First Flights
Thread Starter
First Flights
I'm currently watching some great, but like me getting on a bit, comedies on You Tube, and came to this episode. I'm sure many will not wish to watch the whole thing, although I would recommend it for your chuckle muscles, its very funny, but the initial "getting airborne sequence is very funny.
The Beverly Hillbillies - Home For Christmas - YouTube
In that vein, I was wondering if anyone would like to share their first flight experience. For me, an amazing 30 minutes in a Chipmunk from Shawbury circa 1967. A few aero's and finally allowed a "clutch". For a village lad who's most exciting experience had been a drive on the farm tractor in a field. Well, heaven. A few weeks later a T21 flight from Tern Hill I was hooked. That was 14 years old as an ATC cadet. I'm 60 now and still remember vividly those first flights. I managed to clock around 500 hours solo gliding, 5000 hours as a GE on Albert, and generally managed to fly in everything I worked on, even the wonderful Lightning. Enjoy the video, have a laugh and please share your first flights. I was just Groundcrew at the end of the day. What drew you Aircrew types in to the mob ?
Smudge
If this is repeating a previous thread please let me know, I will kill this one.
The Beverly Hillbillies - Home For Christmas - YouTube
In that vein, I was wondering if anyone would like to share their first flight experience. For me, an amazing 30 minutes in a Chipmunk from Shawbury circa 1967. A few aero's and finally allowed a "clutch". For a village lad who's most exciting experience had been a drive on the farm tractor in a field. Well, heaven. A few weeks later a T21 flight from Tern Hill I was hooked. That was 14 years old as an ATC cadet. I'm 60 now and still remember vividly those first flights. I managed to clock around 500 hours solo gliding, 5000 hours as a GE on Albert, and generally managed to fly in everything I worked on, even the wonderful Lightning. Enjoy the video, have a laugh and please share your first flights. I was just Groundcrew at the end of the day. What drew you Aircrew types in to the mob ?
Smudge
If this is repeating a previous thread please let me know, I will kill this one.
Last edited by smujsmith; 25th Jun 2013 at 22:25.
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My first flight was from Tangmere in a Slingsby Sedburgh T21 strapped on my dad's knee. Bill Verling was the pilot.
I was about 2.
I got the bug early
I was about 2.
I got the bug early
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Dan Dare 727 back from Naples in the 70's
My first flight was 4 hours in a Varsity August 1971. I had just started the main course as a U/t AEOp at Topcliffe. The flight was to qualify for student flying pay. I still remember the soup served from flasks.
Half hour in a De Havilland Rapide from St Just, Cornwall, in 1968 as my 8th birthday present. Sight-seeing flight around Land's End, accompanied by my dad who had been a Flt Lt Dakota pilot in Burma 1944-46 and explained everything that was going on in superb detail. How I miss being able to ask his sage advice 14 years after he took off on his last flight.....
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Chippie out of White Waltham around the same time as Smudge, I didn't log that then.
First logged flight was a Comet C4 out of Lyneham in 1976, just over three hours mainly "local flying". One cadet kept a note on how many approaches made by counting the number of times he saw a sewage works I was told.
First logged flight was a Comet C4 out of Lyneham in 1976, just over three hours mainly "local flying". One cadet kept a note on how many approaches made by counting the number of times he saw a sewage works I was told.
Aged 13, Anson serial ISTR TX219. Worried to death I would not like it as since the age of 5 I had wanted to fly and, strangely, go to Cranditz. Too much "Reach for the Sky" I guess. Really enjoyed the flight though.
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Aged 10 - my grandad took me on holiday to Jersey.
Yeadon to Jersey and return in a Viscount.
First RAF Flight was a VC10 jolly when I was at Swinderby - a few hours rocking and rolling over the North Sea from Waddington.
Yeadon to Jersey and return in a Viscount.
First RAF Flight was a VC10 jolly when I was at Swinderby - a few hours rocking and rolling over the North Sea from Waddington.
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JJ ... So you didn't have the giant spoiler board attached then
Last edited by Jumping_Jack; 26th Jun 2013 at 08:21.
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First flight was in a BEA DC3 from Sumburgh down to Dyce, at the age of 5 - it was quite turbulent and I was sick as a parrot all the way.
First solo in a Slingsby Sedbergh at Catterick when I was 16 yrs old. It was a v hot summer day and after I landed I took a swig from a bottle I spotted on the grass next to the caravan. Thing is, it wasn't water, it wasn't even lime squash - yeuch !! Once more I was sick as a parrot!
Rgds SOS
First solo in a Slingsby Sedbergh at Catterick when I was 16 yrs old. It was a v hot summer day and after I landed I took a swig from a bottle I spotted on the grass next to the caravan. Thing is, it wasn't water, it wasn't even lime squash - yeuch !! Once more I was sick as a parrot!
Rgds SOS
Last edited by SOSL; 26th Jun 2013 at 10:34.
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WTF?
Errr.......Is this pessimistic irony or what? Call me, 'Confused far way'.
My first flight was in a Whirlwind (Helo) at Lossie aged 5. They left the door open and I remember being terrified. Absolutely cringing against the forward bulkhead. My Dad being a Chiefy Engineer didn't quite get it.
Second flight I was seven, in a Chipmunk sitting on my Dad's lap. He foreswore fastening the parachute and just sat on it. That was fun. That was when I got hooked. Strangely, many years later, I did my ab initio on Chipmunks - it was like coming home. Delightful aeroplane.
Mrs TT2 being as she, is of a Lao persuasion always gives me a slap when I look to the sky at an aircraft and say "Sexy". Tssskkkkk.......She doesn't quite get it, alas.
My first flight was in a Whirlwind (Helo) at Lossie aged 5. They left the door open and I remember being terrified. Absolutely cringing against the forward bulkhead. My Dad being a Chiefy Engineer didn't quite get it.
Second flight I was seven, in a Chipmunk sitting on my Dad's lap. He foreswore fastening the parachute and just sat on it. That was fun. That was when I got hooked. Strangely, many years later, I did my ab initio on Chipmunks - it was like coming home. Delightful aeroplane.
Mrs TT2 being as she, is of a Lao persuasion always gives me a slap when I look to the sky at an aircraft and say "Sexy". Tssskkkkk.......She doesn't quite get it, alas.
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BOAC Argonaut in 1950 aged 8, Heathrow to Singapore for first summer hols at boarding school. Took 4 days. Night stops at Rome, Cairo and Karachi. Best hotels, trips to Vatican, pyramids. Those were the days!
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First flight July 1965 aged 5 weeks - Trooping flight Aden to UK
First RAF aircraft 19 Apr 1979 Chipmunk WK562 ATC AEF at Filton
First after joining up 1 Mar 1984 Puma XW234 - AEF at Swinderby
First RAF aircraft 19 Apr 1979 Chipmunk WK562 ATC AEF at Filton
First after joining up 1 Mar 1984 Puma XW234 - AEF at Swinderby
Last edited by November4; 26th Jun 2013 at 10:15.