambia Airways Boeing 707....aah, memories :)

[Proplinerman]

BEA Vanguard, Manchester to LHR, August 1962. I don't remember it (I was 4 at the time), but I've worked out it must have been this.

[IslandPilot]

Around 17 June 1940, evacuated from Jersey to Heston - I don't remember it as I was only 6 weeks old.

My earliest memory of a flight was from Southampton back to Jersey at the end of 1945 in a Rapide which had what I now know to be a T1154 mounted on the fwd bulkhead. I was told not to touch!

[Rollingthunder]

First, BOAC Stratocruiser Ringway, Prestwick, Shannon, got off for full dinner, then to Gander and Montreal. 1957

Next, CP Air Montreal to Vancouver. United to SFO. Then BOAC B707 to HNL, NAN, SYD. 1969

Since then far too many to count.

[CoodaShooda]

Memories as a toddler climbing the stairs and entering through an oval door. So must have been a TAA Vickers Viscount on the Melbourne to Sydney run circa 1960.

Much clearer memories as a 13 yo flying first class in a TAA 727 at Government expense from Melbourne to Port Moresby and return. Life has been a disappointment ever since. :E

[Krystal n chips]

Late 60's...in a Tri - Pacer...from MAN to Farnborough....alas, a perfect gliding day as they say...one excited yoof, one breakfast...one sick bag later.... we diverted to Sleap due to one's condition deteriorating....the irony is that I have never been airsick since.

[Barksdale Boy]

Viscount: Rome to Gatwick - August 1965. And then as ICM puts it the real business: with remarkable similarity to his experience and a shade over a year later out of No 2 ANS by then at RAF Gaydon, B1 famil flight in a Valetta (WJ 478), Ihr 10mins day, followed on the same day by famil flight B2 in a Varsity (WF 385), 1hr 15mins day.

[Brianf127]

A TAA Boeing 727 from Perth to Brisbane in 1966.
On landing at Adelaide en route a big gout of flame shot past the window, the bloke sitting next to me asked if that was supposed to happen to which I replied; "I dunno Mate, it's my first flight too!"

[Derwent Dale]

July 1966 - British Midland DC-3 Elmdon to Sandown (Isle of Wight) - having been able to visit the flightdeck, or should that be the cockpit ? I remember being fascinated by the Decca navigation and its moving map !

[diesel addict]

North Weald in the mid-fifties.

Grandfather treated us both to a jolly round the airfield in an S-55 doing joy-rides.
I was about nine or ten, and vividly remember the NOISE, vibration, and I could not see much out of the window.
I think it probably cost quite a lot of money.

Have not been in a chopper since....

[Airclues]

So far we have had;

1 x 1940
1 x 1944
1 x 1948
1 x 1950
1 x 1952
1 x 1953
2 x 1954
1 x 1955
1 x 1956
3 x 1957
3 x 1958
2 x 1960
2 x 1961
2 x 1962
3 x 1963
2 x 1965
5 x 1966
1 x 1967
1 x 1969
1 x 1972
1 x 1973
1 x 1974

Are the people who frequent this forum of a certain age ;)

Dave

PS...... It's a slow tele night! ........OK I'll get a life!!!!

[Fokkerwokker]

OK we can scratch 1951 out now too.


Handley Page HP 81Hermes G-ALDT

London-Rome-Cairo-Khartoum-Entebbe-Dar es Salaam

And yes I AM a baby boomer!!!

:}

[Fokkerwokker]

Goodness me!

My posting prompted me to stick 'Hermes' into Google and it threw up THIS (http://www.airliners.net/photo/BOAC/Handley-Page-HP-81/1308321/L/&sid=05ff72c46f59cb1fc08eec5e4319c97b) of a BOAC Hermes at Dar es Salaam. I was absolutely stunned as it rolled back almost 60 years for me!

If you look on Google Earth you can see 'old' Dar airport to the south of the city and it is still possible to make out the old ramp where this picture was taken.:ok:

FW

[sled dog]

Chiipmunk, RAF Oakington, ATC summer camp. Seems like 100 years ago.... :{

[Wander00]

My first RAF Section CCF Field Day, RAF Bassingbourn 1957 - Anson (I think TX219) - having wanted to fly in the RAF and go to Cranwell since the age of about 5, my biggest concern was that I might not enjoy the experience - I did! Now 66 and learning again to glide, this time in France, I still get a huge grin from flying.

[Crusher1]

1968 Manston - Basel C-54 Skymaster, may have been operated by Air Ferry.

[ChrisVJ]

48 or 49. Auster with stepfather, Mike Graves, aged four or five. Sat in LH seat, don't know why but remember it very distinctly, looking out of left hand window as we flew around our house in Yeovil and he pointed out the features. (Climbing tree, walled kitchen garden, haha. (No, I mean we had a haha of which, until then, I had never seen the other side!)

Second was the almost universal Rapide flight at LAP!

Interesting how many people had their first flight in an Auster. By the time I did my PPL there were very few of them around, must have been far more around the end of the war.

[Wander00]

Chris VJ - Did my Flying Scholarship at Sywell July 1961 in 4 ancient Auster J1/Ns, of which I know that at least MTM is still flying. Instructor an irascible 72 year old called Les Hilditch.

[SKI]

1964 Radlett Auster with my dad

[xtypeman]

1975 Gulf Air VC-10 LHR-BAH-MCT, then a year later from MCT on first GF L-1011 service.

[clunckdriver]

Mark Five Anson with a Polish Flight Sergent pilot, only later did I find out that one really shouldnt loop an Anson, after I got my RCAF wings I looked him up and had a beer with him, Flt Sgt Slon{Spelling} thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

[tonytech2]

First flew from Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn New York as a Civil Air Patrol Cadet in June 1948. Aircraft was a New York Air National Guard Douglas B-26 (they had redesignated the A-26 Invader as B-26). Lost my logbook si don't know number or name of pilot but the ship had eight 0.50 in the nose, three more in each wing and four in turrets. A real gunship and a memorable first flight. Spent 52 years in aircraft maintenance so it made an impression and even worked an A-26 in mid-fifties after it landed with an engine out at the then KIDL (now KJFK).

[pigboat]

Another 1951, January. Noorduyn Norseman on straight skis.

[Bullethead]

One lap around THE hill at Griffith, NSW in a Cessna 185 in 1964 while on school hols when I was 12. I was hooked on flying right there and then. The next time I went to Griffith was in a Herc, which I was driving, to do a Medevac in 1980ish.

Regards and still flying,
BH.

[BEagle]

Summer 1962 in Piper PA-22 Caribbean G-ARDS from Lulsgate to Lulsgate with a family friend who was a member of the Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club.

I'm pleased to note that G-ARDS is still flying in Northern Ireland.

[zetec2]

Island Air Services Dragon Rapide -G-AGJG sometime 1956 (then later G-AGUF) at London Airport with Monique Agazarian at the controls, started a lifetime in aviation, oh joy, Paul H.

