Your best aviation memories.
Discussion
The earliest "best one" I remember was on a package holiday flight to Majorca back in '81; only because it was my first experience on a 'plane. I do recall whooping a bit as we started accelerating down the runway, and giggling when - mid flight - the captain announced that we were travelling at 400 knots and 40,000 feet. It was a DC-8 BTW.
RAF St. Athan air show in '83 (??), there was a Buc displaying and did its usual low pass (which I'd not seen before). There it was, speeding towards me, and it was silent. No noise whatsoever. Then about half a second before it flies over my head........BANG, there came the noise. Gob well and truly smacked. At the same show, I queued for half an hour to sit in the cockpit of a Vulcan as well.
Mrs v got me a go in a Piper PA-28 for my 40th birthday, and ended up flying (and was handed control) over the South Shropshire Hills. I'll never forget that.
RAF St. Athan air show in '83 (??), there was a Buc displaying and did its usual low pass (which I'd not seen before). There it was, speeding towards me, and it was silent. No noise whatsoever. Then about half a second before it flies over my head........BANG, there came the noise. Gob well and truly smacked. At the same show, I queued for half an hour to sit in the cockpit of a Vulcan as well.
Mrs v got me a go in a Piper PA-28 for my 40th birthday, and ended up flying (and was handed control) over the South Shropshire Hills. I'll never forget that.
Vulcan flypast at Biggin Hill, 1986 aged 9 - my whole body shook.
Driving across a raised highway in a featureless part of the Nevada desert in a camper van. Buzzed at a 90 degree angle at a range of ~300 yards and height of about 100ft by an F15 without any warning whatsoever.
Driving across Lincolnshire on a sunny Monday morning. Red Arrows did a complete practise display and it felt like they deliberately formed the display around the fast moving red NSX alongside them.
Being offered a lift to Sioux Falls SD, to take a driving test, in my boss's Citation CJ3 - "We were going to stop in Nebraska anyway, we'll just get the pilots to do a new flight plan". LA to San Francisco and return in a day to be guests of Artemis at the Americas Cup in the same aircraft was a good day too.
Honeymoon aerobatics on a beautiful day, in a Tiger Moth over Lake Wanaka NZ, with my wife in another Moth in formation. She screamed all the way through the spin as she wasn't expecting it, and I got to fly all the way back to the airfield.
Driving across a raised highway in a featureless part of the Nevada desert in a camper van. Buzzed at a 90 degree angle at a range of ~300 yards and height of about 100ft by an F15 without any warning whatsoever.
Driving across Lincolnshire on a sunny Monday morning. Red Arrows did a complete practise display and it felt like they deliberately formed the display around the fast moving red NSX alongside them.
Being offered a lift to Sioux Falls SD, to take a driving test, in my boss's Citation CJ3 - "We were going to stop in Nebraska anyway, we'll just get the pilots to do a new flight plan". LA to San Francisco and return in a day to be guests of Artemis at the Americas Cup in the same aircraft was a good day too.
Honeymoon aerobatics on a beautiful day, in a Tiger Moth over Lake Wanaka NZ, with my wife in another Moth in formation. She screamed all the way through the spin as she wasn't expecting it, and I got to fly all the way back to the airfield.
Watching an air race at shobdon airfield a few years ago my mum snuck off and booked me a trial flight. The first I knew was her and dad saying come and have a look at this then the pilot/instructor saying "are you Adam?"
It was a piper archer II. We taxied to the runway, he did his thing on the radio then asked me have I piloted a plane before, no I replied, he then asked if I knew what the controls did. As I flew model aircraft and always wanted to fly I said yes(which I did to be fair). He then piped up "well that's good, you can do the take off then." I'm not going to lie, I was s
tting myself.
I did the take off, flew around Herefordshire a bit, up through the clouds it was like driving over cotton wool. Such an awesome experience. He then told me to throw it around a bit, I duly obliged!
We then headed back to shobdon. I flew the plane from the take off I was in control for the entire 40 minute flight and bought it back down to 100ft. He did the landing.
I was properly emotional as it genuinely is the best experience of my life. He then told me I was a natural and am I positive I had never flown before? I must admit that my head did swell a little. If I ever come into money, the first thing I will do is my PPL.
