One of favourite comedians was an Irishman named Dave Allen, he sadly died in 2005, this is his take on flying,
I totally hate flying ! I do it when I have to, and I am actually doing better at it now (after only 30 years of panicking every time I get on a plane); but I am sure that I will never, ever enjoy flying. If I were to pick a best part, I would say that I like it when we are flying right on top of clouds. Even though we are still thousands of feet in the air, I at least feel like we are just above gound with the fluffy clouds right below us. As far as destinations, my favorite would be flying into Seattle (I love Seattle !) and seeing the beautiful Cascade mountains, and hopefully a good sighting of Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens as we get close to landing at Sea-Tac. I do love seeing airports at night landings, too, and my favorite of those would have to be Las Vegas, with all of the awsome colored lights. If you have ever watched Meg Ryan in the movie "French Kiss", that first airplane scene is exactly what is going on in my mind when I get anywhere near an airplane.
I was looking forward to my first flight on an airplane but I wasn't expecting what could happen to you physically. I felt like my head was going to explode or pass out. I was really scared because I didn't know what to do. I just happened to look up and saw what looked to be a fan and turned it on. Boy it felt so good as I was sucking in the cool air I wanted more so I turned it up as high as it would go. They didn't explain that at the beginning of the flight.
I've never flown and probably never will. When I was a teen, my dad offered to pay for flying lessons. I refused. Later, still in my teen years, someone was taking people on short plane rides over my town in an old Ford tri motor plane. Dad tried to get me to go, but I refused again. An old aunt of mine would nearly go into a panic every time we had to cross a bridge, yet she thought nothing of boarding a plane and flying across country.
I have some crazy phobias so it's odd that flying doesn't bother me much at all. I guess cause so far I've only been flying somewhere I really want to go. I always make sure I have a good book and my ipod. Edit: I see I posted in this thread awhile back. Oh well. There's not a delete post button so we'll have to live with it.
Are you really serious? The expectation of the "worsest" must have gotten hold of you, knowing that millions fly annually, billions of miles, and think nothing of it!
Yeah, I guess so, Frank. I wasn't thinking that the plane was going to crash I was to afraid of thinking anything but what the **ll was going on?
I flew a lot for the corp i used to work for. but i was worried about an aging fleet. many airlines were flying planes way past they're life limits. they were old and it showed. one day i got on an Eastern airline plane and the rugs had electrical tape all over. indicating splits. i never felt safe flying after that. white knuckled all the way. I don't fly anymore now. unless Sinatra's with me
I've flown on some pretty rickety prop planes, as well as several passenger planes, and crashed in a helicopter once, but I'm not afraid to fly. I don't mind it at all once I get on the plane and we're on our way, but I can't tolerate the nonsense that goes on at the airports anymore, so I haven't been on a plane since 2001.
I would probably be afraid of flying in a helicopter or prop plane, but I have flown on jets and also some of the smaller planes on short hops. Still, if I had to, I would probably fly in both a helicopter or prop plane. My dad flew sometimes for work, so he wasn't afraid to, and I've flown much more than anyone else in my family, since I used to go home at least a few times a year when my finances permitted. My mom has never flown, and never will. She says it's not that she's afraid of flying, she just doesn't like flying and doesn't want to fly. I don't believe my brother has ever flown, either.
No, nope. Not afraid of flying at all. It's more like a vastly more expensive bus these days than the luxury that flight once was and the airports are annoying, but I'm not afraid of flying.
Stale thread still attracting interest. Typical of my best intended ideas..... Since the OP was started, an ad has appeared locally for a REALLY nice Ultralight plane, low hours, good condition, $3500. I think I would love to buy it, try it, fly it! My wife don't know, yet, and she doesn't read forum posts, mine or others', she claims. It's down in Lake Havasu City, and I would have to fly it home, about 50 miles, as the ultra-light flies (or sinks to the ground). Would it be a real "rush" to unexpectedly croak piloting a first-time flight, at age 74? It's tempting, the potential excitement of the idea! Perhaps my brains have shrunken smaller than my b@lls.......a dangerous condition which often results in men getting married......Frank
Back in the 90s, a friend was determined to go skydiving. I thought she was crazy, but if I had more money and didn't have so many aches and pains already, it's something I might consider at this point. I can understand the rush, and I'm sure it would be an exhilarating experience. That sounds interesting, @Frank Sanoica. I hope if you do, you use a GoPro or other such video camera so you can share the experience. I'm not sure I trust the Ultralights too much, but they do seem as if they'd be fun.