[zetec2]

G-APAA Auster, seem to remember fin & rudder painted with chequered black & white (am ploughing through my photos for confirmation) have done this one as well (1972 ish) but long after my first flight , we had engine failure shortly after take off (Cirrus Minor ?) quite traumatic for my wife & son in the back but with years of gliding thought nothing of it as the pilot 180'd from about 1500 feet & glided back into Sandown with ease, was an interesting "joy" flight, Paul H.

[merlinxx]

DH86 Croydon to Le Touqet early 50s with parents:E:ok: That's when I caught the malarial bug called aviation:ugh::{:E

[Chairborne 09.00hrs]

Puma XW227 during a Press jolly at Finningley, 27th July 1977 . I got the seat by the door...... :ok:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q217/John_txic666/Vulcan/XM607Fin27.jpg

[Liobian]

For me, it was my first 'aaah, de Havilland' moment - at Liverpool, late '50s, in DHC Fox Moth G-AOJH. Thankfully, both still active (more or less): cool:

[Golf Charlie Charlie]

As the site keeps prompting me that I haven't posted for a long time, I'll yield. I first flew in July 1969 on a British United Viscount from Gatwick to Le Touquet - as part of a trip to Paris on the Silver Arrow train/plane combination. In those days the train at Le Touquet came right onto the airport yards from the apron.

[goudie]

Meteor NF 11, 68 Sqdn. in '56, during detachment to RAF Sylt. Thing I remember most is, taking off into thick cloud, and then breaking out of the cloud into a brilliant blue sky. Still get a kick when that happens. Only last week, in fact, courtesy Ryanair.

[captain.speaking]

First flight : August 1962 - BOAC Britannia 102 G-ANBB Heathrow - Fiumicino - Cairo - Nairobi.

First time at the controls - RAF Chipmunk on an AEF from White Waltham November 1964.

I was amused by the various comments about people who did not feel well during their first flights - I did not have a problem for many years, until the experience of being kept in the hold for what seemed like an eternity during a thunderstorm while waiting to land at JFK. The symptons were probably not helped by the fact that having talked the check-in staff at LHR into accepting that my 100 percent interline rebate duty ticket entitled me to a seat in "F", I wandered back into "Y" half way across the Atlantic for a leg-stretch, only to encounter the Chairman of the
company I then worked for, with his wife !

[MidlandDeltic]

First flight 1969, just before my first birthday, Aer Lingus Viscount Manchester - Cork (and return a week later). Have been told I got a cockpit visit, but cannot claim to remember it!

Didn't fly again until 1994, again Aer Lingus, but EMA - Dublin on a Saab 340.

MD

[Morris542]

Mine was from Gatwick to Bordeaux on a BAe 146 in 2001. My father asked if my sister and I could have a visit to the flightdeck, the answer was no becasue there was already someone there!

[Duckbutt]

Sat in window seat on right hand side four rows up from photographer:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/1015990.jpg

July 1967, Gatwick to Bergen, SAS Caravelle OY-KRD coincidentally now preserved at Helsingor, Denmark, hence the availability of this photo.

[Proplinerman]

Later sadly to crash while with Britannia Airways.

[Proplinerman]

As it happens, I have a very brief film record of my third flight, on an Air France L1049G from La Baule in France to LHR on 4th September 1962. My father shot a twenty second cine-film sequence of passengers (including myself, my mother and one of my sisters)getting on the aircraft at La Baule, then of it taxiing out and taking off. He was returning by road, as one of my sisters could not then fly, due to an ear problem. I know the precise date, because, very helpfully, he put it on the film packet (he passed away more than twenty-five years ago). Sadly, I don't remember the flights at all, as I was only four at the time. I've put the clip up on You Tube-here's the link:

YouTube - Air France Super Constellation at La Baule, France, September 4th 1962 (http://tinyurl.com/l47vmu)

[oldboacpilot]

1)Ist flight. Summer of 1926 From field between Detling and Boxley. I don't know the type but it was a single engined biplane with 3 in line cockpits- single seats. Myself, 2 sisters and another girl squashed 2 on a seat for 10 minute flight costing 2 and 6 each!

2) Ist flight at the controls. A Miles Magister at Rochester airfield in June 1939. I did 50 hours on it and went on to fly Ansons and Oxfords before going on to Wellingtons.

3) First commercial flight; with Pan Am. Dep. Heliopolis (Cairo) Feb.3rd 1942 arrived Lagos 5th Feb in DC3. Travelled on floor! i.e. No seats , lap-straps, food or drink. You B(rought) Y.O. I had been a copilot on Wellingtons with 70 squadron in Kabrit and was returning home.

[mustbeaboeing]

Mid 1960's Glasgow (Renfrew) to London (Heathrow) BEA Vickers Vanguard

[Fantome]

Dragon Rapide at Prestwick, 1958. Ten bob for 10 minutes, saved up for weeks and paid for it myself.

You sir are a late starter. . .. . as is the case with the majority of pretenders of dubious plumage frequenting these fora.

On a less Johnsonian note . . .bumped into a bloke the other day. Turned out he'd been an airline pilot. Asked him when and where and in what he'd had his first flight. Quick as a flash he said 14th August 1948 . . . . Rapide from Wilcannia to Broken Hill. You must have been a very young tadger says I. As young as you can get says he .. . . me mum had me in that plane over Menindee Lakes. (Coincidentally showed him a couple of shots I'd taken that very afternoon of Roy Fox's Rapide in her shed at Bankstown. Must get a lottery ticket together.)

An Ansett-ANA DC6B , Essendon (Melbourne) to Mascot (Sydney) 1955, marked the beginning of my infatuation, or at least accounted for the reinforcement of it.

First plane to climb in for a dekka , though, was a retired RAAF Cat on a little lake at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, 1951. Five bob for adults in the launch to go out and climb in through the open blister. Half that for kids. They turned that beautiful boat into venetian blinds.
Should be hung drawn and filleted for that.

[SummerLightning]

British Midland Viscount from East Midlands to Brussels via Birmingham in 1975. My first trip abroad on business, sprung on me by my boss at about 12 hours' notice. I was convinced I'd be terrified, but I was enthralled right from the off. As a child, I'd been fascinated, thrilled - and sometimes frightened - by aircraft and the weather.
On the return flight in the evening, I remember the cabin filling up with blue haze after we landed at Birmingham. There were some low-key signs of concern, and eventually a couple of guys in overalls appeared, lifted a floor panel or two and went away, one of them saying it was "probably some oil". We then took off for the final, uneventful 10-minute hop to Castle Donington.
I imagine such an incident today would probably have been taken rather more (perhaps too) seriously. Very possibly I'd be more alarmed by it too: back then, it seemed like part of the adventure.

[RedhillPhil]

August 1954 returning from Cyprus to Blackbushe in a Hermes. Next one was August 1962 in a DC-6 returning to Gatwick from Malta. Then had to wait until November 1969 before returning to Heathrow from Karachi (Diverted overnight into Paris due to fog) on a VC-10. Still recall that it was flight BA 203.
I'm just SLF.

[l.garey]

A special welcome to "oldboacpilot" aged 92 (post 77 above). Is that a record?
Actually 2/6 each for 10 minutes for 4 people was quite expensive in 1926!
I wonder what aircraft it was, 3 seat in line biplane....

