[asianthree]

Washington DC. Ninth grade trip

[jblum315]

I was 19 and I flew on a prop plane (I think Eastern) from Richmond Va. to Boston to visit a college friend. I felt sick but never actually threw up.

[Nightengale212]

My first flight was in 1973 from Boston to Venice, Italy. Bless my parents for saving every extra dime to pay the $500 I needed to go on this 10 day trip to Italy sponsored by my high school's Italian club. That 9 hour flight seemed to last forever but when we flew into Venice seeing that beautiful city from the air is a memory that has remained etched in my brain for 40 plus years and sparked my love for travel which I do every chance I get.

[Northerner52]

I remember smoking cigarettes on commercial flights. Unthinkable now. I'm 62

[redwitch]

My first flight was Frankfort, Germany to NYC, after a bus, car and train ride from Baghdad. We stayed in New York about three hours -- long enough for dad to buy a car to drive us to California. No way were his wife and kids going to get their first view of his country from the sky. From there, it was another plane to Okinawa. All in all, this journey took eleven days, with so many stops and landings that we were all inveterate travelers by the final destination. We took a prop plane to Shannon, Ireland; next leg to Greenland was a jet; back to a prop to NYC. Don't remember the stops or planes from SFO to Japan.

I was almost five at the time and thought it was truly magical. My brother and I were invited to the cockpit on every leg and were royally spoiled by the stewardesses. Sadly, after that we flew so often that it became mundane.

Probably the most exciting flight was from Peking (at the time) to Moscow. We were escorted by military jets, both American and Russian, the whole flight. This was a military transport and we sat in the cockpit. It was hauling equipment and we weren't allowed to leave the cockpit even to go to the bathroom. Mom was afraid the escort planes would start fighting and bring our plane down by mistake.

And, of course, we always had to get dressed up for the flights, even the military transports, which my brother and I both hated.

[pbkmaine]

1970. I was 13. I flew with my Dad from Laconia NH to Boston on Winnipesaukee Airlines. The plane was a DeHavilland Twin Otter. Best plane name ever.

[delima2000]

Flight from Detroit to tampa on Eastern airlines and having the best breakfast on the plane. Return flight had dinner. Thought that was great eating in the air. Not now only a bag a peanuts and a soda. I also remember waiting to take off but had to go back to the gate because they forgot to load the meals.

[Walter123]

This morning I feel old enough to have flown with Orville!

[deano_hoosier]

I sure do remember. My twin brother called me on Oct. 19, 1966 at 8:30 in the morning to tell me our dad had suddenly died the night before. I was at my office desk at my civilian/military job testing ammunition/explosives in the U.S. Army. A pfc at the time.

I left my desk and drove to H&HQ Co. and told the 1st Sgt I needed to get home quick. He pulled out his wallet and peeled off $200 for me to catch the first plane that I could catch. Told me that I could pay him back after I returned. I'll never forget that instantaneous act of generosity on his part. He didn't know me from Adam at that point. I caught my plane at the Baltimore airport and was home by 2pm that afternoon.

[Bonny]

I didn't take my first flight until 1995.
I was in sales in Michigan and the company I worked for had a sales contest. Yay ! I won a cruise for 2 on the Celebrity Zenith so we had to fly to Florida. I was so excited because taking a cruise is the one thing I always wanted to do.
Hubby thought he would tease me. When we got on the plane, he said, jokingly, do you want the window seat ? Well, he's never had a window seat yet !!

[Bizdoc]

1962 in a Flying Tigers DC-3 from Tachikawa AFB to Itazuke AFB on our way to Sasebo.

[TheVillageChicken]

My old man bought me a round trip ticket just so I could have the experience.
After 34 years in the USAF, I have had quite enough flying and do my best to stay off aircraft these days.

[JB in TV]

August 1955. Flight was from NYC to Los Angeles on a TWA flight, DC6 was the plane. My parents moved the family from Poughkeepsie, NY to LA. Mom, Dad, myself (almost 5 years old) and 7 month old sister. One stop in Chicago. In those days it was rare for a transcontinental flight to have only one stop. I remember wanting to get off the plane to see the airport in Chicago, but when we started down the stairs, it was so windy, that Dad made me go back on the plane. Like many others have said, flying used to be "fancy" and fun, now it is a chore, but I still fly.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Bonny

I didn't take my first flight until 1995.
I was in sales in Michigan and the company I worked for had a sales contest. Yay ! I won a cruise for 2 on the Celebrity Zenith so we had to fly to Florida. I was so excited because taking a cruise is the one thing I always wanted to do.
Hubby thought he would tease me. When we got on the plane, he said, jokingly, do you want the window seat ? Well, he's never had a window seat yet !!

Cool. And you were only 15 at the time.

[KayakerNC]

1959. Detroit to San Antonio, Texas for Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base. It was a twin engine prop, I think some variation of a DC-3, and made 4 or 5 stops.
Wow!