Looking for your thoughts about your first plane ride

SenseiSteve

SenseiSteve

HD Moderator
Staff member
I remember my first plane ride was my trip from St. Louis to San Diego to start Boot Camp in the Marine Corps. I was 19 and had never flown before. As the plane rolled down the runway for takeoff, I remember thinking to myself, "Wow, this plane is moving fast," and when we took off, I was mesmerized by the land falling beneath and behind us.

Were you apprehensive about your first plane ride or loving every minute of it? I know some people are scared silly of of heights, but this isn't the same - its not a similar sensation. I've only had one passenger get ill flying with me and he said he was a student pilot with 90 flight hours - who knew?

When I came back from Okinawa to Los Angeles, I landed before I left - very bizzarre!
 
I have always had a love of planes.

My first ride was Charlottetown to Halifax. I was 8 years old and traveling alone. Loved it.

My longest non-stop flight was Toronto to Beijing. 13 hours.
That part wasn't bad because of the on demand movies and free booze but the entire trip from Prince Edward Island to Central China, Szechwan province, to close to 35 hours non stop. Pretty much a zombie by the time I got there.

Most memorable flight was my first solo flight while taking my pilot's license.
 
My first flight was St. Louis to Mexico after we missed our flight from Chicago to Mexico. The drive to St. Louis was longer then being in the air. I love airplanes. I love watching my 12 year old brother almost in tears as the plane took off.

My most memorable flight was from Grand Rapids, MI to Minneapolis, MN playing Battlefield 1945 for the 45 minutes with people looking at funny.
 
My most memorable was also my first solo at Fords Island on Oahu (which is no longer open). Rolling down that runway, steering with the rudder pedals - feeling and seeing the ground rush past, then pulling the yoke back and lifting airborne - knowing it's just you and the plane - what a sensation !! There were six other planes in the pattern so I actually had to slow my plane down and extend my downwind leg to keep separation.
 
Were you apprehensive about your first plane ride or loving every minute of it?
Click to expand...
My very first ride was not so long ago - in 2006. It was interesting to see everything from above, the clouds, the power of the engines when taking off.

It was also a terrible experience as I just wasn't prepared to stay 9 hours in a plane, with no break, and uninteresting movies. But on the whole it was all right. :)
 
Nine hours is a long time to sit in an airline seat, unless you're going first class. The worst rides are when you hit turbulence. Normally airliners can change altitudes to reduce turbulence, but not always. Of course, the flight from LA to Honolulu is nine hours, which I don't mind at all. :)
 
I was about 12 years old the first time I was on a plane ride from Puerto Rico to Florida, and I remember thinking about the plane crashing in the water:shaky:. I've only been on about 3-4 since then (I'll be 27 this year:shh:).
 
Are you from Southern Florida? I know thunderstorms there pop up at random and can play havoc with small planes.
 
I remember Ground Control used to have me follow 747s to taxi for takeoff from Honolulu International - that's an adventure! My little plane looked like a bug compared to a 747.
 
Steve-Hostirian said:
My most memorable was also my first solo at Fords Island on Oahu (which is no longer open). Rolling down that runway, steering with the rudder pedals - feeling and seeing the ground rush past, then pulling the yoke back and lifting airborne - knowing it's just you and the plane - what a sensation !! There were six other planes in the pattern so I actually had to slow my plane down and extend my downwind leg to keep separation.
Click to expand...


I got you beat on that one.
My first solo landing I had to abort at around 500ft because of dogs on the runway.
Owen Roberts International is not a large airport so they don't have all the controls you might expect.
Good place to learn to fly though because there isn't much traffic.
 
Got me there. :) Never encountered any animals on the runway ... and on your fist solo ... that had to be interesting. What kind of plane did you train in?
 
I was in a Cessna 172. I split my training between a 172 and a 152.

Fortunately they are very responsive so as soon as I was told to abort the landing I pushed the throttle up and it climbs at once.

I'd love to own a 172 or a Piper some day.
 
I trained in Grumman trainers and Cheetah's mainly. Also flew Piper for high performance and Cessna for twin engine. Flew a Piper Cherokee Six 300 to fly air tours around the Islands - that thing has a super long nose. I really love the Grumman canopies.
 
My first plane ride was from Salt Lake City to Dallas. At 11 years old I was obviously mesmerized by the whole experience. I recall chewing gum(something about your ears popping) and being upset on the way back that my mother did not wake me for landing :)
 
My first plan ride was alright I was a baby. Last summer was my fist plan ride alone to pr i was going to meet my gradmother over there. It was crazy i was so scared or nervos lol but my knees just kept shaking and all i was worried.
 
IkY0294 said:
My first plan ride was alright I was a baby. Last summer was my fist plan ride alone to pr i was going to meet my gradmother over there. It was crazy i was so scared or nervos lol but my knees just kept shaking and all i was worried.
Click to expand...
Spent a couple of months in Puerto Rico back in '72 - San Juan. Beautiful beaches - crystal clear waters. So was your ride back just as scary?
 
my first is when i was on 3rd year high school since i have been chosen to be a exchange student. And my first plane ride doesn't went really good because i have a headache.
 
I was probably too young to remember how it was but I do remember that I did take one. But later on in High School I actually started flying planes like a Cessna and started building hours. The feeling is indescribable, being in a smaller aircraft is more intense than a big one and flying it is also another experience. Now every time I go up in the air and my friend flies the plane I just sit in the back and snooze it ...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Supporters

Back
Top