Turbulance
Jul 27th, 2003, 12:28 PM
#41
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I always thought that one of the best ways to die was in a plane explosion (or similar) 35,000 miles in the sky. That should give me plenty of time in free fall to reconcile myself with my maker. With that in mind, I always welcome turbulence.
Jul 27th, 2003, 12:57 PM
#42
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Two years ago, I was on an extremely turbulent flight from Paris to the U.S. The worst that I can remember. At one point, we went into a steep (but short) dive and the entire cabin went completely quiet. As we leveled off, a little kid behind me piped up, "Do it again!" to which several people shouted "NO!!" Ignorance is bliss when you're 5 years old...
The FAs were relaxed during the dive so I asked them what happened. Apparently the air was smoother a few thousand feet below and the captain chose to get there quickly rather than fight through the turublence on a slow descent.
It was, overall, the most turbulent flight I was ever on. Not an experience I want to repeat, even in a first class seat.
The FAs were relaxed during the dive so I asked them what happened. Apparently the air was smoother a few thousand feet below and the captain chose to get there quickly rather than fight through the turublence on a slow descent.
It was, overall, the most turbulent flight I was ever on. Not an experience I want to repeat, even in a first class seat.
Jul 27th, 2003, 01:34 PM
#43
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If your plane explodes or disintegrates 35,000 feet (I assume miles is a typo) in the air, you will be dead long before you hit the ground.
This reminds me of a joke. A man on a flight that had never smoked in his life decided to try a cigarette offered to him by a person sitting on one side of him. The person on the other side of him said "you know that every cigarette you smoke takes two minutes off of your life." He ignored her advice and took the cigarette. An hour later he died instantaneously from a heart attack. Two minutes later, the plane crashed into a mountain.
This reminds me of a joke. A man on a flight that had never smoked in his life decided to try a cigarette offered to him by a person sitting on one side of him. The person on the other side of him said "you know that every cigarette you smoke takes two minutes off of your life." He ignored her advice and took the cigarette. An hour later he died instantaneously from a heart attack. Two minutes later, the plane crashed into a mountain.
Jul 31st, 2003, 01:16 PM
#47
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Thank you soo much for all the wonderful replies, they calmed me very much so and i do have all of you to thank when i m flying this sept. and i m not squeezing the heck out of my seat...i guess i can think of it as enjoyable, hehe. thanks again!
Jul 31st, 2003, 01:59 PM
#48
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I have to take a tranquilizer just to get on a plane. For Los Angeles to London 2 will usually do the trick, one every 4 hours. If it gets rough I more or less hypmotize myself, relaxing from the feet on up. I try to think of the plane as being a paper airplane, riding up and down on the currents. Also try to picture myself in some lovely setting. Believe me, when we get on that moving sidewalk at Heathrow I am one happy camper!
Jul 31st, 2003, 02:43 PM
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I guess I have gotten used to rough flights as I still get on planes (and again next week). On a flight from Bangkok to Tokyo, we hit a severe typhoon or something in Tokyo. This was the first time in many thousands of air miles that one of the FA's said, "Remember, everyone, if we have to have an emergency evacuation of the plane, leave your personal belongings behind!" That was a little bit alarming as the FA's had to strap down about the last hour of the flight. But, all was well, we landed in a rain coming down sideways and then got on another plane an hour later, bound for Chicago! It didn't hurt to have a few glasses of wine...
Jul 31st, 2003, 08:02 PM
#52
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I am horrible flyer. I have an extreme irrational fear of flying. It's only developed over the last few years. Basically since I've realized that good people die for no reason and my number will eventually come up. During my time in the Air Force, I flew on all kinds of planes, KC 135s (I got to fly in the refueler net), C5s (largest plane in the world), and C141s with no fear. I used to hear the mechanics refer to the aircrafts as "buckets of bolts." No fear.