Laurence

PS mine was in Messenger G-AKKC from Peterborough Westwood in about 1951 (I did not keep a log then). Next was Anson VV965 at Thornaby August 1954. First real piloting in Tiger Moth G-ALTW at Cambridge on 31 July 1958 (for PPL courtesy of ATC)

[Dan Winterland]

A Britannia from Brize Norton to Akrotiri in 1966 when my dad was posted there. I remember at the age of four, trying my first olive in the in-flight catering and decicding that I liked them. Good job too, as olives were plentiful in Cyprus.


Later, as a QFI in the RAF, I was suprised at how many of my student's first flight was in a RAF Chipmunk at the commencement of their flying training. Deciding to be a pilot when you've never been airborne takes some gonads.

[Planemike]

Airwork Vickers Viking G-AIXR. Flew from Blackbushe to Nairobi (Eastleigh) in early November 1952. Two night stops on the way: Malta and Khartoum. My Dad was ex RAF so we spent quite a bit of the time "up front". Unpressurised so not above 10,000 ft.

A flight I shall always remember.

G-AIXR with Tradair at the end of her career Air-Britain : G-AIXR (http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=G-AIXR&u=reg) If I was more IT savvy I would be able to show you an image of the a/c in Airwork livery.

Planemike

[flyboy2]

A professor from the then Howard College in Durban, South Africa, took me out to Stamford Hill Aerodrome ( now a sports-stadium) where he flew me around the circuit in a Luscombe Silvaire. Much later I flew the same Luscombe & still greatly enjoyed it.

Now +26000 hours later I can still recall what a pleasure it all was.
It's fair to state that the 1st flight in any aircraft, can often be a pleasure!
:)

[avionic type]

First ever flight, rear seat in a Meteor 7 ,West Raynham 1950 on a test flight with Fighter Interception Development Squadron:):):)

[brakedwell]

1953 - Eight hour patrol over the western approaches in a Sunderland during a CCF summer camp at RAF Pembroke Dock. Caught the flying bug and joined up two years later. Got over the bug after forty years of military and commercial flying.

[AirportsEd]

Super VC10 G-ASGL LGW-LGW (with an overshoot at BRS for some reason), a charter to mark the end of commercial service with BA.

[kluge]

Chipmunk AEF RAF Finningley 1983 as a member of 148 Sqn ATC.

Pilot asked me if I had previously flown aeros in AEF.
Sorry to say I told a porky :O

Thank you sir for the full sequence :ok:



Have been in love with aeros ever since and have flown competitively. Sometimes I've even come first !

K

[Prangster]

Choose from:

1m 30 secs Anson circa 196O RAF Kinloss. First flight as an ATC cadet Me,'I wonder why we're backtracking down the length of the runway?' Soon found out why. Mighty Cheeta's roar, Annie waffles off down runway lumbers into air. Small bang, black smoke. Port eng stops. Quick forward dab on the yoke and we thump back onto runway. That's when I learned the first rule of airmanship. A runway behind you is useless!

3 weeks later:

15 seconds Sedbergh T21 Cable break on launch.

I did eventually get airborne without anymore traumas:sad:

[Tony Mabelis]

First Flight was in Tiger Moth G-ACDC December 1959, Redhill Aerodrome to Buckingham Palace and return. Remember thinking I felt so ill I might not fly again!!

First Solo Tiger moth G-APMX, 1964.

First flight in an Airliner, London to Bahrain BOAC VC10 May 1967.

Tony M

[Janu]

First time I actually flew a plane myself:
Cessna 172
G-BULH
Blackpool Airport
2004

First time I actually flew on an Airliner:
A Britannia 757 to somewhere I can't even remember.

[Fake Sealion]

Pleasure Flight - DH Heron of Moreton Air Services RAF 50th Anniversary Show RAF Abingdon June 1968.

Went on to be RN Pilot.

[rogerbucks]

Morton Air Services DH Heron from Jersey to Southampton. I was about 12, and we were due to fly on the super-new BAC 1-11; however, as I remember, there was a pilot's strike at the time, and dad somehow managed to get us on this flight back home- I remember a few 'pickets' trying to block the departure, but the single-pilot captain (no uniform) fired up the Gipsy's and they soon scattered- magic!
(I've been hooked ever since)

[RatherBeFlying]

In the early 50s, me and sis were taken along in a Bonanza from Shelby or Great Falls MT to Las Vegas where we were given a bunch of nickels or dimes to work the slots:E

There was also an airstrip along a casino that we stopped at.

We may have continued to Palm Springs or Los Angeles. I was 7 or 8 at the time; so, the details are not remembered.

I remember using a sick bag on approach to Great Falls as I also had to during my 300 km. in a glider early in the season when my tummy was out of training:\

The older Master RbF had his first flight when two and could get sick during the flare in crosswinds.

[Exnomad]

As with previous post. Anson at RNAS FORD while in school ATC squadron in 1946 or 7. On a subsequent visit to FORD by cycle found a Lancaster of my brothers Squadron through the perimeter fence after a wheels up landing.
The was an MU at Barnham near Ford, where wrecked airframes were dumped, and formed an interesting place to visit.

[Talkdownman]

Nov '57 G-APAU Sabena Bristol Frightener plus Standard Vanguard KNK351 Rochford-Middelkerke (Sahfend-Ostend).
Soon after Prentice G-APJB from Sahfend with a hairy old Polish pilot. I wonder how many future pilots were introduced to the wonder of flight via 'PJB! I believe that old Polish pleasure flight pilot was a bit of a legend...

[Proplinerman]

I saw G-APAU and PAV in service with Midlands Air Cargo at Baginton in 1972 or 1973, near the end of their lives (they were both scrapped at Lasham in 1975). These were the only two Superfreighters I saw and now, sadly, there are none left. I didn't take pictures of them-something I very much regret now.

[Noah Zark.]

Mine was in this > http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/molyned/AUSTER-1955-02R.jpg from the beach at Cleethorpes, September 1957. Piloted by Capt. Jim Crampton, later founder of AirUK.

[WHBM]

Cambrian Viscount 700 G-AMOO, Liverpool to IOM, aged 12.

Not a lot of interest before. Fascinated ever since.

[surely not]

Going back to Page 2 of this thread and a post by Kieron Kirk who posted:-

Auster 5 G-ALYD Fairoaks August 1963.

My first flight was also in an Auster at Fairoaks back in 1963 at the Tiger Club Airshow when I was 7 yrs old, but I have no idea of the month or a/c reg.

So I am wondering if Kieron your flight was also at the airshow and it was the same Auster?

First Helicopter was a BEA S61L G-ASNL, at Bigging Hill Airshow back in 1965 I think.

First Glider was at Wycombe Air Park in mid 80's. This included loops and tail slides!! It rounded off a perfect day which had started with a 30 minute flight in a Tiger Moth and both were flown by a Brymon Airways Captain who I knew from working at LGW. What an excellent day it was.

First Jet was probably the British Eagle BAC 1-11 from LHR - LPL in 1966.

[Kieron Kirk]

surely not.

Tiger Club airshow, Fairoaks took place on 29th September 1963.

I noted G-ALYD and my first flight was that day with my father.

