And now for the BIG prize: VIP flights!

Like a first kiss or the birth of my first child, my first flight is a memory I will recall forever. Walking towards the plane standing,a metallic monster,on the runway.Climbing those steep steps into its cavernous belly, I smiled uncertainly at the amiable airhostess who greeted me and showed me to my seat near the back of the plane.Walking down the narrow aisle,as nervous as a bride on her wedding day,I saw the sea of impassive faces already seated and wondered why they weren’t bursting with the same excitement.Clipping myself into the seatbelt I leaned back as the whirring of the engines reached a crescendo and the plane began to taxi down the runway.Takeoff! What a thrill, mixed with trepidation as I tried to fathom out how something so colossal stayed in the air.

Gav,

You should have experienced the storm that broke the tea-cup.

Hehehehehe.

My first experience was flying to Cape Town. I was so nervous, those nerves you get just before a big race. After stepping into the plane it all left. I was just stareing out the window watching the engines reach full power. The whole plain shock, and then the breaks came off. We shot down the runway like a bullet. My heart was in my mouth as the wheels lifted off the ground. Then the plane pointed almost straight and climbed for the heavens. I could see the ground become smaller and smaller, till it looked like there were only ants scurrying around on it. Needless to say I had the biggest smile plastered on my face the whole time. The whole flight I stared out the window in awe. At one point we flew through a cloud which is awesome. Then just like it started it was over.

As the Bedfords turned left outside the gates of 6SAI in Grahamstown and headed towards PE, we knew that we weren’t going to Fort Beaufort as planned.
November 1975. We were taken to the airforce base in PE where we were met by an SAA 727, the ‘Kunene’. A midnight flight to Bloemfontein where we transferred onto a jumbo called the ‘Swartberg’ and flew on to Windhoek. We had time to ponder our fate as we were flown across Namibia in a Hercules transport plane, but when she dipped to tree-top level we knew what was in store. The pilot warned us that we would land soon but that he could not stay on the ground longer than necessary because of enemy fire. The plane skidded along the runway, the tailgate opened, we jumped off, the ‘Flossie’ gunned it’s motors and took off leaving us in the middle of a foreign country surrounded by troops in camo uniform and speaking Portuguese.
I had only just turned 18, the Angolan Civil War had just begun and I had just flown for the first time…..
35 years on and the memories are as fresh as yesterday.

J.D. that must have been one hell of a storm to move Lusaka so far South.

BEING A SINGLE PARENT OF 3 TEENAGE CHILDREN IS TOUGH ,ESPECIALLY AROUND HOLIDAY TIME.
LAST CHRISTMAS I WAS GIVEN A RETURN AIR TICKET TO CAPE TOWN TO VISIT MY BROTHER,BUT MY CONSCIENCE WOULDNT LET ME GO WITHOUT MY KIDS…,YOU SEE THEY ALL LOVE AEROPLANES BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN ON ONE .SO WE DROVE DOWN TO C.T AND EVERY PLANE THAT SOARED BY US ,WE WOULD JUST GAZE OFF INTO THE BIG BLUE ..WONDERING !
WE ALL WAIT IN ANTICIPATION FOR THAT BIG BIRD TO GATHER US UNDER HER OUTSTRETCHED WINGS AND SAIL US OFF TOWARDS THE HORIZON…

When I was little, my mom worked at a small airport in Windhoek. I have loved planes since then. My brother and I used to explore the aeroplane hangers and push each other around on the old luggage trollies. Those memories can’t be bought or replaced, I still get bubbles of love exploding in my tummy when I think of those times. I wanted to be an F16 figher pilot when I grew up but unfortunately that dream was just a dream. I also used to jump off the roof with an umbrella hoping I would fly like Mary Poppins, luckily the only thing hurt was my pride when I dropped like a stone. I think flying is incredible and amazing and I am sure if I had to come back to earth as an animal it would be as a bird.

