My first flight was....

[Aviador]

Inspired by a post in a different thread, I thought it would be a great idea to be able to share our first flight experiences. The year if you remember, where you were going, the aircraft type you travelled on, the airline you flew with and any other experiences you had during your journey.

My first flight was with Britannia Airways 737-200 around 1982. I was travelling to Alicante with family from Leeds Bradford Airport, back then it was more commonly known as Yeadon Airport. My flight was pre runway extension when the runway was in the region of around 1600m. I can recall being thrown back into my seat as the aircraft excellorated down the runway.

#Nostalgia #BritanniaAirways #LeedsBradford

View media item 5887
This was the aircraft, picture from the forum archives.

 

[YorkshireLad]

My first flight was in April 2014 with TAP Air Portugal from Manchester to Lisbon. I believe the aircraft was an A320. It was my first holiday further than Brighton and my mum was scared to death of flying (I think she didn't open her eyes the whole flight). It wasn't too long after when I became hooked to aviation and I never looked back

 

[Silvercity]

I dont know the date, but in the 70s Dan Air Comet4 LGW - PMI

 

[Kevin Farnell]

My first flight was also on a Comet 4B (without the wing fuel tanks) of BEA Airtours from LGW - GRO. Below, is a very young me (aged about 6), accompanied by my Mom and my little Sister.

 

[Silvercity]

My first flight was also on a Comet 4B (without the wing fuel tanks) of BEA Airtours from LGW - GRO. Below, is a very young me (aged about 6), accompanied by my Mom and my little Sister.

Great hat !

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Great hat !

One has to travel in style!

 

[Silvercity]

I think taking photos as you disembarked must have been a bit of a thing. I've a black and white one of me in a scapbook somewhere. I'm coming down steps with my nan at Barcelona Airport from a British Airtours 707. There must have been photographers taking photos of the passengers.

One has to travel in style!

Quite so 😉

 

[Seasider]

My first commercial flight was May 1966 from BLK to IOM by BUA(CI) airline. I was as sick as a ....., as It was very turbulent. It took 40 mins, coming back the following week took 20 mins.
My very first flight was an air experience flight in a Chipmunk in 1964.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I think taking photos as you disembarked must have been a bit of a thing. I've a black and white one of me in a scapbook somewhere. I'm coming down steps with my nan at Barcelona Airport from a British Airtours 707. There must have been photographers taking photos of the passengers.

The photo that I've shown was taken by a Spanish photographer. They seemed to photograph everyone and then a week or so later when you were departing, they would be there with the photos printed and in a little folder. I'm so glad that my parents decided to buy one. I only wish that the aircraft registration was visible.
I remember, years later discussing the flight with my Dad. He was insistent that we flew with Dan-Air (and that it was a week after a Dan-Air Comet crash - I think from MAN). It wasn't until after he died and I was looking through a suitcase full of photographs, that I found the above photo. Quite clearly BEA.

 

[thunderchild]

Mine was an Orion A300 from Birmingham to Palma - I was 18 months old at the time so unfortunately I don’t remember it. I have a vague recollection of a Monarch 757 from Venice but I think my first true memory as a BA 747 from Gatwick to Orlando and a visit to the cockpit.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Mine was an Orion A300 from Birmingham to Palma - I was 18 months old at the time so unfortunately I don’t remember it. I have a vague recollection of a Monarch 757 from Venice but I think my first true memory as a BA 747 from Gatwick to Orlando and a visit to the cockpit.

Flightdeck visits were always a treat. I managed to get onto the flightdeck of a Laker DC-10, Dan-Air One-Eleven, BA Viscount and an Air New Zealand B747-400, before 9-11 spoiled it.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Can I think that far back? First flight was in an Auster from Barton (Manchester) to Southport and return - no away landing.
First commercial with, regrettably, no photographs, was Manchester/Heathrow on BEA Viscount connecting onto an Alitalia Caravelle to Milan Linate and then a SAM DC6B to Rimini. Return was via the same route. This would have been circa 1960.

 

[rollo]

My first flight was around 1960 on a DH Dragon Rapide which was a pleasure flight from Elmdon over Hams Hall power station and back to the airport, it lasted about 20 minutes. My last flight earlier this year was on a TUI 789 which lasted rather longer.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

First commercial with, regrettably, no photographs was Manchester/Heathrow on BEA Viscount connecting onto an Alitalia Caravelle to Milan Linate and then a SAM DC6B to Rimini. Return was via the same route. This would have been circa 1960.

Wow! a turboprop, a turbojet and a radial piston all on the same journey. The DC-6 must have seemed a step backwards after the Caravelle.

 

[Aviador]

Flightdeck visits were always a treat. I managed to get onto the flightdeck of a Laker DC-10, Dan-Air One-Eleven, BA Viscount and an Air New Zealand B747-400, before 9-11 spoiled it.

I do recall pre 9-11 being asked if I wanted to stay in the cockpit for landing. I foolishly recall requesting to return to my seat to be with my family for landing 🙄

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I do recall pre 9-11 being asked if I wanted to stay in the cockpit for landing. I foolishly recall requesting to return to my seat to be with my family for landing 🙄

My experience on the BA Viscount was the opposite. Myself and another lad from my Air Cadet Squadron were given a flight form BHX - EDI (and return) as part of some 'air experience' scheme. This included a little cardboard pass onto the flightdeck. So, we both went up and were chatting with the pilots (they were more than happy to chat). As we were approaching EDI, the pilot pointed the airport out and I suggested it was time for us to return to our seats. The captain looked at us and said 'nah, you can stay there'. To say that a Viscount flightdeck is tiny, is an understatement. So, my friend and I knelt behind the pilots seats for landing. It was quite an experience. We then spent the day in Edinburgh, before heading back to Birmingham. But, that's a whole story in itself.

 

[Silvercity]

Flightdeck visits were always a treat. I managed to get onto the flightdeck of a Laker DC-10, Dan-Air One-Eleven, BA Viscount and an Air New Zealand B747-400, before 9-11 spoiled it.

Yes going.om the.flight deck.was something else, and something that is not available anymore sadly. My best experience was on a Sri Lankan Airlines A340 flying from Colombo to Heathrow. I stayed there for sometime as we.crossed Afghanistan.

 

[Silvercity]

Wow! a turboprop, a turbojet and a radial piston all on the same journey. The DC-6 must have seemed a step backwards after the Caravelle.

The Caravelle in my opinion was a beautiful looking aircraft. I flew on one belonging to JAT from Heathrow to Split. It had wonderful triangle windows, and just looked so stylish. It was a classic, we don't see the like today.

My experience on the BA Viscount was the opposite. Myself and another lad from my Air Cadet Squadron were given a flight form BHX - EDI (and return) as part of some 'air experience' scheme. This included a little cardboard pass onto the flightdeck. So, we both went up and were chatting with the pilots (they were more than happy to chat). As we were approaching EDI, the pilot pointed the airport out and I suggested it was time for us to return to our seats. The captain looked at us and said 'nah, you can stay there'. To say that a Viscount flightdeck is tiny, is an understatement. So, my friend and I knelt behind the pilots seats for landing. It was quite an experience. We then spent the day in Edinburgh, before heading back to Birmingham. But, that's a whole story in itself.

I flew on a Viscount once from Lydd to Ostend, we flew back on a HP Herald Ostend to Lydd.

 

[blotbuc1]

My first flight was in September 1959 on a Silver City Airways DC3 from Yeadon(LBA) to Ronaldsway(IOM). I remember the takeoff from runway 28 with the slow climb out over Yeadon Tarn. Then there was the obligatory photo on the aircraft steps on arrival.
The following year the same flight was on a Silver City Bristol 170 Wayfarer, cotton wool supplied to deaden the noise and flames from the exhaust when the engines started! Very exciting for a 10 year old.

 

[jason1-11]

First flight was in 1976 - BA VC10 Heathrow to Calcutta. First LBA was in 1983 on a Dan-Air 146 to Jersey and my last flight was a SAS Connect 320 Neo from Arlanda to Heathrow 4 days ago.

Most prized flight has to be LHR-LBA on a BA Concorde back in 1987.