The airshow was made more interesting during a "low level" flour bombing exercise when a Turbulent G-ARRZ collided with a VW minibus, removing in the process most of the u/c, followed by a belly landing!

The link below gives the history of G-ALYD.

Ciarain.



GINFO Search Results | Aircraft Register | Safety Regulation (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detailnosummary&fullregmark=ALYD)

[JBJB]

My first flight was in a French Caravelle in 1970, wearing a big UM sign on my chest and being taken care of by the most beautiful flight attendant I had ever met, in all my 6 years of non flying... I still remembered that flight when I had my next most significant flight, my first solo, last december, almost 40 years later...

[sunnybunny]

My first flight was in about 1965 when the Naval section of my school CCF went to Lee On Solent and we had a trip somewhere on a Sea Devon.

The next time was on a Britannia B737 to Monastir in 1978.

I'm about to do another first as someone has bought me a balloon package for my birthday.:D

My only regret was not travelling on Concorde before it was stopped.

[Gyro Drift]

Unfortunately I dont remember my first flight as I was too young but I do know from pictures what aircraft it was.
It was an Aviogenex Boeing 727, I'd love to go one one of those nowadays!

The first flight I remember was back in the early 90's on an Air 2000 Boeing 757, so nothing special compared to some of you guys!:ok:

GD

[ancientaviator62]

MY first flight was, according to my RAF Form 3822, in Avro Anson VV 894 on 25/7/56. This was at RAF Usworth the peri track of which was a covenient 100 yds from my home ! Later on I got into trouble with my ATC Co for scrounging too many flights, so I simply stopped recording them.

[Lightning Mate]

Tiger Moth G-ANOR, Roborough, Plymouth 1965.

Subsequent first solo in same aeroplane.

Last flight RAF Jaguar GR1A, 1985.

[Fake Sealion]

This thread highlights an interesting point. Today if you ask all people under say 35 yrs old what was their first flight - I think 99% would answer on an airliner -often too young to actually remember it!

I had already qualified as a RN Sea King pilot aged 24 before my first airline flight! That would be rare to impossible these days ??? My son's first airline flight was at the age of 7 months!

[johnbunting]

Mine was in a Bristol Gliding Club T-21 at Lulsgate in 1950. The instructor was J M Hobkirk. Anyone remember him?
First powered flight: in a friend's Aeronca C-3, G-AEWU, from Farnborough to Lasham, 1951. Sadly the Aeronca was squashed a year or two later when a canvas-roofed hangar collapsed on it in a heavy snowfall.

[BEXIL160]

First ever flight was rotary.

Wessex HAS1 from 771NAS at RNAS Culdrose in 1977 as a Sea Cadet on a Naval Aviation course. Spent a fun afternoon being winched in and out from various fields (didn't get wet, unlike my mate who ended up in Mounts Bay).

Didn't fly in anything with stationary wings until two years later. Brymon BN2A, probably G-BADK.

BEX

[gg190]

Manx Airlines BAe ATP from IOM to Liverpool in about 91 or 92. Don't really remember much about it!!

[Mike Echo]

First flight was (I think) a Dragon Rapide around Blackpool Tower probably mid to late 50's
First Glider T21 from Salmsbury Airfield 1968
First Light aircraft lesson PA28 G-AVRP (?) about 1971 Blackpool
First Jet Trident or BAC1-11 Manchester to LHR 1972
First Business Jet Ride G-BART (Green Shield Stamps) 1979 Heathrow
First helicopter was a short pleasure flight from RAF Finningly during an air show probably around 1973 - terrified me!

Very Happy memories

Mike Echo

[Moose47]

My very first flight was when I was a 7 year old R.C.A.F. dependant. On the 7th of February, 1961, we flew from, R.C.A.F. Unit Fort Churchill, Manitoba to R.C.A.F. Station Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was aboard a C-119G Flying Boxcar at 13,000 feet.

[Ancient Mariner]

The first of many, many flights was a SAS Sud Aviation Caravelle from Tromso to Oslo (FBU) in '69. Impressive noise level. :eek:
Per

[SandyW]

My first flight was at age 11 on 2 Aug 1951 in a BOAC Handley Page Hermes IV from Nairobi Eastleigh to London Heathrow. A 21 hour journey stopping to refuel at Khartoum, Cairo and Rome. We flew at around 10,000 to 12,000 ft and I will never forget the amazing view of theNile winding its way north, or the hot wind (the "Hamsin") when we disembarked at Khartoum. Or the spectacular view of the Alps, glaciers etc. Or the strange experience of having a white porter carry our bags, and seeing white people driving the buses in London! Or all the funny houses packed in together. Many years later I was a RAF Canberra pilot and had the pleasure of flying myself back to Eastliegh!

First solo: Tiger at Thruxton 17 Aug 1957, age 17 and 1 month
First Jet Solo: JP3 at RAF Barkston Heath 1961

[robtheblade]

First flight Sept 1967 from Jersey to Heathrow. A BEA two engine plane, perhaps someone here could tell me what type? I remember descending below the clouds and seeing a twilight London below. A most enjoyable experience.

My next flight in ’72, not so. First holiday away with a girl. Being an experienced flyer I was telling her all about flying and not to be worried. It was a Dan Air 1-11 from East Mids to Mallorca. Took off an climbed at a totally unexpected rate and scared the life out of me. So much so that for several years I was terrified of flying.
Got over my fear by visiting the hypnotist .

More memorable flights have been first 747 flight, about 1992, Tower Air from Manchester to Orlando after first plane broke down. Being allowed to sit upstairs on 747 for first time, KL to Jakarta in 1998 and last week on the remarkable A380 Dubai – Manchester.

[albatross]

1953 Norseman CF-BSE or CF-PAA of Goldbelt Airways on floats from Bachelor Lake Quebec to Noranda Quebec- not sure of the Reg as I was riding in Mom's belly - think I was listed as Cargo and probably "Dangerous Goods"
Mom and Dad ran the floatplane base for Goldbelt there - 2 log cabins and a lot of 45 gal drums of fuel. Pilots would divert from miles around on the most flimsy excuses if they knew Mom was baking apple pie ( in a wood oven )
First flight I remember was also in a Goldbelt Norseman on skis when I was 3 or 4 - it was noisy.
I still remember the first time I saw an airplane on wheels - couldn't understand where he would land. Dad told me about airports. Seemed a strange concept with so many good lakes around to go to the effort of constructing a runway. Dad took me to the airport to watch an Trans Canada airlines DC-3 land and depart. As I had seen DC-3s on skis it took me a while to understand the airport concept.

[MReyn24050]

A BEA two engine plane, perhaps someone here could tell me what type?
I think it must have been another airline as BEA's flights from Jersey were to Southhampton. Aircraft used on this route at the time were Viscount and Vanguards.

[old fart]

My mother told me that she took me up on a flight from Croydon airport when I was 3 months old,in 1946.
She had been a WAAF in the war attached to a Polish fighter squadron at Biggin Hill and was hooked on flying.
Cant remember what it was though!
Cheers

[Amos Keeto]

My first flight was from RAF Wroughton, Wilts in an all-silver Auster during an Open Day in September 1960. It was pouring with rain and at the age of 10, I was scared to death! Wish someone could tell me what the reg was? Surely someone here has a record of an Open Day at Wroughton in 1960? I remember seeing many of the Luftwaffe aircraft now in the Battle of Britain hall at Hendon, stored there on that day.

