Heathrow - Your first flight
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Esher, Surrey
Posts: 466
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Our first flight - a VC10 to TLV Oct65 ( with my wife of one day)
My daughter - first flight was on Concorde 8 months before she was born.
(Now that must be a rare claim.)
It was an engineering trip round the bay. My wife won the raffle and got the jump seat for landing.
My Daughter had seat 1A on her next Concorde to WAS.
On her final trip back to LHR on a Sunday night shortly before it retired a burst tyre left Concorde sitting sadly on the end of 09L and a two hour wait for a coach.
I eventually got an interesting leg into MIA.
SIX- yes just a total of six SLFs so the takeoff was impressive with such a light load.
Jump seat into MIA and then an unusual situation, a U turn in a cul de sac due to a mix up on gate nos. A most odd feeling forward of the nose gear.
So that included a sunset, a sunrise in the west and another sunset.
My daughter - first flight was on Concorde 8 months before she was born.
(Now that must be a rare claim.)
It was an engineering trip round the bay. My wife won the raffle and got the jump seat for landing.
My Daughter had seat 1A on her next Concorde to WAS.
On her final trip back to LHR on a Sunday night shortly before it retired a burst tyre left Concorde sitting sadly on the end of 09L and a two hour wait for a coach.
I eventually got an interesting leg into MIA.
SIX- yes just a total of six SLFs so the takeoff was impressive with such a light load.
Jump seat into MIA and then an unusual situation, a U turn in a cul de sac due to a mix up on gate nos. A most odd feeling forward of the nose gear.
So that included a sunset, a sunrise in the west and another sunset.
My first flight into Heathrow (incidentally also my first Jet commercial flight) as a passenger - May '71 - from Le Bourgeut in BEA Trident 1. Nearly had an orgasm as the Spey's revved up for Take-off. It was a late friday afternoon lightly loaded flight, enabling me to get home in time to watch the Cup Winners Cup Final replay on tv (Real Madrid v Chelsea)!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 43
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GLA-LHR, Sat 27 June 1992 on G-ELDG, an ex Austrian DC9-32 flying for British Midland. This was only my second ever type as my previous flights had been on the BAeATP and boy was a jet something different. The service was great and they had light grey leather seats at that time, awfully slidey (!) Back to Scotland on G-OBMB, a B737-300. *sighs* Happy days........and looking at some of the above posts 1992 isn't as recent as we'd all like to think 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just a small deviation
Just a slight deviation from the topic but thought it just might interest you. First flight was on Vickers Viking, G-AGRW. Had just started in the airline game as an aircraft electrician with a company called Overseas Aviation at Gatwick (well its nearly LHR) We had taken the main section of the port wing off because of a fuel leak. Well after completion that called for a test flight, so having not flown before asked if I could go up. No such thing as health and safety in those days and if the ARB were not around then there was no problem. We flew out over Brighton climbing all the way. When over the sea the dear pilot decided to see if he could make me and others sick so did some serious nose dives. His excuse was that he was testing the wing!!!!
As you can read all was well and the aircraft now sits on plinths next to a Macdonald fast food place near Vienna airport.
As you can read all was well and the aircraft now sits on plinths next to a Macdonald fast food place near Vienna airport.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: any town as retired.
Posts: 2,182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cessna 336 from LGW to LHR
Never flown the 336, but was current on the 337.
Never been to LHR before...NO charts.......very gusty...23.....
I think after the 3 touchdowns, to south side....picked up the owner. a Mr H. Green, (he of the quiz games), and took him to Exeter.
Retruned back to London by train.
glf
Never been to LHR before...NO charts.......very gusty...23.....
I think after the 3 touchdowns, to south side....picked up the owner. a Mr H. Green, (he of the quiz games), and took him to Exeter.
Retruned back to London by train.
glf
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Surrey Hills
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hughie Green was a pilot........
"Green served as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, ferrying aircraft across the Atlantic with RAF Ferry Command. After being declared bankrupt following a failed legal action against the BBC, he married Montreal society beauty Claire Wilson and took Canadian citizenship, working in the aircraft industry as a ferry transport pilot, a stunt pilot and from 1947 on his return to London involved in business activities that included selling aircraft."