Everyone has a moment when they had to face their fear headlong and take the bull by its horn. One such experience is my first flight
I was plagued with different thoughts of flight accidents and cartoon show like drops from mid-airThat is when I stopped eating. I was sure if anything were to go in it would come out so soon that I will not have the time to say, “you see”.
Why were they so keen on showing steps to safe our life in case of emergency? My fear plagued me yet again. I heard all kinds of rattling noise. I could see the right wing. Flimsy metal plates bumped along. Slowly the plane picked up speed and whole of my stomach was at my throat. The tires lifted and rattling sound increased. The land moved and the distance between the plane’s wing and the land grew. For the first time I was surprised into pleasure by the sight of the land below. It became big patches of building and green.
The rest of the flight was pleasant. I hogged the entire unpalatable airplane food much to the airhostess surprise. I polished off my wifes balance. I wasn’t feeling sick and actually I was enjoying myself. It might sound a tragic anti-climax with no accident to state.
The flight was pleasant and landing equally smooth. To this day I cannot forget the scene of the land, the sky, the clouds and the hum of the plane in flight.

Kampumba, Northern Rhodesia, 1962. Dirt strip, dirty little aeroplane.
My Dad was offered a chance to “take the stick”, to pilot the plane himself, something I knew that he’d always wanted to do. He chose instead to give his step-son a chance to take his first flight.
I was petrified. the plane smelled of vomit, it was old and non-too-clean. I couldn’t see out of the front because of the angle. I could see out of the side – my mum and sister were waving. Goodbye?
Couldn’t hear anything other than the engine and the roar of the tyres on the gravel.
Suddenly, it was quiet, I could see out of the front of the aircraft. I was flying. That much I remember.
I don’t remember how long the flight was, it seemed all too short. Then we were back on the ground and my legs wouldn’t stop shaking. My face ached from the silly grin plastered over it.
I’ve flown many times since, but I’ve never forgotten that flight. Neither did my Dad – he blamed my death-grip on his hand during the flight for the arthritis he suffered in his later years.
Thanks, Dad. Love you. Miss you.

I was about eleven in Cintsa West, on the way back to our cottage from a morning on the beach. There was so much commotion and excitement on the field in front of where we were staying. To my absolute delight there was a helicopter parkered neatly on the field taking holiday makers for rides. I didn’t hesitate for a moment and jumped straight in the que. The flight was exilirating as we flew over the ocean and even got to see dolphins jumping out of the water a few meters below us. The feeling was unforgettable

I never been in a flight before and when I imagine my self in a plane I got headache, running stamoch, I don’t think I can be able to breath. I made so many attempt to book just for a one hour flight but it would be like a zero is added to that 1 and makes it 10 hour. I realy don’t see myself in a plane ever it is so scarey for me.

I FLEW TO ENGLAND THE FIRST TIME EVER TRAVELING BY PLANE THE PLANE FLEW THROUGH A THUNDER STORM WHEN WE DEPARTED FROM LUSAKA IN NAMIBIA I PUKED ALL MOST ALL THE WAY THERE AND ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE LANDING AT GATWICK ONE OF AIR HOSTESES GAVE ME A PILL FOR MOTION SICKNESS MY EARS DID NOT POP FOR TWO DAYS AND WHEN I GOT AROUND TO PACKING OUT MY BAGS AND FEELING A BIT HOME SICK I FOUND A TOKTOKIE THAT HAD HITCED A RIDE AND IT MADE ME FEEL A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME

Will see you guys there – Doing a TV programme on the old Grannies and the parachute jump… Its going to be wild !!!

Lets turn & Burn

I had been away from home for 18 months, not seen my family in all that time. We arrived at Johannesburg airport late afternoon and got lost. Eventually found our way.

The feelings I had about seeing my family again were overwelming. Each moment in flight was a moment closer to coming home.

Coming over East London at night was overwelming, seeing all the city lights dancing around, welcoming me back to my beloved home and family. I had a lump the size of the Titanic in my throat and tears streaming down my face. WHAT A SIGHT! The air hostess discretely handed me tissues and a big smile.

Getting off the plane I saw all my family and friends waving, welcoming me home! The flood gates opened!

True story! Thanks SAA for bringing me home again! Also thanks to EL Airport for being small enough not to get lost and being able to see my family’s open arms from the tarmac.