[Kiltrash]

Aged about 14?? mum and I went to see dad in London and we flew down EDI to LHR in a Vanguard in 1967??, however to date it better we flew back on a Trident, so this must have been when Tridents were taking over the route

Of note is that we almost did not stop on the runway and I can remember we needed a tow to turn

Also when did BOAC do pleasure flights in B747's ex Heathrow?? 1972?? I can remember as a treat for my 18st Birthday, 1 hour flight round southern England, and this started my interrest in all things aviation.

[R J Kinloch]

1973 in an RNZAF DC3 from Wigram to Ohakea after my recruit course

[Skittler]

My first flight was in a Brittania from Lyneham 1962, as a member of the R.A.F. Melksham A.T.C

[Petereb]

Tiger Moth G-ACDJ at Biggin Hill on 9 March 1959, I was 16.

I flew it again on my first solo on 30 May 1960, and again exactly 45 years later in May 2005. Unfortunately, it crashed later that year with fatalities and was written off.

[Non Emmett]

Shackleton from RAF St. Mawgan in 1958. Awesome.

[fleigle]

First flight ever in a T21? as Usworth when I was 8, so that must have been 1953.
First in an aeroplane, in 1968, a Britannia out of NCL to LHR, followed same day by a DC-8 to Toronto, then a Viscount that night into the US....!! what a day!
First time at the controls a J-3 (1968), first solo a C-150 (1973).
First flight as "observer" with my son as PIC in a Hawker Premier 1, after maintenance, on a repositioning flight.
Later today the possibility of the same in a Citation X.
I love it.
f

[Aero Mad]

1998, LGW - NCE on a BA Citiexpress RJ100. Except for the Trislander, the RJ remains my favourite aircraft!

[Geezers of Nazareth]

On the subject of 'first flights', I think that I need some help in working-out the date that I first flew on a DC-8 (and probably the only time!).

Can anyone suggest where to get some help?

In the mid 80s (prob '85 or '86) I went on holiday to Majorca with some friends, and we were scheduled to fly with Dan Air from Gatwick on a Saturday evening (always a bad start!). At check-in we were told that there were problems with the aircraft, and that we would be put-up in a local hotel overnight, and fly the following morning.
The following morning we came back to the airport, and went through into the Departure Lounge. At the info desk we asked about our flight, and reading the screen upside down whilst looking over the counter, our flight was listed as a DC-8. Excellent. We also discovered which departure gate we'd be usinging; despite the lady on the info-desk telling us that she had no info!
We made our way down to the end of the pier, just as a DC-8 landed ... African Safari Airways, or Air Safari (or something similar), complete with a black-and-white striped tail. As we boarded for the flight, all the seat-headrests carried the JAL logo, and most of the signage was in both 'Engrish' and Japanese.

Assuming that I can find the date, do you think it would be possible to find out which DC-8 aircraft operated that flight that day. I can't imagine that they were in Gatwick too often, so maybe some of the spotter magazines made a mention of it.

[Amos Keeto]

African Safari Airways operated several DC-8s during the '70s through the early '90s, but by 1985-86, they only had one in service I believe, and this would have been DC-8-63 5Y-ZEB. Google that registation letters, as there are several photos of it on the 'net.

[l.garey]

According to
History of ASA | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=28997107893&topic=8077)

DC-8-63 cn46122/506
Dec 1969 delivered new to KLM as PH-DEL
Jan 1972- Jan 1975 leased to Philippine Airlines as PH-DEL
Feb 1982 leased to and Jun 1982 sold to African Safari Airways as 5Y-ZEB.
Jan 1994 converted to freighter and sold to Airborne Express as N823AX
Aug 2002 sold to WFU Wilmington OH registration cancelled 2003
2006 Broken up.

No mention of it ever being Japanese.

Laurence

[Da Do Ron Ron]

Must have been about 1965 whilst at the annual school holiday at St Marys Bay in Kent we went up in a Skyways Intercity DC-3 from Lydd (may have been Lymne) for a buzz around Kent. I think 99% of us were sick as dogs ....

[Georgeablelovehowindia]

Well, we can add another 1953 tyro, and I can put precise dates on it, due to having inherited all the family passports! 30th June/1st July BOAC Canadair Argonaut Heathrow-Tripoli-Kano-Accra (Gold Coast as it was then). One hour or so after takeoff we were exploring the insides of a Cu-Nimb over France. The whole gamut: violent up/down, purple lightning flashes, and ice rattling off the props onto the fuselage sides (we were seated facing one another in the front rows, starboard side).

The experience had a profound effect on my mother, who remained petrified of flying to the end of her days. Her next exits/entries to the Gold Coast were at Takoradi, courtesy of Elder Dempster shipping lines!

[Planemike]

Assuming that I can find the date, do you think it would be possible to find out which DC-8 aircraft operated that flight that day. I can't imagine that they were in Gatwick too often, so maybe some of the spotter magazines made a mention of it.


G of N,

Reckon you would find a contact here.........
http://www.gatwickaviationsociety.org.uk

Good luck Planemike........

[Haven't a clue]

Not sure of exact year but I think 1960 IOM to Glasgow on a Bristol Wayfarer. I just remember the noise...!

Started a love affair with flying though. Once I had the right job and the right cash I just couldn't stop.

[TSR2]

IOM to Glasgow on a Bristol Wayfarer

Would that have been Silver City Airways by any chance ?

My first flight was on a Bristol Wayfarer from Blackpool to IOM.

[Haven't a clue]

Indeed I think it was Silver City. In mitigation for faulty memory I was 6 or 7 at the time.....

[mcdhu]

Joyride in a DH Rapide at an airshow at Renfrew. Must have been circa 1952-4.

Next was also in a BEA DH Rapide from Renfrew to IOM on holiday. Return was in the luxury of a DH Heron - the latest!!

Meanwhile, my Dad was at RNAS Abbotsinch (now GLA) where the fighters were the taildragging Jet Supermarine Attacker and a piston type - maybe the Sea Fury?

Happy days!
mcdhu

[ICT_SLB]

Mcdhu,
A Rapide featured in my first flight as well. It was a Cambrian one on a circuit from RAF Chivenor on their Open Day in 1959 or 60 - coming from darkest Devon I never expected to work in the aircraft industry all my life.

First jet was as Self Loading Ballast on an ECS trial of the one & only Channel 99 seat 1-11 with an aerial tour of the South West of England (EGHH-EGHH).

