Also afraid of flying?

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Airports and escalators. Ick.

I was trying to make a plane leaving San Diego for Austin last year. I had my rolling case with me, and stupidly put it on the step in front of me going down on the escalator.

So, of course, when I got to the bottom, the case didn't roll off the escalator, but instead just sat there while the escalator pushed my feet under the case and caused me to fall backwards, where I lay with each sucessive step banging me in the head for several seconds.

I managed to get myself up ... I was a bit dazed ... I seem to remember a couple of men coming over to give me a hand. I made it onto the plane, however, after three hours in the air and an hour driving home from the airport, I could barely move.

When I got a look at my back, it became clear as to why. I was covered in deep (and large) bruises.

Such a pleasant memory.

You see, this is why I always kick my bags down the escalator ahead of me. Little bastards will try to kill you every time. Just ask the travelers in line ahead of me.

[xianfox]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

You see, this is why I always kick my bags down the escalator ahead of me. Little bastards will try to kill you every time. Just ask the travelers in lilne ahead of me.

Hey, I remember you. *rubs back of head*

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by xianfox

Hey, I remember you. *rubs back of head*

I've only flown through Mitchell twice. Couldn't have been me. I was at the bottom and kindly helped you up from that nasty encounter witht he homicidal luggage.

And I changed the name tags so as to protect the innocent.

[slayda]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

La Crosse non-International Airport is nice. You can arrive five minutes before the flight with two huge bags and carry-ons and make your plane. There is one little tschotschke store with cheese head hats and the local paper, but it's not overpriced, at least. You can look at the latest in air chiller design if you want to get there ten minutes early. When you arrive, the baggage claim is righ next to the gatet and your bags magically appear in five minutes or less. You walk out the front doo which is on the same level as the gates and across the street to the parking lot to your car, which is still there. You are home in ten minutes.

The only down side is that Northwest sometimes does not have a flight that is convenient to where you want to go and you have to fly (:shreikingwomanandscreaminghorses: ) American Airlines.

Isn't that the airport where they issue you a leather helmet and a pair of goggles and ask you to spin the propeller for them?

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by slayda

Isn't that the airport where they issue you a leather helmet and a pair of goggles and ask you to spin the propeller for them?

always reassuring, in an airport...

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by slayda

Isn't that the airport where they issue you a leather helmet and a pair of goggles and ask you to spin the propeller for them?

Nah. With the recent "belt tightening" measures that airlines are instituting, you have to bring your own helmet and goggles.

[MaggieScratch]

I'm not afraid to fly, it's the landings that make me nervous. It just seems so...uncontrolled. And I get very restless on flights longer than an hour or so, but that has nothing to do with fear.

My sister very rarely flies and she gets upset when I do (just 2-3 times a year tops) or any family member. I keep telling her, I'm more likely to be killed crossing Market Street in Philadelphia twice a day to get back and forth to work than on an airplane, especially as rarely as I fly. Though they have installed those clever lights now that tell you how many seconds you have left to cross, so the pendulum might have swung back in the plane's favor a bit.

Wow, Patricia, we can even bring crochet hooks on planes in the U.S. I haven't tried to carry on a steel thread crochet hook, though.

[Alexander Turcic]

Here is one of my recent "fun" experiences flying:

Flight from Honolulu Airport to Los Angeles, LAX. United Airlines crew arrived dreadfully late because of traffic on the road (traffic is a common fact there, which apparently only the crew didn't know). Finally on the runway, had to wait another 45 minutes due to "technical issues". We took off, had a wonderful view on Waikiki Beach, when suddenly the plane dropped for a couple of meters, started to vibrate violently, accompanied with an undefinable noise.

Let's say I am "easily irritable" during a flight; but this time, everyone seemed on edge.

A minute or two later (which seemed like an eternity) the pilot explained that during our delayed takeoff, the brakes became excessively hot. Normally they'd quickly cool down during takeoff with the gears still extended; but this time it wasn't sufficient. He received a warning so he had to extend them again, despite our on-going climb and accelerated speed. Drag caused the airplane to drop and vibrate. It would have all been fine had he explained beforehand what was going on.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Spartacus2112

I have actually passed through security at LaGuardia airport having my bag scanned on three separate occasions, not realizing that I had a utility knife/ leatherman type of tool in my bag. That to me is scary, but they did ask me to dispose of my water.

I have personally witnessed following situation:

We get through a tough check (metal detectors, X-ray, ) on an airport on Balcan that shall remain unnamed. My friends puts his hand to a trouser pocket to get some coins and starts swearing.
"What happened"?
" I forgot to put my swiss army knife to my check-in luggage and now they will surely confiscate it."
We discussed throwing the knife discreetly into trash and decided it was too valuable ...
So he went through ANOTHER check prior to entering the plane and when we switched planes in Prague, he went through two more checks. Thorough checks. X-ray, metal detector, water and duty free alcohol confiscation (they will confiscate the duty free alcohol you have purchased on the previous airport, because they were not purchased on THIS airport).
We safely arrived home with swis army folding knife in a pants pocket.

I feel much safer now.

Sigh ...

[kacir]

Originally Posted by slayda

Isn't that the airport where they issue you a leather helmet and a pair of goggles and ask you to spin the propeller for them?

Prior to MY first flight I was asked to help to spin (rotate) the propeler.
I was about to make my first parachute jump.
We were asked to spin the propeler not because they wanted to start it, but because when the airplane was parked the motor was filled with oil and you have to pump out the oil from engine prior to starting it.

The airplane was soviet made doubledecker with radial engine powered propeler Antonov AN2

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by kacir

Prior to MY first flight I was asked to help to spin (rotate) the propeler.
I was about to make my first parachute jump.
We were asked to spin the propeler not because they wanted to start it, but because when the airplane was parked the motor was filled with oil and you have to pump out the oil from engine prior to starting it.

The airplane was soviet made doubledecker with radial engine powered propeler Antonov AN2

yeah, i would have asked for a parachute before that flight too.

[mores]

I'm afraid of flying, when I the seats behind me are occupied by little children with parents who believe that children need to express themselves and must not be hindered by any type of rules or behavioral modifications whatsoever. "Look how he's communicating with his environment by repeatedly banging against the seat in front of him."

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by mores

I'm afraid of flying, when I the seats behind me are occupied by little children with parents who believe that children need to express themselves and must not be hindered by any type of rules or behavioral modifications whatsoever. "Look how he's communicating with his environment by repeatedly banging against the seat in front of him."

oh god. just thinking of that i begin to have palpitations and cold sweats.

children communicate far too much these days i find. i think i would be willing to pay extra for a flight guaranteed without children.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

yeah, i would have asked for a parachute before that flight too.

The AN2 (afectionately called "The maize Jumbo") is one of the best planes in the world. Extremely reliable.
The Guinness Book of World Records states that the 45-year production run for the An-2 was the longest ever, for any aircraft. It is still produced in China under name Y-5

The guys from the sky-diving club have a running joke that only the AN2 pilots are brave enough to be in that airplane during landing ;-)


Believe me, it was one of the weiderst moments in my life when a skydiving instructor opened the door on the airplane and looked out if we are on a proper spot for jumping. We were cruising for quite a long time with open door right in front of me (cca 1m from where I was seated on a long wooden bench (without any kind of seat-belt)) and the plane was banking gently.
Since then I have no fear to fly on anything ;-)

I believe the same AN2 that was already very old 20 years ago serves the skydiving club today.

[Alexander Turcic]

Originally Posted by kacir

Since then I have no fear to fly on anything ;-)

Looks like skydiving is a great remedy against the fear.