I have never had the opportunity to fly in an aeroplane but I have NEVER missed and EL air show for as long as I can remember and it is a truely magical experience each and every time. I think that flying in a plane for the first time would maybe be a tad nerve wreaking and then I think I will totally soak up the wonderful experience at hand. I am scheduled to fly for the first time in February next year and I truly can’t wait to experience “flying” like everyone speaks about.

Some nice descriptions folks – keep ‘em coming!

One Rainy Day Many Years Ago,Maybe 1981, I Boarded A Flight In E.L Bound For Durban.Once Airborne The Pilot Took The Plane Through The Clouds And Flew Just Above Them.To The West The Sun Was Just Setting Behind The Clouds And To The East The Moon Had Just Risen Above The Clouds And The Top Of The Clouds Looked like Cotton-Wool.What a Beautiful Sight It Was.I Often think Of That Day And Just Wished That I Could Of Stepped Out Of The Plane And Ran Around In The Cotton Fields.

The first time; legs too short to climb onto the wing – getting in timidly not wanting to break anything, the smell of creaking leather, eyes darting between the pilot and the dazzling dials as the paper thin door is latched.

Coyly squeezing into a tiny seat and buckling in, the prop spins faster and faster as the whole plane vibrates and shudders as if a giant is holding its tail.

The mystifying chatter on the radio goes silent, the pilot tenses and suddenly we are off! We trundle faster and faster down the bumpy grass runway for what seems like an eternity. I want to get out!

Unexpectedly the delicious mixture of fear and anticipation explodes into relief as gravity lets us go and we soar into the sky with such a feeling – what a feeling – like a happy dream I never want to wake up from…

…as we arrived at East London airport on our way joburg, I had a cold glass of rum and lemonade at the bar and my flight phobia let go of me. We checked in. Few minutes later I got frisked so bad I freaked out. I passed that test, then went on towards the big bird. As I walked underneath the humongous engine towards the rear door, the last thing I wanted was an engine falling on me. As I entered, the sight of the Air hostesses and soft finishes, made me feel at home. Pilot introductions, safety speech and take off were a breeze. Somewhere over the free state, we hit turbulence. Boy! My skin turned from light brown to pale pink in a flash. I wished I could shout “Next stop please!!”…

1943, we where return for a successfully bombing run over Bremin. Wings where shot to hell and we where only flying on one engine. In the distance we could just make out those magnificent white Cliff’s. I was fighting the controls to keep her leve…..then the damn PC rebooted. Having never flown, I can only hope the experience is half as exhilarating as that.

My first flight was scary as we flew into a storm. The plane was rocked from side to side and up and down. Quite sickening actually. I was sitting just behind the wings and a guy drinking beer was a few rows ahead of me….we were all rather tense. Then all of a sudden the plane just dropped. It was so sudden and unexpected, but as we were all more or less looking towards the front of the plane, we saw the beer drinking guy’s beer fly out of his cup and then right back into his cup without messing a drop. We all burst out laughting, but you can bet that each of us wanted to kiss the ground when we landed. BUT I fell in love with flying since then.

It was at the 2001 East London Airshow. Topgun Anthem blaring from the speakers (being a Top Gun Fan this gave me goosebumps). Out comes the F16 – what a beautiful site. Made me want to joint the airforce. Actually my best friend had this hairbrain scheme to do just that. At that moment with the Anthem and all playing in the background I felt like standing to attention & saluting the plane. Awesome feeling

Walking towards the jet I felt excitement like only a kid could.This is it,I thought, with a huge grin on my face. I could smell the fuel and my senses soared…my first trip in a machine I had imagined,modelled and fell in love with as a child.I was literally bubbling! I was awarded a window seat,where else?Then the acceleration came…my heart was pounding,my soul was taking off,my head was dizzy as the ground became distant…then the bubbling climaxed…YEEEHAA!!!If only I had chosen a seat on the roof.I was in heaven that day as the clouds rolled under my wings.

It was when i had to go on a trip to Jhb for training. the weather at el airport was nice and warm. just before we started the desent at or tambo airport, i felt the plane shake abit from the turbulence. i looked out the window and saw the tip of the wing, and to me it looked like a huge up down movement because the first thing that came to my mind was did this plane flap its wings all the way here.