[The-Zenith]

I will always remember my first internal flight, mid 1970's. This was the first plane I had been in that had not originated from the UK, or a charter holiday flight. Whilst on hols in sunny Tenerife my Father decided it would be a great idea to take a day trip to Las Palmas (as it was called then) by aeroplane. Expecting to board a small DC-9 or such like, imagine my amazement when we boarded an Aviaco DC-8 EC-ARC named Goya. This is forever inprinted on my memory as we took off and got to the top of our climb, the thing hit an airpocket and dropped like a stone a few thousand feet, bearing in mind we only got to flight level 120 on a 20 minute island hop this was pretty drastic. I always remember the plane was falling to bits inside with broken seats etc, needless to say they scrapped her about 6 months later, (the joys of being a teenage spotter).:{

[Rob Courtney]

June 1974 Liverpool to Alicantie with Britannia Airways on a 737-200 G-AWSY.

In those days Liverpool didnt really have a departure lounge so we stood at the perimiter fence until our flight was called.

[Captain Dart]

'Joy Flight' as an aviation-struck kid in a Fuji FA-200 at 'Fogarty's Field', Melton, Victoria, Australia in 1970. I now have nearly 16,000 flying hours. So much water under the bridge now, but I'll never forget it!

[stevew62]

Whilst not my very first flight, this was one of the early ones....

http://www.a-k-d.com/pics/wadd_flight.jpg

I'm on the left, my ( now 70 year old ) mum, in the middle & brother on the right.

I'm glad to see the "safety strap" above my brother :-)

This must have been 1964 & probably a Hercules ( or Shackleton ) - I'm sure someone out there will know. We must have been coming back from Malaya to Europe. ( Dad was flying Javelins in Borneo ).


P.S. My mum still has those shoes & the typewriter. I lost my James Bond Aston Martin though :-(


Mods, Pic resized ... sorry

[D120A]

Not a Hercules (did not enter service until 1966) or a Shackleton (very unsuited for passengers of a young persuasion). Either a Hastings, or the passenger compartment (those seats look eerily familiar...) in the tail boom of a Beverley. Both Beverley and Hastings squadrons were at that time based in Singapore for in-theatre air transport, so presumably you were all subsequently treated to a Britannia ride home from there to Lyneham.

My respects to your mother who, like many young wives posted with families overseas in the 1960s, put up with an awful lot.:ok:

[CaseyC]

TWA flight 975-21 (N-6007-C) a Lockheed Constellation, originating in Frankfurt/German to New York, NY via Shannon, Ireland and Gander, Newfoundland.

[Speedbird48]

At Fairoaks, Surry, UK in the early/mid fifties in the back (sideways) seat of an Auster Autocrat flown by W/C Arthur.

Anyone got any idea what the Austers registration may have been??

Now 14,000hrs later I still remember, on a later occaision, being reamed out by the same W/C Arthur, who was know for such things, when I landed at Fairoaks in a Magister. I had appaerntly landed on his precious newly sown grass when the rest of the place was flagged as too wet for landing!!

Memories!! Amazing they are still there after all these years. He must have some effect on me??

Speedbird48

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Hatfield, 1965, in a tiger moth flown by my dad.
I later flew the RAF Cranwell tiger moth whilst on BFTS, and flew my Tornado F3 out of Hatfield half-fuel and maxi burner in 1993, so I got both ticks in the box.

"Whaddaya think of flying, lad?"
"I wanna be a fighter pilot when I grow up"
"Sorry lad, you can't do both"

[mat777]

It must have been a BA or Virgin 747, out to Boston when I was 6 months old, when Dad was seconded there for a year on business

[bassbellman]

Bristol Superfreighter - about 1965. BUAF Lydd-Le Touqet G-ANWJ City of Bristol. Back later that same day on G-APAU City of Edinburgh Mentioned by at least one other person in this thread. City of Bristol turned out to be an omen, since I went on to get my degree in Aero Eng at Bristol Univ. and then apprenticeship with what had recently ceased to be Bristol Aeroplane Co and was then part of BAC. Very sad recently to see Filton House apparently abandoned and in disrepair. Art Deco interior of main stairwell (Zodiac mosaic in floor) and main conference room was wonderful!

Thanks for the memories to all posters!

[khanguru]

Douglas Dakota in April 1960. I boarded at the last minute, and I had to take a jump seat just behind the pilot. It was marvelous.

[edskarf]

Speedbird48

The Auster Autocrats at Fairoaks in the early fifties were G-AHSO, G-AIGU and G-AJDV all owned by Universal Flying Services Ltd.

[brewerybod]

June,1977 in Rallye Commerdore G-AYES from Seething airfield in Norfolk,England

[Mac the Knife]

BEA Viscount LHR-GVA, probably 1959 - all alone!

Nice big windows, cabin crew spoiled me rotten.

Whizzo trip to flight deck, deaf as a post when we landed.

Very disappointed that we didn't land in a Heidi goat-pasture high in the Alps!

:)

[richh]

RCAF Dakota, late 1958, Winnipeg to Fort Churchill, returning from leave.

[oldandbald]

about 1963, quick pleasure flight in Auster 5 G-ANIE at Staverton ( I think it cost me 17s 6d) Pleased to say both the Auster and I seem to be doing well. The Auster I think is at Spanhoe marked up as TW467, must try and see it again sometime.

[PPRuNe Pop]

In September 1953. DH Dove at Portsmouth Airfield. Not sure what was better the Dove or the Rapide we should have flown in - it went tech.

[rotorfossil]

Joyride over the centre of London in a Rapide of Island Air Services ("Aggies Airline") in the '50's. Walked onto the airfield through a gap in the tatty wooden fence. Unbelievable now!

[Doug Nicholson]

ERCO Ercoupe from Delta Air Park in 1957. I was 6 years old. My mother had kittens while her brother took me up for the ride of my life.

[Speedbird48]

Hi edskarf,
Many thanks the dull grey stuff seems to recollect 'IGU with your kind reminder. Does it still exist anywhere??
speedbird48

[ricardian]

1959 - Anson trip around the Wrekin with an Air Experience Flight whilst a Boy Entrant (38th entry Teleg)
1963 - Stanstead to Bahrein in a Britannia (British Caledonian)
1963 - Bahrein to Sharjah in a Beverley
1964 - Sharjah to Ras Al Kheimah & back in a Twin Pionerr (joy ride!)
1964 - Sharjah to Bahrein in a Beverly
1964 - Bahrein to Lynheam via Cyprus in a Comet
1965 - Lyneham to Cyprus in a Britannia
1967 - Cyprus to Lyneham in a Britannia
1968 - Lyneham to El Adem via Malta in a C130
1968 - El Adem to Lyneham in a C130 (2 days in Malta awaiting spares)
1969 - Lyneham to DAF Skrydstrup in a Britannia
1969 - DAF Skrydstrup to Lyneham in a Britannia

[edskarf]

Speedbird48

It is possible that G-AIGU still exists in Scotland where it was "temporarily withdrawn from use" in 1992.

[Rick777]

TWA Connie KDCA to KSTL 1959ish. First time doing it myself was a C-172 at PHNL.

[Tranquility Base]

Cessna 182 - September 1982 Montford Bridge Airstrip, Nr Shrewsbury.
(Alas, no longer in existence).

First two flights in the this aircraft were only take-offs! Jumped out on a static line parachute. Course provided by KSLI (Flying Bugles) parachute Instructors from John Moore's barracks in Shrewsbury.