I used to live in Folkestone and loved the air show they had there a number of years ago. Me and my dad sat on the beach when unexpectedly a stealth came over our heads. It was surreal as we didn't even hear it until it had passed. Spooky!
Also at the same show(though a different year) stood on the leas, a harrier was doing its thing. Hovering directly in front of me, it took a bow. Obviously not for my benefit(though I like to think it was ) but such an awesome thing to witness. That is one seriously impressive and much missed machine. The noise it made while hovering was both ear splitting and spectacular in equal measures!
I always loved the GR1 Tornadoes too. They did flat out, low passes with the wings swept back. It was properly deafening but always gave me goosebumps.
That air show was the only good thing about Folkestone!
It was a piper archer II. We taxied to the runway, he did his thing on the radio then asked me have I piloted a plane before, no I replied, he then asked if I knew what the controls did. As I flew model aircraft and always wanted to fly I said yes(which I did to be fair). He then piped up "well that's good, you can do the take off then." I'm not going to lie, I was s
tting myself.I did the take off, flew around Herefordshire a bit, up through the clouds it was like driving over cotton wool. Such an awesome experience. He then told me to throw it around a bit, I duly obliged!
We then headed back to shobdon. I flew the plane from the take off I was in control for the entire 40 minute flight and bought it back down to 100ft. He did the landing.
I was properly emotional as it genuinely is the best experience of my life. He then told me I was a natural and am I positive I had never flown before? I must admit that my head did swell a little.
If I ever come into money, the first thing I will do is my PPL.I used to live in Folkestone and loved the air show they had there a number of years ago. Me and my dad sat on the beach when unexpectedly a stealth came over our heads. It was surreal as we didn't even hear it until it had passed. Spooky!
Also at the same show(though a different year) stood on the leas, a harrier was doing its thing. Hovering directly in front of me, it took a bow. Obviously not for my benefit(though I like to think it was
) but such an awesome thing to witness. That is one seriously impressive and much missed machine. The noise it made while hovering was both ear splitting and spectacular in equal measures! I always loved the GR1 Tornadoes too. They did flat out, low passes with the wings swept back. It was properly deafening but always gave me goosebumps.
That air show was the only good thing about Folkestone!
Watching Foxy Lady being flow like it was stolen on a shakedown flight in 2015, I swear the wingtips were brushing the corn!
Being stuck in the old 'Skyways' plane (some ancient twin engined Saab i think) on the way back from Manchester to Guernsey in truely horrendus snow and hail... the flight took over 2 hours, the door seal was leaking on the rear door and ice breaking off and hitting the fuselage like bricks being thrown at us)
When we finally got to fraggle rock it was shrouded in fog... pilots words will live me for a long time "I think theres a gap...going for it anyway"
Last one was watching XH558 swoop down over the a303 on its approach into Yeovilton the day before the airshow...and then giving it the beans!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19rHL-V9ewU
Being stuck in the old 'Skyways' plane (some ancient twin engined Saab i think) on the way back from Manchester to Guernsey in truely horrendus snow and hail... the flight took over 2 hours, the door seal was leaking on the rear door and ice breaking off and hitting the fuselage like bricks being thrown at us)
When we finally got to fraggle rock it was shrouded in fog... pilots words will live me for a long time "I think theres a gap...going for it anyway"
Last one was watching XH558 swoop down over the a303 on its approach into Yeovilton the day before the airshow...and then giving it the beans!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19rHL-V9ewU
As a youngster being on the flight deck of a VC10 on my way to Teheran and routing around a massive thunder storm
Being held up by my Dad one day at Heathrow where the planes used to go across a public road and touching Concorde's wing
Being on the flight deck of a 747 200 in the jump seat on my way to Rio in 1989 and suddenly hitting severe turbulence. I stayed in the flight deck for a very long time, the captain took the aircraft out of auto pilot and flew it with trim wheels in the centre of the cockpit. He asked if I'd like to try........I flew a Jumbo jet for 45 minutes
On my way back from Brazil some 10 days later, the same captain was on his way back and I got invited to sit in the cockpit from cruise to brakes on at Heathrow.
