My very first Flight.

[Rick777]

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

[Tranquility Base]

First Flight

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.

[hardrations]

Snow Chinski 1963

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.

[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]

1st Flight

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]

First Flight

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]

Originally Posted by 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...

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

[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!.
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..

[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]

First Flight

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]

My first flight

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 !