"Green served as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, ferrying aircraft across the Atlantic with RAF Ferry Command. After being declared bankrupt following a failed legal action against the BBC, he married Montreal society beauty Claire Wilson and took Canadian citizenship, working in the aircraft industry as a ferry transport pilot, a stunt pilot and from 1947 on his return to London involved in business activities that included selling aircraft."
Last edited by aviate1138; 23rd Aug 2009 at 09:38. Reason: thread drift......
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Channel Islands
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First flight was on a Dove training up to Cranfield, Blackbushe and all over the place. First flight as a real airline pilot was as a 2nd officer with Jack Latus as the Captain. It was an 18 day trip to Tokyo and back. Stopped everywhere there and back.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My first flight out of LHR. As a pax, on a Pan Am Boeing 747, September 6th, 1970. My mother, sister brother and I were flying to JFK to join my father who was working in the US at that time.
I was six years old and can see now in my mind that beautiful white 747 in Pan Am colours with the blue cheatline and globe on its tail parked by the terminal as we boarded.
I have kept a 'Passenger Flying Log' book all my life, recording each flight I take! It's like a diary of one's life in a way and brings back so many happy flying memories.
It was a beautiful day, blue skies and although we were just flying economy, we all dresssed well for the occasion, mother and sister in posh frocks, my brother and I in suits. Yes we used to fly like that in those days! It was quite an event. I can still smell that Jet A1 fuel coming from the aircrafts APU as we climbed aboard.
Taking off and gripping the seat as we thought the wing and engines were about to fall off as they flexed. Only to be re-assured by a well dressed Pan Am Stewardess that it was quite normal for them to flex!
Enjoying a economy class meal 40,000 feet above the Atlantic, we all felt VIP's! Then the excitement of the in-flight movie! Landing at JFK and meeting my father.
Happy days! I believe we departed some time late morning or lunch time, no idea of flight number or aircraft registration, is there some way to find out? I did not record the registrations in those days. I guess there could not have been too many 747's flying in 1971, this must have been one of the first.
I was six years old and can see now in my mind that beautiful white 747 in Pan Am colours with the blue cheatline and globe on its tail parked by the terminal as we boarded.
I have kept a 'Passenger Flying Log' book all my life, recording each flight I take! It's like a diary of one's life in a way and brings back so many happy flying memories.
It was a beautiful day, blue skies and although we were just flying economy, we all dresssed well for the occasion, mother and sister in posh frocks, my brother and I in suits. Yes we used to fly like that in those days! It was quite an event. I can still smell that Jet A1 fuel coming from the aircrafts APU as we climbed aboard.
Taking off and gripping the seat as we thought the wing and engines were about to fall off as they flexed. Only to be re-assured by a well dressed Pan Am Stewardess that it was quite normal for them to flex!
Enjoying a economy class meal 40,000 feet above the Atlantic, we all felt VIP's! Then the excitement of the in-flight movie! Landing at JFK and meeting my father.
Happy days! I believe we departed some time late morning or lunch time, no idea of flight number or aircraft registration, is there some way to find out? I did not record the registrations in those days. I guess there could not have been too many 747's flying in 1971, this must have been one of the first.
The first of oh so many as it turned out was Thanksgiving Day 1971 on BOAC 747 -100 to JFK and onward -on a standard VC10 to Barbados a regualr BOAC alternative to direct V10 service to the Caribbean.
Even though I was 20 I was very excited as it was my first flight -staff travel c/o Dad and we picked out own seats thanks to the guy who lived two doors down and was a BOAC Redcap Despatcher. Thanksgiving Dinner on board too- Pumpkin pie and all.
En route to two weeks holiday with my best mate and a couple of his airline friends -only way four twenty-ish lads could afford the Caribean in 1971 was airline staff travel. An adventure in itself of course with the will we wont we worry about getting on often. Followed by frantic dashes through the terminal to the aircraft just before doors closed if you were lucky and a glum journey home to try again tomorrow if you were not.
Anyone else on here have memories of the tiny little staff travel check in room on the end of Terminal 3 ?? PB. A few dramas acted out there over the years I am sure.
PB
Even though I was 20 I was very excited as it was my first flight -staff travel c/o Dad and we picked out own seats thanks to the guy who lived two doors down and was a BOAC Redcap Despatcher. Thanksgiving Dinner on board too- Pumpkin pie and all.