Finally flying on Concorde also in 1989 which was
whilst at a the time getting very, very pissed with a chap called Wolfgang Blass. Apparently he owns a small vineyard in Australia 
Never met him before and spent a week with him on a trip in Europe, what a nice guy he was too 
The Concorde trip was one of this organised by a company called Goodwood who many years ago organised such things. I'd won it as a sales incentive from the computer company I worked for.......those were the days
Edited to add having a private 727 flight from San Paulo to the Iguassu Falls and before we landed flying circuits at 1000 feet over the falls as a private sightseeing flight.....bloody brilliant
Being held up by my Dad one day at Heathrow where the planes used to go across a public road and touching Concorde's wing
Being on the flight deck of a 747 200 in the jump seat on my way to Rio in 1989 and suddenly hitting severe turbulence. I stayed in the flight deck for a very long time, the captain took the aircraft out of auto pilot and flew it with trim wheels in the centre of the cockpit. He asked if I'd like to try........I flew a Jumbo jet for 45 minutes
On my way back from Brazil some 10 days later, the same captain was on his way back and I got invited to sit in the cockpit from cruise to brakes on at Heathrow.
Finally flying on Concorde also in 1989 which was
whilst at a the time getting very, very pissed with a chap called Wolfgang Blass. Apparently he owns a small vineyard in Australia Never met him before and spent a week with him on a trip in Europe, what a nice guy he was too The Concorde trip was one of this organised by a company called Goodwood who many years ago organised such things. I'd won it as a sales incentive from the computer company I worked for.......those were the daysEdited to add having a private 727 flight from San Paulo to the Iguassu Falls and before we landed flying circuits at 1000 feet over the falls as a private sightseeing flight.....bloody brilliant
Edited by HoHoHo on Monday 27th March 10:22
Thanks.
There was an airline called Skyways back in the 1950s and early 1960s who operated Avro (later Hawker Siddeley) 748s - which are twin turboprops like you described. It obviously wasn't that "Skyways" as the original airline disappeared in the mid 1960s when bought by Dan Air.
I don't recall a Skyways operating in the 2000s but even if they were operating Saabs at that time, the Saab range of turboprop airliners (the 340 and the 2000) were relatively modern at the time.
It might have been a Fairchild Metroliner - which was also built by Saab - and which go back a bit further. Again, Metroliners are still in use.
Avro 748
SAAB 340
SAAB 2000
Fairchild Metroliner
There was an airline called Skyways back in the 1950s and early 1960s who operated Avro (later Hawker Siddeley) 748s - which are twin turboprops like you described. It obviously wasn't that "Skyways" as the original airline disappeared in the mid 1960s when bought by Dan Air.
I don't recall a Skyways operating in the 2000s but even if they were operating Saabs at that time, the Saab range of turboprop airliners (the 340 and the 2000) were relatively modern at the time.
It might have been a Fairchild Metroliner - which was also built by Saab - and which go back a bit further. Again, Metroliners are still in use.
Avro 748
SAAB 340
SAAB 2000
Fairchild Metroliner
Being on a Rapier SHORAD Exercise down in Cornwall and deployed on the cliffs, couple of F-18's came screaming in across the Sea and then pulled up in front of us, rather epic.
Sat at the end of the runway at Upper Heyford whilst the entire F1-11 Wing took off.
Being under A-10's live firing on a range in Denmark....ppppppaaaaaaarrrrrrrpppppppppp.
Belize, flying out into the Jungle to spend a week on a Survival Course with some bearded blokes, Puma banks over hard and the loady slid the door open, nothing but green jungle canopy and 3 Parrots, wings set gliding along, beautiful Blue and Red, stunning moment.
My Wife......Back seat for a couple of hours in a Tornado with the OCU Wing Commender from Conningsby, she reckons it was pretty good.
Sat at the end of the runway at Upper Heyford whilst the entire F1-11 Wing took off.
Being under A-10's live firing on a range in Denmark....ppppppaaaaaaarrrrrrrpppppppppp.
