My First Ever Flights

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 27 Oct 2003, 10:02

I had my first ever flights when I was four years old. I don't really remember much about this myself, but my Mum gave me more details. Sorry in advance for the usual lack of detail.

My first ever holiday abroad was Tenerife. We flew from Gatwick with British Airtours, which was the charter subsidiary of British Airways. This airline had been created from British European Airtours, who had operated the Comet 4, on the creation of British Airways. The Comets were phased out in November 1973 and replaced by the Boeing 707. This is what we went on (though I don't know the registration).

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/406478/M/

We flew at around 40,000 feet, and apparently it was quite a clear flight (we were flying in November).

This was taken by my Mum inside the 707.

This is the view we had through the 707 window.

I enjoyed the flying, and when we were in Tenerife we booked a day trip to El Aiiun in Spanish (now Western) Sahara. We flew with Iberia on a DC9, which at that time was rear loading instead of the usual airbridges. My Mum said all the other passengers let us get on the aircraft first, but I don't remember that. We flew via Las Palmas, where we had a delay because of fog in El Aiiun.

This Boeing 727 of Iberia was taken in Las Palmas.

A four year old spotter learns the trade!

An Iberia DC9 in Tenerife North Airport
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/435203/M/

I really loved my first holiday by air, and the following year we flew to New York with BA for my first ever 747 flight.

Post by **sn26567** » 27 Oct 2003, 10:07

Fantastic memories, Comet. And very nice picture of a lovely young spotter.

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 27 Oct 2003, 10:13

Thanks for the comments Andre. My Mum insisted I put that spotter photo on, I never even knew it existed until a couple of weeks ago!!

It is just a shame that British Airtours phased out the Comet in 1973, whilst Dan Air kept their's flying until 1980, then I might have been able to fly on my namesake!

I'm sorry about the blue cast on the wing photo, but I was scanning from transparencies (slides) and the results are never the same as for ordinary prints.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 27 Oct 2003, 18:21

It's a great report and as André allready mentioned the photo of the young spotter is just very nice.

Ciao
Chris
8)

777 · Post by **777** » 27 Oct 2003, 18:30

Very nice story, Comet, makes some memories come up.

see you

andre

vliegtuigfreak · Post by **vliegtuigfreak** » 27 Oct 2003, 19:16

Nice report!

Greetingzz
Sonny

SierraFoxtrotMike · Post by **SierraFoxtrotMike** » 27 Oct 2003, 19:26

Cool report Louise ! It gave my also my first ever flights, not the very first one because i had 3 weeks

...

Regards

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 28 Oct 2003, 10:10

Glad you liked it guys, I'm just sorry I couldn't put more details into it. But I am glad that I found out how to add pictures to posts and have them show instead of getting one of those little red crosses every time!

I have another flight report about the 707, that will come later.

Mig17pilot · Post by **Mig17pilot** » 30 Oct 2003, 14:38

wow excellent im envious of you !!!!!!! you have pictures of trip !
my first memories of a flight was aboard (American Airlines?) 747 early 70's

Luka · Post by **Luka** » 13 Nov 2003, 10:28

The first time I travelled was when I was 3, from Perth in Australia to Bangkok!

I would tell you more about it, but I really don't remember! I heard from my parents that I was really scared during take-off and landing!

And look at me now, who would have known! 8)

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 13 Nov 2003, 10:37

I know the feeling Luka. On my first flight on a 747 my Mum told me details I was not prepared to report on here for fear of embarrassment (I was only 5 at the time, it was the year after these flights took place!) But it was an extremely rough, turbulent flight and I had never experienced severe turbulence like that before (or since!)

Welcome to Luchtzak by the way, I noticed that was your first post.

nwa757 · Post by **nwa757** » 21 Nov 2003, 03:47

Great trip report!

Comet wrote:I know the feeling Luka. On my first flight on a 747 my Mum told me details I was not prepared to report on here for fear of embarrassment (I was only 5 at the time, it was the year after these flights took place!) But it was an extremely rough, turbulent flight and I had never experienced severe turbulence like that before (or since!)

I had a flight like that once. It was on a Northwest DC-10 from Phoenix to Minneapolis. I was younger then and I was so scared from the turbulance that I thought we were going to die. When we landed in Minneapolis i rushed to the bathroom to :pukey:

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 21 Nov 2003, 10:07

While we're on the subject of embarrassment nwa757, I really showed myself up after my first long haul flight by throwing up in the hotel dining room!!

Glad you liked the report.

JetB · Post by **JetB** » 21 Nov 2003, 12:26

Hey Louise,

I'm taking my sister's kids (4 en 7) to London Stansted next week.

It's going to be there first flight ever, the oldest one is talking about fliying for over a year now.

They dont know a thing, so its going to be a big suprise, maybe i can post a few pics next week.

But anyway thats why I booked Ryanair....... cheap and safe

Bob

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 21 Nov 2003, 14:41

At least if you're taking children on Ryanair they will let you board first! That's the only thing they seem to have in common with the proper airlines.

Bob - please take photos of your experience, and post them on here, I would be very interested to see them, I have seen very few photos of the Ryanair experience!

JetB · Post by **JetB** » 21 Nov 2003, 15:24

I will Louise, but did you know that it is forbidden to take pictures on board of a Ryanair plane !

Anyway, I dont think they are going to kick my out at 3000 feet

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 21 Nov 2003, 15:33

Bob - I never knew that Ryanair didn't allow photography on their aircraft (so they obviously have aircraft interiors to be ashamed of!!)

The only time I've really come across restrictions on photography has related to the use of a video camera - which you shouldn't do during take off and landing (that is a real pity because that is the time of the flight when the best footage is there to be photographed).

744rules · Post by **744rules** » 21 Nov 2003, 17:18

Bob,
a small question . The fact that you cannot take pictures inside a RYR a/c, is this a company procedure ?? The reason that I ask is that according to some old law , it is forbidden to photograph Belgium from the air, unless with special permission. I know it is stupid and nobody cares about it, but if remember well it dates from during the war (WW 1 or WW2) and nobody ever thought of canceling it.

Maybe Twan can give some more details

Post by **luchtzak** » 21 Nov 2003, 17:25

Indeed 744rules, it's not allowed because it can be seen as espionage

Anyway I think Sabena_690 has broken the law then, check his Ryanair airlinemeal:

https://www.aviation24.be/showpic-438_dateD.html

greetings,

Bart
:rock:

744rules · Post by **744rules** » 21 Nov 2003, 17:31

Bart,

is this some kind of hi-tech trick (

) ?

You know that on television everything filmed in front of a blue background can be filtered away (blue key procedure or something like that)

:jump2: