Jenny is even more captivated. She was an ardent plane spotter as a kid, and often visited Heathrow, which was close to her parents' house.
When we first met we were always financially stretched, so we didn't actually fly anywhere until 1994, when we went to Venice, Florence and Rome. Before I met Jenny my only flights were in a private plane flown by a friend's mother, and a short family hop from the now defunct Lympne Airfield in Kent to Paris.
Now of course we've flown all over the world and think nothing of it. Unfortunately millions of other people are equally casual flyers and the resulting pollution has made us rethink our flying habits. We may abandon long-haul trips altogether. But short-haul trips are unavoidable to go elsewhere in the UK.
I've never been afraid of flying. Planes are maintained to much higher standards than the average car, and besides, the flight crew don't want to die because of some botched repair job. If the crew are happy, so am I.
I do always wonder, when I'm in a really massive plane trundling down the runway, whether it'll actually take off or end up in the adjoining field, but of course it always does take off.
Our only edge-of-the-seat experience was when our plane from the US was coming in to land at Gatwick in thick fog. The pilot circled several times before deciding it was okay to land, and when the plane touched ground there was a huge round of applause from the passengers.
I could say something about in-flight conditions - and the food - but I'll leave that for another day.
My scary moment was when a late night flight that I was on had the moon on my window side when we left but after I had napped for a while and woke up was on the other side. I quietly rang for the hostess and asked what the problem was and she said that we were returning to the starting point due to some engine problem. We landed safely and next morning found that the plane had flown on one engine for over an hour!
ReplyDeleteRamana: Flying on one engine for an hour does sound a bit scary! But I'm sure the pilot knew exactly what he/she was doing.
DeleteI had a few scary experiences on planes but obviously cataclysmic death was not the end result. And I flew a lot, both business and going to Ireland every year.
ReplyDeletethe deterioration in service and comfort is massive. I remember actually looking forward to flying. The food was awesome, real china (!!) and when the kids were small a "helper" assigned to me and a tiny playpen set up at the front of the plane. Hard to imagine, right?
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www: I'm always reading how service and comfort have declined over the years, but I don't know what they were like pre-1994! Certainly I couldn't bear economy seating for a 12 hour flight (I have to book premium economy). And most of the meals provided are barely edible.
DeleteLeo had to fly a lot yers ago when working, and one flight was on Sierra Leone's airline...one plane flying, the other cannibalised for spares. On the approach to the airport it was discovered that the landing gear would not work, so the engineer had to open a hatch in the floor and go down to sort it out. Leo remembers him prostrating himself and praying fervently before the descent! All went well, clearly, but not an airline to recommend.
ReplyDeleteFly: I see Sierra Leone Airways is no longer operating. But they did have 12 planes by the time they folded! They closed down after a dispute about unpaid airport charges.
DeleteI would have been alarmed if someone had to get under my plane to free the landing gear!
My first flight was in first class. I was going to boot camp in California and was on "standby" and got the first class no show seat. I flew a bit when I was still in the Navy (including 6 flights to Scotland and 6 flights back) and, later, for business. I can only think of a couple of times where we flew strictly for pleasure as we often combined my business trips with vacation travel.
ReplyDeleteOn one of the flights coming back from Scotland, I saw a huge flame shoot out of one of the engines as they were reversed. That's my scariest flying moment.
Mike: Several of our trips have been Jenny's work trips with a holiday tacked on at the end. All her flights and accommodation were organised by academia so there was only me to pay for.
DeleteFlames from the engine would have me got me worried!
I’m only nervous about getting to the airport ahead of time and getting through security. Once I’m at the gate, I can relax. I’ve only had a few scary moments in flight where the turbulence was crazy bad, though I know that take off and landing are the most dangerous.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: Security is getting more and more laborious. And now there's all the extra complications of virus tests, quarantine, okay and not-okay countries etc.
DeleteI'm not afraid to fly, it's getting stuck on the tarmack for one reason or another with no food, water or working toilet for hours that worries me. It's happened and the fact that it happens and all matter or other bad things can happen keeps me from flying.
ReplyDeleteMary: I agree, being stuck on the runway would be a nightmare situation, especially if the airline doesn't give you updates about what's going on.
DeleteI'm a nervous flyer. Although I haven't flown anywhere for a number of years now my last flight was in first class and I couldn't believe the difference that made in comfort and service. If I ever fly again I'm going to insist it be in first class. I'd rather take a train, though.
ReplyDeleteLinda: I agree, I'd rather take a train if there's one available. At least on a train you can move up and down it as much as you want. I'd love to try a first class flight sometime. Maybe when we're taking holidays again - after all, at my age it may be the first and last first class flight!
DeleteThe only problem with planes is the interior lack of space and service.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Too true. Economy seating doesn't accommodate my long legs. And I hate it when the person in front pushes their seat back and gives me even less space.
DeleteI remember my first plane ride was with Eastern Airlines. I never thought I would have an occasion to be in a plane. All my trips were essentially pleasure trips. Whoever heard of a jet-setting teacher.
ReplyDeleteAnn: Indeed. My mum was a teacher for some years, and it certainly wasn't a princely salary. But she had enough money to visit Italy quite regularly.
DeleteNah, I'd rather not!
ReplyDeleteI've travelled first class on the Euro tunnel train, I don't think I'd like to go cattle class on anything ever again - hence I stay home due to being spoilt.
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Ms Scarlet: Very understandable. Personally I don't mind a 7 hour trip in economy (like USA or Canada) but 12 hours - no way. I'd probably get DVT from my legs being so cramped for so long.
DeleteI love flying, and like you I marvel at how planes become airborne with all that weight on board. Someone explained the science of aerodynamics to me a while ago, it's clever stuff.
ReplyDeletePolly: Funny how easily you get used to being 35,000 feet above ground level and flying at 500 mph!
DeleteAnd it's good not to think about those numbers when you're up there! :-)
DeletePolly: They just don't seem real anyway. All I can grasp is that we're very high up and flying quite fast!
DeleteWhile reading this post, I thought of the last time we flew and it was 14 years ago when our grandson was due in CA. It was a last minute booking. We flew standby and we delayed overnight in the Ft Worth-Dallas airport as everyone was traveling home from Thanksgiving holiday. oddly enough, we often look back at that experiences with fondness now.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice: It's strange, in retrospect all our flights were fun, even though the reality wasn't much fun at all. Nostalgia casts a rosy glow over everything!
DeleteI, too, enjoy flying, small plane or otherwise. My first flight was in a bi-plane with an open cockpit. I had limited commercial flights but enjoyed them. My first date with my husband he took me flying having recently obtained his private pilot's license. We occasionally flew a small rented plane the first few years after we wed, including an interesting cross-country over NYC.
ReplyDeleteTake-offs and landings are considered to be the more dangerous parts of a flight, but statistics show aren't usually a problem, especially with commercial flights. I've never been afraid when flying for whatever the reasons though when that bi-plane banked and the wings tipped in my first flight and unexpected scream did escape my lips.
Joared: As a teenager I had a flight in a private plane flown by a friend's mother. It was great fun. I have no qualms about commercial flights. As I say, planes are maintained to a much higher standard than cars.
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