For the aviation community

saintfan · 07-02-2012, 01:26 PM

I once took a commercial flight from Dallas to Oklahoma. Instead of flying a direct rout, because of weather we were told we would fly from Dallas, over to Arkansas and then west to Oklahoma. While in line for take off, the pilot notified us that instead we would fly west over the panhandle and then east to Oklahoma City. Whatever.

It was the worst flight of my life. I've flown a fair amount, but this was the worst. Because of the weather, the entire flight was flown with the wing tipped on my side of the plane. It was, as best I can describe, like riding a go-cart down a badly washed out Louisiana dirt road. It's the only flight I've ever been on where I really did need the seat belt to keep from bounding around the plane. The luggage certainly did. We would lose altitude like the bottom just dropping out from under us. A hundred feet or more at a time. Then we'd climb and struggle again, only to have the bottom fall out again. The wings were flopping up and down - I swear I don't know how they didn't break off. Seriously. I could feel the wind grab the plane. Normally computers keep the tail in line, but either the computer couldn't keep up or the pilot was doing it manually - I don't know, but that thing twisted and yawed like a rag doll.

When we finally landed I just sat there in my seat, catching my breath. I was the last person off the plane. I know just enough about flying to know the pilots probably never thought they were in real danger, but the pilot could see the look on my face. He apologized to me as I walked past the cockpit. "I'm just glad you guys are good at your job", was the only thing I could think to say.

I swore I'd walk back to Dallas before I got on another plane, but that subsided and my flight back a couple days later was uneventful. It's amazing how safe flying truly is, and it is safe, but man oh man flying through the teeth of a thunder storm will cause a man (or woman) to change religions or devote themselves more fully to the one they have.

That was a great story 656. Thanks for posting. It makes me wonder why I'm still trying to come up with the 9 grand I need to get my license, and I still do want my license, badly. Most times I'm pretty sure I'm just stupid.

07-02-2012, 01:26 PM	#3
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	I once took a commercial flight from Dallas to Oklahoma. Instead of flying a direct rout, because of weather we were told we would fly from Dallas, over to Arkansas and then west to Oklahoma. While in line for take off, the pilot notified us that instead we would fly west over the panhandle and then east to Oklahoma City. Whatever. It was the worst flight of my life. I've flown a fair amount, but this was the worst. Because of the weather, the entire flight was flown with the wing tipped on my side of the plane. It was, as best I can describe, like riding a go-cart down a badly washed out Louisiana dirt road. It's the only flight I've ever been on where I really did need the seat belt to keep from bounding around the plane. The luggage certainly did. We would lose altitude like the bottom just dropping out from under us. A hundred feet or more at a time. Then we'd climb and struggle again, only to have the bottom fall out again. The wings were flopping up and down - I swear I don't know how they didn't break off. Seriously. I could feel the wind grab the plane. Normally computers keep the tail in line, but either the computer couldn't keep up or the pilot was doing it manually - I don't know, but that thing twisted and yawed like a rag doll. When we finally landed I just sat there in my seat, catching my breath. I was the last person off the plane. I know just enough about flying to know the pilots probably never thought they were in real danger, but the pilot could see the look on my face. He apologized to me as I walked past the cockpit. "I'm just glad you guys are good at your job", was the only thing I could think to say. I swore I'd walk back to Dallas before I got on another plane, but that subsided and my flight back a couple days later was uneventful. It's amazing how safe flying truly is, and it is safe, but man oh man flying through the teeth of a thunder storm will cause a man (or woman) to change religions or devote themselves more fully to the one they have. That was a great story 656. Thanks for posting. It makes me wonder why I'm still trying to come up with the 9 grand I need to get my license, and I still do want my license, badly. Most times I'm pretty sure I'm just stupid.
	C'mon Man...