Flying.

[TVC]

I haven't done much flying, but once managed 7 flights in a day.........and did some work between each flight.

Don't leave us hanging, we need details on this, it is impressive.

 

[Levo-Lon]

That's me @Smokin Joe

i rode 180+ mph bikes for years and saw them as perfectely safe..

 

[TVC]

Lightweights .

22 sectors a week batting around Europe isn't uncommon round these parts . Can't say that flying has helped on the weight loss front, but cycling has.

Yeahbut... Is ya job innit.

 

[Jimidh]

I just find it boring - I used to find flying exciting but in my previous job I used to fly at least 2-3 times per week for about five years and it became like getting the bus.

 

[Mo1959]

I must be in a pretty small minority having never flown.

 

[Brandane]

I love flying, which is good because my export job involves a lot of it. My great uncle Eddie Grey was chief designer at BAC in Hurn; he it was who designed the tail of the VC10 and the BAC 1-11. He used to send me beautiful publicity photos of aircraft, which I would gaze at for ages. I love the lines of the 747 (as posted elsewhere on CC) and the Catalina and the Spitfire. I love the technology of flying and sometimes wish I'd been a pilot. I'm very relaxed flying, even in turbulence, I guess being able to fly business class everywhere makes it more bearable!

My best ever flight? SAA from Nairobi to Johannesburg. The route passes Kilimanjaro and on that day the pilot announced that he'd got permission to circle the mountain so for 3 or 4 minutes he tipped a wing down and we had a view straight into the crater; I could even see a tiny zig-zag path up a snowfield. On another flight, PIA from Karachi to Dhaka, we flew right along the Himalayas and I could actually see the distinctive shape of Everest on the horizon, much bigger than anything around it. On yet another flight from Johannesburg back to Amsterdam as we flew up the Rift valley we skirted a long line of tropical storms, each massive stack of clouds looking like Chinese lanterns in a row, each lit almost constantly from within by flashes of lightning.

Great Uncle Eddie is my hero then; the VC10 was the first aircraft I ever flew in and I still think it was the most graceful and beautiful aircraft built.
'Twas May 1968 and me, my mother, and 3 elder brothers were flying out to Jamaica to join up with my father who had started a new job out there a few months previously. We flew in first class on a BOAC VC10 Prestwick to JFK, then Pan Am from JFK to Kingston. It was some adventure for a 5 year old! I loved flying then, and continued to do so for many years as we travelled back and forward over the space of 8 years. Then my Dad got a new posting to the Seychelles (he must have liked beaches!) and at first it was served by British Airways VC10's. They were soon replaced by the 747. Those flights usually went via Nairobi, so got some good views of Kilimanjaro too. Then came work, and I went in to the Merchant Navy which involved regular flying to join/leave ships.

These days I don't fly as often, and when I do it is always an anti climax as it is just like getting on a train now. The romance is well and truly gone. I still enjoy it; but like most things it is too easily accessible and doesn't have the same magic. The acceleration on the take off run when those engines are at full power still brings a huge grin to my face though!

Any excuse for a VC10 photo, borrowed from airliners.net:

 

[arch684]

I must be in a pretty small minority having never flown.

You are not missing much mo

 

[snorri]

Don't leave us hanging, we need details on this, it is impressive.

Kirkwall to Stronsay, Stronsay to Sanday, Sanday to Eday, Eday to Westray, Westray to Papa Westray*, Papa Westray to North Ronaldsay, and North Ronaldsay to Kirkwall.
On a Loganair Islander aircraft.

*the shortest scheduled airline flight in the world.

 

[Nigeyy]

I love flying -but I know I haven't done it very often for business much (sidenote: I always remember flying from Boston to NYC on business, and the plane doing a beautiful bank over the then twin World Trade Center. Never dreamed I'd not see that sight again).

So why do I love flying? Well first and foremost, usually I associate flying with going to another country -so I'm always excited. And while you can now access online, I still consider flying to be the last holdout of being in a place where no one can bother you (OK flying across the atlantic with 3 small children was challenging), and you have nothing to do except.... sit back and enjoy the show (or movie). I also know you are in the hands of other people -personally, I find it somewhat liberating -I can't do anything about it... so all I can do is sit back and relax. I still think there's a certain novelty for me to see above the clouds and the land below (I can think of flying to the Isle of Man from Birmingham on an early flight and seeing the tops of a power station as it was a really foggy day, really memorable.... or the time I saw Concorde flying below when I was going into Heathrow..... or the fascination in seeing central America for the first time...or flying up the eastern coast of Australia and being amazed at how the beach seemed to stretch on.... or flying into Toronto on a sunny day with the CN tower.... or... I could go on). I'm just in a state of relaxation.

The only downside to flying for me is all the security and check in stuff, but even then I can find time to people watch and have a drink -alcoholic or not. I also appreciate some people have a fear of flying, but fortunately I don't. But I think I'm in the minority actually enjoying it!

 

[Fab Foodie]

I fly pretty much every week and have done for donkeys. I still enjoy it. Yes the Security is a faff, but if you're not in a rush it's no big deal. I also get to use the lounges too which is a big benefit. I've gotten very good at travelling without a sweat.

This Monday will be the first time I've flown with my family for 20 years .... That's gonna be weird!

 

[Keith Oates]

I also have done and still do, a fair bit of flying but as others have said it's the hassle at the airports, especially the security little hitlers, that spoil the overall experience.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[slowmotion]

I'm not frightened by it at all but I loathe the way you get treated with utter contempt at every stage of the ghastly process. The only flight that was magic was a flight in a De Havilland Beaver seaplane from Vancouver to Saturna, one of the Gulf Islands, just the pilot and the three of us flying over the sea. He circled over the narrow Tumbo channel as we were coming in to land to check for floating logs, landed and then cruised up to the dock. We chucked out our suitcases and our friends pushed a couple of stiff G&Ts into our waiting hands. The Beaver immediately took off back to Vancouver. It was a present BTW. I don't rise above EasyJet these days, or RyanAir (spit) if I'm really unlucky.

 

[Milkfloat]

I have spent too much time flying for business reasons to enjoy it anymore. I find it a tremendous waste of time, where no matter how much lounge/business class access you have you are still treated like cattle, plus with the airlines needing to compete now standards have plummeted.

However, actually flying a plane rather than just being in one - I get giddy like a schoolgirl, I love it. When I retire I hope to get in a syndicate and spend a lot of time flying.

 

[jonny jeez]

I fly once or twice a week and still don't like take off and landing. My flights tend to be early (and return after a long day) so I generally fall asleep as soon as I get seated, or as you do, watch a movie on the iPad. I don't mind flying, just the take off and landing bits...oh and turbulance

 

[Levo-Lon]

I do think the airport stress is the main reason i loath flying ,the whole thing is a totally awful experience.
..im scared of heigts but looking out a plae window is great..its the going up that does me and the sinking feeling..i had a big fall as a kid and smashed myself up a bit..so i do have a fear of falling...​