Wasn't until May 1983 that I actually landed in an aircraft ( C152-G-BHAD) at Sleap, (Shropshire Aero Club). Had the desired effect in confirming what I suspected; i.e. that flying was an addiction!

Now fly the 747-400 but remember with great affection those early experiences. :D

[hardrations]

My first flight. Was in an RCAF C 130 (Herc) on a winter exercise from Calgary to Camp Wainwright Alberta. We were on winter exercise in Feb. 1963. All the vehicles on board were white washed. On coming in to land I was lying on the hood of a jeep watching out a port hole. On touching down the props were reversed of course. Slide off the hood with leaving a long streak on the jeep with the white wash on my parka. Great laugh enjoyed by the crew and my Sgt. Eventually I ended up being in charge of flight feeding in CFB Winnipeg. So not only flew on many of the Herc's but fed the crews to.

[Super VC-10]

My first flight was from Gatwick to Schiphol in BAC One-Eleven G-AXJK Isle of Staffa in Auust 1981. Forget what the regn of the One-Eleven I flew back in was. Second flight was in Dakota G-AMPY at one of the Great Warbirds Air Displays at West Malling (best aircraft I've flown in). I've since flown in a Fokker F27, Fokker 50, Fokker 100, Convair 440, Dragon Rapide (second best), Dash-8, BAe Jetstream 3102 and BAe 146 (best jet) - all as SLF. :ok:

[baxr6t]

December 1963 in a Viscount from Hobart to Melbourne, thence to Sydney in an Electra.
I was 14 at the time.
Lifelong love affair with flying...

[WaspJunior]

Hucknall air display 1965 ish? Pleasure flight in a DC3, me aged about 5 at the time. Queued for ages with my late father in the pouring rain for a 10 minute circuit.

[Ian Burgess-Barber]

Was Aer Lingus DC3 from Manchester to Ronaldsway IOM Sept 1950 (Told I walked the whole way in the aisle - must have known I would serve as C. Crew later in life) Had my 3rd B'Day on the island and walked back to MAN same a/c? airline one week later.
Since then - as SLF:-
US Types; B707, B727, B737, B747, B757, B767. DC3, DC9, DC10, MD80 Convair 880, 990, Lockheed 1011
UK Types; Viscount, Vanguard, Trident 1,2,3, BAC 111, Comet 4B, VC10S, SHORTS 360, BAE 146, BAE 748
CAN Types; DHC 6, DHC 7
EURO Types; Caravelle, A 300, A321, ATR 42, 72
LIGHT types; N35 Bonanza, Piper Tri-Pacer, Piper Aztec, DH 83 Fox Moth, Grumman Goose, Cessna Titan, Piper Seneca 1, Auster AOP9, Pulsar, Cessna 210, DH82A
HELO Types; Bell 206, AS 350, S 61, FH1100, Hughes 500, R22

As Cabin Crew;- B747-136-236

As PPL P.I.C. (Ist Solo 13 Mar 1971 Fairoaks FA 150 G-AYRO)
C 150, FRA 150L, C152, C172, C182, PA 28-140, PA 38-112, AA5/A/B, MS892E

So, 50+ Types of levitation so far - and, every time - the thrill is still the same
Happy Landings to all
Ian BB

[Fishtailed]

First flight, around 1960, Blackpool to Isle of Man day trip on Silver City Bristol Freighter. Years later my dad admitted he was terrified as power was applied for take off.
Second flight, totally different, B747 Heathrow to Miami 1975.
First fast jet, 1984, Buccaneer XN974, Warton.
First as (student) pilot, Cessna 152, 1986 Blackpool.

[corsair]

First flight was October 1978, without referring to my logbook. Cessna 150, EI-BCV out of Dublin airport with one Mr Brendan Davis as Instructor. In order to demonstrate that despite appearances we were travelling quite fast, he descended to Fairyhouse racecourse and we circulated the chase course somewhat at the level of a taller racehorse.

Later I went solo in the same aircraft. I believe it's still extant. G-BOBV these days.

Landing back at Dublin, feeling a bit light headed. I was hooked. Returning home to my Father, who was always a bit dubious about my ambition to be a pilot. I told him, 'Well you'll never talk me out of it now.'


Looking back it was a pity he didn't try harder. I actually hate flying now. Consider it a huge waste my life. Pity really.

[european130]

BEA Vanguard G-APEG from Manchester to Heathrow in July 1967 - was taking mock "O" level exams at school so could not drive down with family to "Butlin's" in Saltdean, Brighton. So flew on my own one week later, then took the bus to Gatwick, and then train to Brighton. Brilliant spotting day at LHR and LGW. Worked as cabin crew and for an airline every since leaving school, so many flights unde rmy belt, but you never forget that first one...

[purplehelmet]

BEA Vanguard G-APEG from Manchester to Heathrow in July 1967 - was taking mock "O" level exams at school so could not drive down with family to "Butlin's" in Saltdean, Brighton. So flew on my own one week later, then took the bus to Gatwick, and then train to Brighton. Brilliant spotting day at LHR and LGW. Worked as cabin crew and for an airline every since leaving school, so many flights unde rmy belt, but you never forget that first one...

wow you did all that 5years before you were born :D.
(your profile says your 39)
you may not forget your first flight but seem's like you forgot your age and dob.:hmm:

[european130]

i know, just looked and it shows my age as 39, its 59.. typo when creating profile, only just noticed, will have to go in and change it, thanks for catching that never noticed until now

[european130]

any idea where you change and edit statistics on your profile? have look and can find everything but statistics... thanks

[purplehelmet]

ha ha. no probs mate, i had to do a double take when i read your post!:confused:.
r.e. edit your profile, if you go to the nome page, click on faq on the top banner and you should be able to edit your profile from there. good luck:ok:..

[TX/RX]

One that i'd rather forget !
It was an epic journey from Upavon to Thruxton circa 1972, in one of the infamous Thruxton Jackaroos.
My brother and I, (already scared s*******s), arrived overhead our destination, when suddenly there was a loud bang. The pilot, who, up until then had a beaming smile on his face, went very quiet and straight-faced.
I don't remember anything else, except us being shown a few days later the state of one of the pistons from the Gipsy Major - it had a hole in it the size of a golf ball !

[DownWest]

Cessna 188 Agwagon. '70 in Scotland, from Eskdalemiur to a strip near the coast. As it is a single seater, I was jammed up behind and above the pilot. Whole trip was at sub 500ft.
A

[Duns-Scotus]

Same year, airline, type, routing and probably even flight number as Georgeablelovehowindia in post 133 above...only mine was aboard George Able Love How Nan :):

BOAC Canadair C-4 Argonaut (G-ALHN Argosy), flight BA253, London-Tripoli-Kano-Accra, on 23 October 1953. Although I was only three, I remember a fair bit about the journey (after all, it was probably the most momentous experience I'd yet had!). The single event that stands out was visiting the cockpit and watching the crew at work. It must have been on the Kano-Accra leg, because it happened in bright daylight and most of the journey between London and Kano took place during the night. That crew, particularly the Captain and the navigator, whom I recall showing me his maps, are responsible for the passion for aviation that has held me in thrall ever since. I wish I knew their names. I would love to thank them. If only they knew what they'd started...