Belize, flying out into the Jungle to spend a week on a Survival Course with some bearded blokes, Puma banks over hard and the loady slid the door open, nothing but green jungle canopy and 3 Parrots, wings set gliding along, beautiful Blue and Red, stunning moment.
My Wife......Back seat for a couple of hours in a Tornado with the OCU Wing Commender from Conningsby, she reckons it was pretty good.
I was very fortunate when I was a kid - my father was a senior manager with BAe including a stint in South America in the mid-80s.
We only flew First Class, most memorable was a Pan Am day flight from UK to Miami when we were the only people in the cabin - there were more cabin crew than us.
I recall sitting in a seat on a DC3 flying from Jamaica to Tortola and spotting the streams of oil flowing out of the engine.
My father's words were "It's perfectly fine as long as the oil keeps coming - wake me up if it stops!".
We were also incredibly lucky to fly home on Concorde from DC to Heathrow at the end of his stint - this was a thank-you from the company to my Dad for some pretty tough times he had to endure. For a plane mad 10-year old this was an unbelievable experience. I watched my Mum's champagne class topple over backwards on takeoff, I've still got the photo of me stood by the Mach number display on the bulkhead. I also had plenty of time in the cockpit, I pressed the button that dropped the nose prior to landing.
It's all been down hill since then (try Virgin cattle class to Antigua with three kids under 7), other than flying over the Grand Tour airfield circuit last summer in my friend's 2 seater light aircraft.
We only flew First Class, most memorable was a Pan Am day flight from UK to Miami when we were the only people in the cabin - there were more cabin crew than us.
I recall sitting in a seat on a DC3 flying from Jamaica to Tortola and spotting the streams of oil flowing out of the engine.
My father's words were "It's perfectly fine as long as the oil keeps coming - wake me up if it stops!".
We were also incredibly lucky to fly home on Concorde from DC to Heathrow at the end of his stint - this was a thank-you from the company to my Dad for some pretty tough times he had to endure. For a plane mad 10-year old this was an unbelievable experience. I watched my Mum's champagne class topple over backwards on takeoff, I've still got the photo of me stood by the Mach number display on the bulkhead. I also had plenty of time in the cockpit, I pressed the button that dropped the nose prior to landing.
It's all been down hill since then (try Virgin cattle class to Antigua with three kids under 7), other than flying over the Grand Tour airfield circuit last summer in my friend's 2 seater light aircraft.
Edited by maturin23 on Monday 27th March 11:51
Eric Mc said:
Thanks.
There was an airline called Skyways back in the 1950s and early 1960s who operated Avro (later Hawker Siddeley) 748s - which are twin turboprops like you described. It obviously wasn't that "Skyways" as the original airline disappeared in the mid 1960s when bought by Dan Air.
I don't recall a Skyways operating in the 2000s but even if they were operating Saabs at that time, the Saab range of turboprop airliners (the 340 and the 2000) were relatively modern at the time.
It might have been a Fairchild Metroliner - which was also built by Saab - and which go back a bit further. Again, Metroliners are still in use.
Avro 748
SAAB 340
Imagine the 340 above, but in the same state as that Avro... (I think the Skyways livery was going diagonally up the tail)There was an airline called Skyways back in the 1950s and early 1960s who operated Avro (later Hawker Siddeley) 748s - which are twin turboprops like you described. It obviously wasn't that "Skyways" as the original airline disappeared in the mid 1960s when bought by Dan Air.
I don't recall a Skyways operating in the 2000s but even if they were operating Saabs at that time, the Saab range of turboprop airliners (the 340 and the 2000) were relatively modern at the time.
It might have been a Fairchild Metroliner - which was also built by Saab - and which go back a bit further. Again, Metroliners are still in use.
Avro 748
SAAB 340
Watching the Lightnings take off from RAF Coltishall - wheels clear, wheels up, point nose at sky.
The Vulcan at the Goodwood Revival.
Every time I see the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Standing at the perimeter fence of RAF Coltishall as Concorde took off on a charter flight - the most unbelievable noise!
Being at a test match at the Oval just before Concorde stopped flying - the afternoon flight went over, play stopped for a standing ovation.
The Vulcan at the Goodwood Revival.
