My very first Flight.
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.
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.
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First Flight
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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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.
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According to
History of ASA | Facebook
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
History of ASA | Facebook
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
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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 ....
Death Cruiser Flight Crew
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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!
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!
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.
Reckon you would find a contact here.........
http://www.gatwickaviationsociety.org.uk
Good luck Planemike........
Last edited by Planemike; 5th Dec 2010 at 22:25.
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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.
Started a love affair with flying though. Once I had the right job and the right cash I just couldn't stop.
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Haven't a clue
IOM to Glasgow on a Bristol Wayfarer
My first flight was on a Bristol Wayfarer from Blackpool to IOM.
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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
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
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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).
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).
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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).
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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.
In those days Liverpool didnt really have a departure lounge so we stood at the perimiter fence until our flight was called.