More childhood holiday airline memories!

Thank You LBArules and LTN for commenting on my post!

LTN, I am indeed 14 at the moment but fast approaching 15 on Sept 2nd.

Well, I was deeply impressed by BY767’s reminiscences. If my calculations are correct, he’s now 14, with the world ahead of him. That was an excellent ‘essay’ that he can be proud of.
My first flight?
Ahem, 1968 in Morton Air Services’ Heron G-ANNO on a £1 pleasure flight from Lydd. Then Autair One-Eleven G-AVOF on a pleasure flight from Luton the same year. (In those days very few people could afford these new ‘inclusive tours’ that were on offer from the likes of Clarkson’s, SkyTours and Horizon.)
Since then, all over Europe, across the Atlantic 4 times, and the Pacific once. Most types, including 747, TriStar, DC10, 727, 737, 720, 757, F100, Herald, DC3, F100, BAe146, MD80, DC9, Do228, SH360, ATR42, Twin Otter, DC8, One-Eleven, Britannia, etc.
And I’m still up for more…

Edited to add the Airbuses that I’d forgotten about!

Thats nice. Im glad I posted something that was liked by people!

I loved everyones “trip reports” in this thread! It brough back my own memories of my first flights which were (in this order) S360, ATR72, ATR42 (All Gill Airways). Not enough memories to post mind!

“Best Thread of the Year Award” goes to……………………….danairboy

1982:

When I was 5, my dad took a new job in Bahrain. At that time, we lived near Middlesbrough. My parents had worked overseas before and missed the expat lifestyle as well as the tax free salary. I’d been to Spain and Portugal before, but wasn’t interested in flying much and didn’t remember the flights.

The act of moving to a new country got me sparked up though.

My dad left 3 months in advance of us – I think the employer would only pay for our tickets after he finished his probationary period. He also had to choose a place to live.

The day before, my nan came over from the Isle of Man – we met her at Teesside airport. This was when you could fly IOM-MME, probably in an Air UK HP Herald or a Shorts 330.

On the big day, we arose early and a neighbour drove us to Darlington railway station. Me, my little brother, my mum and my nan. We took the train to Kings Cross and I remember all the travel sweets and crossword books we were given. Then it was in a taxi to LHR.

I was bored at the airport, though in later visits I loved it – I remember Pan Am 747’s vividly. Gleaming tails visible from the terminal entrance.

Eventually we boarded a bus (we always seemed to take the bus – did LHR have a shortage of jetways in the early 80’s?).

It drove us around the airfield and I was hooked. So fascinating!

We stopped besides a British Airways L-1011 Tristar. I recall all of us sitting together in the middle row – it must have been 2-4-2 ?

The flight was uneventful.

Towards the end, I could sense that we were close. I got impatient and started tapping my feet on the floor. I was told off by a stewardess!

Living in a foreign country was an amazing experience for a 5 year old. And it all started on a Tristar. I became hooked.

Our 3x yearly holidays were usually either BAH-LHR with Gulfair L-1011 “Golden Falcons” and connecting BMI flights to MME on Viscounts or DC-9’s. I much perferred the DC-9’s after 7 hours on another flight.

Or we flew BAH-AUH on a Gulfair B732 and connected to a BA 747-200. From there it was usually somewhere in the Far East. As a kid, it seemed that BA flew everywhere in the world from Abu Dhabi using 742s!

Magnificent!

A small photoshop tweak and your “PR” Photo looks like it was taken yesterday 🙂

Cheers!