Incidentally, I have my mother to thank for all the precise information. I always knew the aircraft's identity because she talked about it sometimes (she once said, "you'd know the name of a ship you travelled on, so why not planes too?"). However, when she died, she entrusted her diaries to me, and there it all was...every air journey she'd ever made, with flight numbers, registrations, times, stops, etc!

I also once travelled on G-ALHK Atalanta, famous for being the Argonaut that brought the new Queen back to the UK on her accession, and I remember my Mum pointing out the commemorative plaque by the entrance door, making me read it out (I was 5).

rj

[Terenceskipp]

Was in a Tri-Pacer, (4 up incl pilot) out of Christchurch the old DH airfield where they built Vamp's; Venoms; & Vixen's I believe.
Think it was in about 1958, remember some Airspeed Consul's on airfield.
Followed by various trips via ATC in Chipmunk's; Piston Provost; Anson etc. (in those days you could bum a ride without too much fuss when on weekend or annual camp.
Second civilain flight 1964 in an Auster from Sandown, round the Island trip.

[xtypeman]

As SLF - Gulf Air VC-10 LHR to MCT, was on first GF L-1011 out of MCT as well. Worked out the other day have sat as SLF on about 150 Trislander sectors down in the CI the record airborne was 1hr 50mins well done Joey

[FLCH]

In a BEA Viscount when I was 7 or so, went to the cockpit and despite all the controls and switches, I thought the cupholders to stop the cups of tea sloshing around was the best thing since sliced bread.

Today after take-off, in the 757 I go to get my half drunk cup of coffee from my cupholder and get drips of spilt coffee on my left leg thanks to the take off acceleration.

Thank Gawd we wear black trousers !

[air pig]

First flight in 1973 as an air cadet at annual camp at RAF Macrihanish on a summers evening in a Chipmunk, can't remember the registration but still remember the flight. Many flights since in all sorts of aircraft including Concorde, and a Chinook, now in Lear jets and Cheyanes as a flight nurse, but you never forget your first time slipping the surly bonds of earth and seeing the world from a different place.

[Rosevidney1]

In a MOTU Lancaster Coded H D. I had never experienced such noise (helmets were not handed out and obviously there were no ear plugs or the like). Sitting on a wooden bench with 4 other ATC cadets I couldn't see much but the sight of St. Michaels mount on a clear sunny day inspired me to strive for a service career - even if I was deaf for three days afterwards!

[G-ARZG]

Air Navigation Trading's Aermacchi AL60, round Blackpool Tower.
Reg G-ARZG, hence pprune handle !

[caiman27]

1974 or thereabouts in EP.9 G-ARTV from Rush Green to Leavesden and back. Harold Best-Devereux was the pilot.

[ninjaconnie]

Aer turas Bristol 170 Mk 31 EI-APC, jump seat on an airtest out of Lydd. I think I was about 10 at the time.

[JW411]

Rapide G-ALPK at Prestwick 05.06.53.

[Centaurus]

First flight was in Lockheed Hudson VH-SMK at Camden NSW Australia. Some time in 1948 or 1949. Pilot was Captain Harry Purvis AFC and the aircraft belonged to the Sydney Morning Herald Flying Services and was used for carrying newspapers which were air-dropped.

It was a test flight following an engine change and the Hudson was a freighter with no seats except for the pilots. About six ground-staff came along for the trip and sat on the floor because there were no seat belts. I was 17 and I remember my ears hurt like hell as no one thought to brief on how to clear our ears. The engine noise on take off was painful as being a freighter all sound-proofing had been removed. If I thought that was bad enough it wasn't until I flew the Lincoln bomber several years later that I found out what REAL noise was like on take off...

[cumulusrider]

First flight (age3) back from singapore in the mid 50s in a Casavac aircraft as my sister was ill. I think it was a Hastings. Took 5 days flying all day and stopping overnight to allow the stretcher cases to go to hospital. Arrived temporarily deaf! Went back out to Singapore about a year later by troop ship! Next flight was also in singapore in a Beverley a couple of years later then back to the uk in a Brittania.

[150commuter]

Mine was on a Tupolev 104A from Moscow to Leningrad during a school trip to Russia in 1967. The boiled sweet wrappers were still on the floor from the previous flight. It didn't put me off flying though the trip as a whole, which included W&E Berlin, certainly put me off communism. I think the next few flights after that were all in propliners.
My first flight in a light aircraft was while making a film about microlighting in about 1980. If you'd told me that fifteen years late I'd have a share of my own aircraft at the same field (with rather fewer trees in the way) I wouldn't have believed you

[middlesbrough]

Actually two on the same day, 27 April 1964 1335 for one hour famil in Valetta WJ483 at RAF Hullaviington, pilot was Flt Lt Cousins, then at 1455 another 55min famil in Varsity WF325 pilot was Master Pilot Trezise. I was a 19 year old Pilot Officer trainee navigator. Happy days, finished up spending 31 years flying in the RAF.

[winter959]

My very first flight was in the early 80's, VARIG DC10-30 route FRA-GIG-GRU as SLF.
Until today, one of my best flights ever taken.

[stevef]

Sedburgh glider at Cosford in 1971. Waited and helped with launches all day in return for a five minute flight.
Second flight was from Cosford again in a Chipmunk. As well as being the first time in a powered aircraft, it was also the first time I got airsick. Aerobatics after lunch wasn't a good idea.

[handsfree]

When I was 6 months old making it around March 1956. A flight from Manchester Ringway to Vienna with BEA. Obviously unsure of exact routing or aircraft type but I am told that the hostess (this is 1956 remember, FAs hadn't been invented) changed my nappy for me. :)

[ancientaviator62]

First flight as recorded in my RAF Form 3822 was in Anson VV 994 ON 25/7/56
Rufforth - Worksop- Rufforth. I wonder what became of VV 994.

[Fake Sealion]

VV994 was sold as scrap Feb 26th 1963 at RAF Shawbury

[ancientaviator62]

FS many thanks for the information. My last mil flight was Hercules XV 196 LYN -Split-LYN. bringing to an end almost 30 happy years on the 'K'.
Is XV 196 still with us ?

[Pom Pax]

Northolt > Jersey Aug '48 & v/v BEA Dakota, this was also my Father's 2nd flight. The previous one have been from No. 6 School of Aeronautics, Denham some 30 years previous. He was always annoyed that all training ceased immediately the Armistice was signed but proud to have served in the R.F.C. and a founding member of the "Mob".
My 3rd flight was in a proper Dakota with bench seats along each side and the 1st view of the top of the fluffy stuff. (Horsham St Faith in '54)
1st jet T11 (Stradishall Aug '54) and a Chippy the same day.
1st gliding Swanton Morley VGS under Alfie Warminger (Apr '55).
1st rotary geo-chem work in the Cascades, B.C. (Sept '81)

Of note at some time in my early flights at 2 ANS from TI I must have been driven by Exnomad's elder brother in a Varsity and I certainly was driven about in a NF 10 by another Ppruner if I could find the original photos of everyone grrr http://www.pprune.org/jet-blast/266078-photos-everybody-4.html#post2100246 DON'T WORK!