My first non-commercial flight

[simongr]

Hi all

Following on from the "My first commercial flight" thread I thought it would be interesting to get people's experiences of non-commercial flights - either as a pax or pilot in a non-commercial (e.g. military or private jet or private military jet )

Mine was (I think) in the back of a Chinook aged about 14 flying along the East German border - it was all good until breakfast wanted to enjoy the view as well... Never liked choppers since then...

 

[harvyk]

A little 4 seater Cessna over PER.
But my favorite was in a 4 seater Cessna over CBR sitting in the co-pilots seat...

 

[userlame]

I had an accident which would have taken me off the road (and out of the air) for 6 months. From travelling every week (for work) for years to being entirely grounded, first in my hospital bed (2 months), then at home, my wings were getting itchy.

As soon as I was able (and still on crutches) I went down to Bankstown airport and started my fight training. Now I'm a road warrior during the week and a weekend warrior on the weekends.

 

[Taezar]

As a child, my family would each year take vacation by hiring a plane and a pilot. I got to see much of Australie that way. Once we had "done" Australie, we went commercial through APAC.

 

[AaronBradford]

Nothing terribly awesome, but I went on one of those introductory flights in 2006. The aircraft was a Hunter Valley Aviation C152 out of RWY17 at Cessnock, registration VH-TLQ. I pretty much flew from levelling off until just after I lined up with 17 again on final, so the instructor could enter the glide slope. Doing radio calls was fun, and so was flying from the left-hand seat!

 

[Katie]

At first I thought "Man, I've never had the money to be in a private plane and never been in the military". And then I realised my uncle used to have a four-seater cessna. I think my first flight in it was around 1988-1989. Can't remember from where to where, but probably around St George/Bollon/Dirranbandi.

 

[AVC]

First ever non-commercial, was a C130 (Hercules) out of Darwin into an old WW2 airfiled called Narbalek, which is in Arnhem land somewhere.
It was dark, and it was a combat load. Which meant the cabin had 4 longitudal rows of webbing seating. Every one had their webbing (thats like ammo pouches water bottles and stuff), a field pack and a duffle bag. And a weapon. You were basically jammed up against the soldier next you, your field pack was on your lap, with your rifle between your knees. Duffles were on a pallet which was strapped to the ramp.
Hearing protection was a must. Those things are noisy. It was basically hellish. But fun at the same time.

 

[Mr Somerset]

Mine was a UK Naval Wessex (or Sea King - can never remember) in 1984 when I was in the Naval Cadets at school. A nice trip over Portland Bill with the side door wide open for an interesting - if rather scary - view.

 

[Shelf]

I've been on a number of RFDS flights.

I'm not sure which type of aircraft they were, however they were all rather squeezy inside :-|

 

[tuapekastar]

The first I can recall was relatively late in life. A work colleague used to fly for a parachute school/club on the w/ends, so one Saturday a few of us lobbed at Moorabbin and clambered aboard (no parachutists on this trip). It was stripped out for the para's so no seats or belts. Also, as we passed the control tower and any offices we had to lie on the floor as "we weren't supposed to be there". Pleasant flight along the bay and out towards MEL. He did give us a deliberate roller-coaster effect at one stage.

 

[simongr]

[off topic]

Every one had their webbing (thats like ammo pouches water bottles and stuff)

I have often thought about how this sort of kit could be adapted to every day life - it seems like an efficient way to transport stuff - just if you google "webbing" you get some rather unpleasant results (NSFW).

 

[11sjw]

First not at the controls was in a Hercules Richmond to Amberley in 1980. Old man was in the RAAF and free slow flights were difficult to beat in value for money stakes!

First at the controls was in 1988 in the Kent St High School C152, rego VH-WIF. Through 88-90 I gained a PPL. Haven't flown for 20 years, golf's a much cheaper hobby!

 

[Deleted member]

In a piper cub ( I think) father piloting. Auckland to Napier about 1960 / 61

 

[Major]

In a Caribou from Wagga to Canberra in 1968

 

[Duffa]

First Flight- Piper Cherokee - 1973
First Jet Fighter Joyride - Sepecat T2 Jaguar - 2003
Life has never been the same since

 

[day-heg]

When I was in the Air Cadets, aged 14, circa 1992. Was in a de Havilland Chipmunk at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.
Did loads of flying in the cadets, including a gliding course that culminated in a solo circuit when I was 17... fun times!

 

[jamesatfish]

Many years ago in my early teens my father decided to take up flying, getting lessons in the usual Cessna 152/172s which made me insanely jealous. As he wasn't at the stage where he could take pax himself my parents gave me an introductory flight lesson from the same flying school with the opportunity to grab the controls a few times over the lake in CBR. That pretty much cemented my love for flying, though I've not yet found the time to earn my own licence.

First private jet flight was back in 2008 - my wife was kind enough to join me on a 2 week RTW work trip which wasn't much fun for her so with a transit night in LAX I booked a jet out of Van Nuys to take us to Vegas for dinner. Very bad decision - that set the bar a bit high for all future travel. It's a very different feeling when you pull up at the airport terminal and the pilots jump up from their coffee, apologise profusely for the aircraft not being ready and beg your forgiveness as you wait for 2 minutes of final pre-flight checks before climbing on board.

A good mate of mine just did one of those military jet flight experiences in an Aero L-39C. Another very bad decision - since he showed me the in-flight video I've spent the last few weeks looking at buying one and trying to justify the expense by reasoning that it'll take the same time to fly CBR-ADL as my usual QF 737 but it'll be a whole lot more fun in a military training jet...

 

[simongr]

When I was in the Air Cadets, aged 14, circa 1992. Was in a de Havilland Chipmunk at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.
Did loads of flying in the cadets, including a gliding course that culminated in a solo circuit when I was 17... fun times!

Where did you do the glider course? I did my course at Syerston in about 1998 and the solo flight at Hendon due to bad weather at Syerston - still have my "Gonef Ora Burton" mug somewhere...

 

[significance]

I took up skydiving for a few weeks when I was 20, but realised it wasn't a sustainable hobby on a student income when I ran out of savings
These few half-flights were the only non-commercial flights I've been on.

 

[nickykim]

First non-commercial was in a 172 out of Tieri Airfield (just outside Dunedin) for a quick sightseeing flight with an Air Traffic Controller from Momona (Dunedin's commercial airport). Then lots of flying around Queenstown and Wanaka in the Wakatipu Aeroclub's 172 (Echo Lima Tango) - later named a progression of cats by these three names.