Every time I see the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Standing at the perimeter fence of RAF Coltishall as Concorde took off on a charter flight - the most unbelievable noise!
Being at a test match at the Oval just before Concorde stopped flying - the afternoon flight went over, play stopped for a standing ovation.
Seeing Harriers come in land and take off vertically (based in Kettering at the time)
Watching a Concord approach Delhi Airport (based in Delhi at the time)
Seeing the Vulcan take off and land in its last year of flying
Walking on the beach in Anglesey in think fog for a Search and Rescue SeaKing to "appear" out of nowhere
Not so much as a memory but taking the following 3 consecutive flights on Qatar Airways: 787>A380>A350
Watching a Concord approach Delhi Airport (based in Delhi at the time)
Seeing the Vulcan take off and land in its last year of flying
Walking on the beach in Anglesey in think fog for a Search and Rescue SeaKing to "appear" out of nowhere
Not so much as a memory but taking the following 3 consecutive flights on Qatar Airways: 787>A380>A350
Flying:
My Dad and I having a passenger ride in a Dakota at an airshow - can't remember what year but it would have been early 80s I think. Probably at Fairford?
Then a few years later arriving at another air show (but probably still Fairford) via helicopter.
Watching:
Seeing a SR-71 on full after burner. I seem to remember my dad say that it was going so fast it had to turn around over France... I am quite gullible though.
First time a jet (maybe F-16) flew past me at what must have been close to the speed of sound (perhaps it was OK to fly over the grandstand in those days?). I'm assuming it was that fast as you couldn't hear anything until well after it had past by.
I have some wonderful memories of Fairford with my dearly departed dad. Shame my boys have so far shown zero interest in aircraft. I'd love to repeat the experience with them.
My Dad and I having a passenger ride in a Dakota at an airshow - can't remember what year but it would have been early 80s I think. Probably at Fairford?
Then a few years later arriving at another air show (but probably still Fairford) via helicopter.
Watching:
Seeing a SR-71 on full after burner. I seem to remember my dad say that it was going so fast it had to turn around over France... I am quite gullible though.
First time a jet (maybe F-16) flew past me at what must have been close to the speed of sound (perhaps it was OK to fly over the grandstand in those days?). I'm assuming it was that fast as you couldn't hear anything until well after it had past by.
I have some wonderful memories of Fairford with my dearly departed dad. Shame my boys have so far shown zero interest in aircraft. I'd love to repeat the experience with them.
Landlord said:
Flying:
My Dad and I having a passenger ride in a Dakota at an airshow - can't remember what year but it would have been early 80s I think. Probably at Fairford?
Then a few years later arriving at another air show (but probably still Fairford) via helicopter.
Watching:
Seeing a SR-71 on full after burner. I seem to remember my dad say that it was going so fast it had to turn around over France... I am quite gullible though.
First time a jet (maybe F-16) flew past me at what must have been close to the speed of sound (perhaps it was OK to fly over the grandstand in those days?). I'm assuming it was that fast as you couldn't hear anything until well after it had past by.
I have some wonderful memories of Fairford with my dearly departed dad. Shame my boys have so far shown zero interest in aircraft. I'd love to repeat the experience with them.
The first Air Tattoo held at Fairford was 1985 - which also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first DC-3 flight - so there were lots of DC-3s there. My Dad and I having a passenger ride in a Dakota at an airshow - can't remember what year but it would have been early 80s I think. Probably at Fairford?
Then a few years later arriving at another air show (but probably still Fairford) via helicopter.
Watching:
Seeing a SR-71 on full after burner. I seem to remember my dad say that it was going so fast it had to turn around over France... I am quite gullible though.
First time a jet (maybe F-16) flew past me at what must have been close to the speed of sound (perhaps it was OK to fly over the grandstand in those days?). I'm assuming it was that fast as you couldn't hear anything until well after it had past by.
I have some wonderful memories of Fairford with my dearly departed dad. Shame my boys have so far shown zero interest in aircraft. I'd love to repeat the experience with them.
At airshows in the 70s and early 80s, fast flypasts were normally the preserve of F-104s and F-8 Crusaders. Sometimes a Lightning might join in.
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