Kev35 – What a fantastic story, please post more 🙂

i first went on a commercial flight in 1994 on a md83 alitalia from dussledorf – milan as i had to get tooth pulled out in german hospital i was living in sardinia at the time as my dad was in R.a.f and was based out there i had flown 5 times before from R.a.f. Brize Norton to R.a.f Decimumanu and back via R.a.f Brugen in germany always on a vc10. we checked in like usual but then we went into the departures area which i hadent done before as at r.a.f. bases theres a room with seats and a drink and food machine and then you go on the aircraft but this place had shops and everything we were called for the flight and we went to row 3 as we were in buisiness class the R.a.f paid for it. we had a nice lunch and the flight was smooth we landed at milan and were rushed to meridiana md83 waiting for us to go to cagliari. it was 7:40pm by the time we got to the a/c. we went to the back mof the a/c and up via the steps in the rear of the plane we took off at 8pm and had a pleasent flight i slept through most of it but awoke when we were decending we flew over the marshes in cagliari where all the flimingos were and landed at cagliari elmas airport at 10:25pm when we got off my dad ans sister where waiting for us and we headed off home they where good flights and good taster of commercial airlines 😀

The key to the left of the ‘?’ on your keyboard is a ‘full stop’ and to the left of that is a ‘comma’, just in case you don’t want us all to get breathless reading this!! :confused: Oh sorry, I forgot, they don’t teach punctuation in schools these days!

I’d flown before, but that was in Chipmunks and gliders with the ATC. This was my first commercial flight. It would have been 1975 or 1976 and we would have been 14 or 15 at the time. Rob and I had been regular spotters at BHX for three or four years by then and had both been to Heathrow several times on coach trips, back in the days when it was safe to travel without an adult. We were at BHX on one of our regular Saturday trips when we began to wonder about flying to MAN and back for a day’s spotting. We made our enquiries at the Dan-Air desk in the wonderful old 1930’s terminal which was still in use. A day return would cost us £16.50p. It seemed some saving was in order…..

We were still discussing it a few hours later as the bus swung on to the A45 and from the top deck we must have looked like a pair of lunatics desperately trying to get the registration of the Air India 707 which was just landing. That was the deciding factor, it had to be done. And it was…..

A blisteringly hot sunny day was in prospect as I slid out of bed at 4am and got myself ready. Rob was meeting me at 5.30. Breakfast eaten, sandwiches packed I checked for the umpteenth time. Binoculars? Radio? Pen? Pad? Ticket? TICKET?????? Where was the ticket? Of course it was right where I had left it. Come on Rob, it’s 5 O’clock, where the hell are you? A quiet voice, my Dad’s, “I thought you said he was coming at half past.” Course he is, relax Kev. Better nip to the toilet again. Back downstairs, better check the bag again. WHERE’S THE TICKET????? The door knocks, it’s Rob and away we go. We run to the railway station and board the train for New Street. Have I mentioned I keep looking for my ticket? Off the train and onto the bus and we’re on the last leg to BHX.

Up the A45 and past the end of 06. I can see a BMA Viscount, A BCAL 1-11, A Monarch 720 and a Dan-Air Comet. Flight’s at 8am and we have to book in at 7.15. Anxious glance at the watch reveals it’s …..0640, sighs of relief.
We get off the bus and the terminal is there. This time though it’s different. We’re not just going in to look at the shop or buy a magazine, we are going to be passengers.

Now, where’s my ticket? Ah, there it is, and off we go with the suited businessmen to board our Dan-Air HS748 for MAN. Walking out to the aircraft was a little surreal, everyone else had briefcases, we had haversacks full of sandwiches and binoculars. Up the steps and to our seats, port side, over the wing.

And that is where I leave you for now. More to come if anyone’s interested.

Regards,

kev35

My first flight was circa 1956 on an Ansett DC6 from Melbourne to Adelaide
The only real memories i have of the flight was the noise the smoke a vivid smell of burning oil

I was only 6 when you took these photos. A care free little $hit LOL

And then they invented Airbus ? (lol) :p :p :p :p :p :p

Look what I found!

#1: Taken from a window seat of OY-KTF as we are pushed back from the gate at Gothenburg, 24 December 1986. On the ramp this early morning are an SAS DC-9-21, an SAS MD-81, a Falcon Cargo Electra and a Fred Olsen Electra.

