Where did you go on your first airplane ride? (beach, take, Phoenix)

[stillkit]

I'm not sure. It was either from LAX to El Paso, TX or a tourist flight around San Diego on a helicopter. In any case, I was a teenager and it was the 1960's.

I never did like flying, especially after the Army, and tried to stay off airplanes for years. Surprisingly, the last few times I've flown recently, I've actually come to enjoy it.

Maybe that's 'cuz I'm now too old to worry about dying.

[cokatie]

3 years old, 1966 when everyone dressed up in their Sunday best for the flight! And I mean gloves for women, suit, tie and hat for men, and I felt like the cat's pajamas with a little handbag matching my own outfit and little hat! Was going to Scotland to visit family on PanAm - or was it BOAC???

[04JETTA]

Chicago to Los Angles United Airlines
(KORD) (KLAX)

[CHIP72]

My first flight didn't occur until I was 17 years old, but I flew by myself from Allentown (ABE) to Las Vegas via Detroit to visit relatives in July 1990.

I've probably actually used Amtrak more than I've flown in my life. I do know I like traveling via Amtrak better than airplane - I'm 6'3'' with long legs, so flying while sitting in coach can be uncomfortable when the person sitting in front of you reclines the seat. I do like looking out the window on clear days through and seeing the land below; I like to have a road atlas with me in the seat to see where I'm flying over.

[GreenGene]

1966 - I was 14 - flying from Boston to Washington, DC.

My father had been transferred to Washington, and my mother and I flew down (and were supposed to fly back) to visit with him and to look for a place for us to live (my mother had been busy - and needed to do more - packing up/weeding out/selling our house).

It was a propeller-driven plane - I don't know what make/model - and it took the better part of two hours to make the trip. I loved it - had a ball.

My mother, on the other hand ... well, as soon as we were up in the air and she could do so, she ordered a drink, and downed it quickly. For the rest of the trip, she read a paperback she had brought along ... or so I thought.

I was busy looking out the window, and giving a running commentary on what I could and couldn't see, thinking that my mom would appreciate it. But after a while, when she didn't say anything, I looked over at her.

She had the paperback open in front of her ... upside down! And she stayed like that the rest of the trip, stuck on one upside down page, eyes not moving, until we were coming in for a landing. At that point, I noticed two changes. Her eyes closed, and her knuckles turned white.

While I was havin' a ball, she was scared to death.

We took the bus back to Boston.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by CHIP72

My first flight didn't occur until I was 17 years old, but I flew by myself from Allentown (ABE) to Las Vegas via Detroit to visit relatives in July 1990.

I've probably actually used Amtrak more than I've flown in my life. I do know I like traveling via Amtrak better than airplane - I'm 6'3'' with long legs, so flying while sitting in coach can be uncomfortable when the person sitting in front of you reclines the seat. I do like looking out the window on clear days through and seeing the land below; I like to have a road atlas with me in the seat to see where I'm flying over.

I like to dispense with the atlas and figure it out for myself.

[skinem]

I was two...flew from Columbus AFB to Lowrey AFB in some old prop plane. I remember standing under the wing looking at the prop and engine, and remember a few things inside. I've flown so many times so long, most of my earlier flights kinda blur.

I remember much more clearly the first little private plane/Piper Cub type flight I went on...I was 5. Thought it was the coolest thing in the world...but, then dad was an AF pilot and I thought he was a god/hero.

Of course, most of those pilots thought they were, too...

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by skinem

I was two...flew from Columbus AFB to Lowrey AFB in some old prop plane. I remember standing under the wing looking at the prop and engine, and remember a few things inside. I've flown so many times so long, most of my earlier flights kinda blur.

I remember much more clearly the first little private plane/Piper Cub type flight I went on...I was 5. Thought it was the coolest thing in the world...but, then dad was an AF pilot and I thought he was a god/hero.

Of course, most of those pilots thought they were, too...

Your post reminds me of a flight I took once on Trans-Texas Airlines (TTA---also known as Tree Top Airlines).

The aircraft was some kind of old Convair with two piston engines. They belched smoke and fire when started, stuttered, popped, wheezed and finally kicked off.

On the flight from Dallas down to Ft. Polk, the pilot and co-pilot would periodically examine the engines with flashlights pointed out the window. I hope they had at least a FEW instruments in the cockpit to supplement that, but I wouldn't bet on it.

We were so low that we could literally see TV's glowing through peoples windows and pine tree's just below!

Of course, since then, I've flown on some little rinky dink foreign airlines which aren't much better today, but that flight was something unexpected in America of the 1960's.

[chilaili]

Singapore to UK (I won't say what year). I was 11 months old and my parents were being moved as my Dad's posting to Singapore was up and the Army was sending him to Germany next. They made a quick stopover in England so they could get me christened and invite The Family to the event.

[skinem]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Your post reminds me of a flight I took once on Trans-Texas Airlines (TTA---also known as Tree Top Airlines).

The aircraft was some kind of old Convair with two piston engines. They belched smoke and fire when started, stuttered, popped, wheezed and finally kicked off.

On the flight from Dallas down to Ft. Polk, the pilot and co-pilot would periodically examine the engines with flashlights pointed out the window. I hope they had at least a FEW instruments in the cockpit to supplement that, but I wouldn't bet on it.

We were so low that we could literally see TV's glowing through peoples windows and pine tree's just below!

Of course, since then, I've flown on some little rinky dink foreign airlines which aren't much better today, but that flight was something unexpected in America of the 1960's.

Sounds like some flights I've had in less developed areas of the world.--Once landing at DFW in a "real" jet in the late 1970's, we flew over a golf course so low I could see a golfer's gold-rimmed glasses as he looked up at us with his mouth open...

My first flight was pretty standard for 1950s...well, I guess it was...as a two year old I wasn't exactly up to speed on that issue.