En route to two weeks holiday with my best mate and a couple of his airline friends -only way four twenty-ish lads could afford the Caribean in 1971 was airline staff travel. An adventure in itself of course with the will we wont we worry about getting on often. Followed by frantic dashes through the terminal to the aircraft just before doors closed if you were lucky and a glum journey home to try again tomorrow if you were not.
Anyone else on here have memories of the tiny little staff travel check in room on the end of Terminal 3 ?? PB. A few dramas acted out there over the years I am sure.
PB
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Chedburgh, Bury St.Edmunds
Age: 81
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
An Ian Allen 'evening Air Cruise ' for an hour, Trident 2. Down to Devon and back, tight turn with plenty of 'g' over Saltash Bridge. Managed to be on the flight deck for the landing on my very first airliner ride. I was still there after we had shut down on stand. Subsequently various 747s and A340.s etc. and Concorde BOAB. Got caught in the morning rush hour on AA 777 the other week, 20 mins in the hold, then shut down just off a taxi-way for 20mins whilst waiting for a stand. Always found Heathrow a magical place from my early plane watching days of BEA Pionairs, Hunting Clan Yorks, Stratocruisers etc.,
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: U.K.
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PB - that brings back memories. (Not with BOAC/B.A. though)
Dropped off at LHR T.3 to go and visit the old man in SIN when I was about 18.
Got to check-in to be informed no staff travel today. Shucks, SIA's first 747 was on the ramp on del from Seattle. Could I get on that - No! Father was on the other 747 going Seattle westbound - darn it.
Got out the next day.
Dropped off at LHR T.3 to go and visit the old man in SIN when I was about 18.
Got to check-in to be informed no staff travel today. Shucks, SIA's first 747 was on the ramp on del from Seattle. Could I get on that - No! Father was on the other 747 going Seattle westbound - darn it.
Got out the next day.
My first Heathrow ( LAP North ) arrival was in July 1957 aboard a BOAC Britannia 102 from Nairobi. Also flew from North side in 1958 in a BOAC Argonaut.
Planemike
Planemike
Plastic PPRuNer
BEA Viscount LHR to Geneva, '57 or '58
Very exciting seeing the Alps through those big windows!
Best thrill was a visit to the flight deck and the pretty hosties.
Mac
Very exciting seeing the Alps through those big windows!
Best thrill was a visit to the flight deck and the pretty hosties.
Mac
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Turning base leg
Age: 65
Posts: 4,717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First in and out - 02 August 1982 on G-BJXJ, a 737-200. We diverted in. Can't remember why. We should have routed ATH-LGW after a weekend in Athens. The Captain was Dick Brownie. RR
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Channel Islands
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
pax brittanica.
That staff travel place underneath 221 was a terrible place to be, anxious place as well, as if you actually got your ticket you had to move pretty fast to get through to the gate. Youd never make it these days with security as it is.
Thank God for hotlines at least you know if your going to get on !!!!
I always heard that the best people to know in BOAC/BA were the "space control" people.
That staff travel place underneath 221 was a terrible place to be, anxious place as well, as if you actually got your ticket you had to move pretty fast to get through to the gate. Youd never make it these days with security as it is.
Thank God for hotlines at least you know if your going to get on !!!!
I always heard that the best people to know in BOAC/BA were the "space control" people.
Still Trampin' the Ramp
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Right in the middle of UK
Age: 76
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for bringing this thread to the top again.
Also thanks to ChrisVJ, Rotorfossil and all the others for confirming my memories of a sightseeing Dragon Rapide trip in the mid 50's. I must have been 6 or 7 and used to visit LAP regularly - ah, the memories fade but the thrill at the time...... I also seem remember watching BEA Daks & Vikings at Northholt about the same era or is my memory playing tricks?
RT
Also thanks to ChrisVJ, Rotorfossil and all the others for confirming my memories of a sightseeing Dragon Rapide trip in the mid 50's. I must have been 6 or 7 and used to visit LAP regularly - ah, the memories fade but the thrill at the time...... I also seem remember watching BEA Daks & Vikings at Northholt about the same era or is my memory playing tricks?
RT