#2: Apron at Las Palmas. A Scanair A300, a Royal Air Maroc 727 and a Martinair A310 can be seen in the distance. The Iberia bus is probably still in service… 🙂

#3: My attempt at a PR photo for Scanair, as an 11-year old. I’m still quite satisfied, considering the cheap camera I used!

Magnificent!

A small photoshop tweak and your “PR” Photo looks like it was taken yesterday 🙂 I was only 6 when you took these photos. A care free little $hit LOL

Nice recolection! Please, feel free to post those pictures here 🙂
I am always fascinated to see glimpses of the past, be it my own or other peoples.

Look what I found!

#1: Taken from a window seat of OY-KTF as we are pushed back from the gate at Gothenburg, 24 December 1986. On the ramp this early morning are an SAS DC-9-21, an SAS MD-81, a Falcon Cargo Electra and a Fred Olsen Electra.

#2: Apron at Las Palmas. A Scanair A300, a Royal Air Maroc 727 and a Martinair A310 can be seen in the distance. The Iberia bus is probably still in service… 🙂

#3: My attempt at a PR photo for Scanair, as an 11-year old. I’m still quite satisfied, considering the cheap camera I used!

Superb thread dab.

OK, I’ve broke it up a bit! was a bit difficult to read I must admit.

I think we have a few creative writing as well as aviation enthusiasts amongst our ranks (lol) 😀

Great tales one and all, but BY767 it’s tricky reading yours all in one block. Would you care to insert some paragraph spacing puurlease ? :p

If we are talking about first flights as well then I can just about remember coming back from Palma on a Comet, presumably Dan Air, in Jan 1970. We had suffered a 7 hour delay at Palma because of fog (i think) and can recall the torn hessian type material below the window and seeing the lights of Palma receed as we departed – I then fell asleep. (i was only 4)

First Flight experiance was on an Orion 732 to Palma
Only thing i can remember is the aborted take off,taxi back to up to the runway then airborne,i was probably around 5 or 6 at the time,and acting like a little sh-te,whinging because my ears were hurting alot,in the end the stewardess gave me 4 cans of lemonade and a handful of boiled sweets..the only other thing was our Hotel wasnt all that far from the airport,and in the Horror car (a Renault 4) we saw our 732 parked there for the entire week….other flights were on BY732’s which were great fun,got numerous flight deck visits, a B-Cal DC10 to Faro,great airline and David Essex was on our flight too and mother got his autograph,along with every other woman in the same age catergory.. Ohh and i cant forget my first 757 ride on Air Europe….ohhh and another one was a DanAir 727 in Faro,checking in to come home,they put an announcement out over the PA asking for us and the friends we were on holiday with,went to the place got checked in seperately and 8 of us had a 727 to ourselves

Your all so young!

i first went on a commercial flight in 1994 on a md83 alitalia from dussledorf – milan as i had to get tooth pulled out in german hospital i was living in sardinia at the time as my dad was in R.a.f and was based out there i had flown 5 times before from R.a.f. Brize Norton to R.a.f Decimumanu and back via R.a.f Brugen in germany always on a vc10. we checked in like usual but then we went into the departures area which i hadent done before as at r.a.f. bases theres a room with seats and a drink and food machine and then you go on the aircraft but this place had shops and everything we were called for the flight and we went to row 3 as we were in buisiness class the R.a.f paid for it. we had a nice lunch and the flight was smooth we landed at milan and were rushed to meridiana md83 waiting for us to go to cagliari. it was 7:40pm by the time we got to the a/c. we went to the back mof the a/c and up via the steps in the rear of the plane we took off at 8pm and had a pleasent flight i slept through most of it but awoke when we were decending we flew over the marshes in cagliari where all the flimingos were and landed at cagliari elmas airport at 10:25pm when we got off my dad ans sister where waiting for us and we headed off home they where good flights and good taster of commercial airlines 😀