The last few years my phobia has grown to an extreme. First of all, I always request an emergency exit seat. I don't care if the seats don't recline. Reclining is rude in coach anyway (unless there's a small kid or legless person sitting behind you). My theory is that no one is more prepared than myself to guard the emergency exit. I'm the passenger that READS the emergency instructions. I'm the passenger the intently watches the FAs' safety lecture. I am the first to point out to a FA that someone has rudely moved their kid into an emergency exit seat (afterall, I don't want to lob someone's precious child outta the way so that I can take control of the emergency door).
A few months after 9/11 I flew from JFK to Minneapolis. I get on the plane (after I unintentionally boarded a plane going to AMSTERDAM - great security at JFK) and trudge down the aisle to my seat where I am met with the calculating stare of a 40something guy. He was chatting up a bottle blonde across the aisle and was wearing a button down shirt, a tacky maroon tie, and had a major pants tent working for him. He looks me up in down and sneers. Apparently he was not impressed. I tell him that I'm in the window seat. This jackass actually has the guts to say "this is the emergency exit, can you handle it?" I swear to god I almost punched him. Instead I put on my happy face and began to stow my overhead bag. Unfortunately for the jackass, the bag was open and one of my 16 oz. protein shake cans fell out and landed on macho man's foot. Heheheh. He bitched non-stop about his foot the entire flight. His nonstop whining totally turned off the blonde.
Second, I always check out the person sitting next to me, cuz that poor soul will have the job of calming me down if I freak. Most humans rise to the occaision with great respect and class. I have had some great conversations and met some wonderful travelers due to my fear. I do not hesitate to ask guys if I can hold onto their arms (they love it). I call these people my sky angels >
<
I met one very good looking young guy on a flight from Atlanta to Minneapolis who calmly talked to me while we flew through a thunderstorm. All I could think about was how my friend, an Air Force C141 pilot once told me that he was afraid to fly through thunderstorms and over water. I figure if a tough military pilot is afraid, then so should I. Through the conversation I realized that the guy worked for a co. that I was probably going to be in future litigation with. So, not only did I get to hold onto this guy and talk to him, but I got a bit of inside info (yes, I warned him). I ran into the guy after we landed while he was waiting for his ride. He walked up to me and gave me a great hug and whispered in my ear "we made it." My girlfriend, who was there to pick me up was quite impressed.
My favorite sky angel was a woman named Ruth. She was aprox. 70 y.o. and from a town in California named Sunshine, or Happy, or something positive like that. I was flying from Rapid City to Minneapolis and was stuck in coach after I got my boss's fat butt a seat in 1st class (a story in itself). Upon take off I look at Ruth and say "I'm afraid." She looks at me with the most kind, slightly watery blue eyes, takes my hands into hers and says, "my name is Ruth, what's yours?" I tell her. She continues, "I want to tell you about the time that my husband told me to pack up our 3 children for a 3 month trip to Europe and we were leaving in 2 days." She told me all about her lunatic husband who dragged her, a 1 y.o, a 3 y.o. and a 4 y.o. around Europe in a VW van. After what seemed to be 15 mins the plane started pointing downward. Ruth saw the panic on my face, the corners of her mouth showed a hint of a smile. She said "we're landing." God I love you Ruth wherever you are.
All of you potential sky angels will be happy to know that I plan to take tranquilizers for my upcoming flight to and from Rome.
The last few years my phobia has grown to an extreme. First of all, I always request an emergency exit seat. I don't care if the seats don't recline. Reclining is rude in coach anyway (unless there's a small kid or legless person sitting behind you). My theory is that no one is more prepared than myself to guard the emergency exit. I'm the passenger that READS the emergency instructions. I'm the passenger the intently watches the FAs' safety lecture. I am the first to point out to a FA that someone has rudely moved their kid into an emergency exit seat (afterall, I don't want to lob someone's precious child outta the way so that I can take control of the emergency door).
A few months after 9/11 I flew from JFK to Minneapolis. I get on the plane (after I unintentionally boarded a plane going to AMSTERDAM - great security at JFK) and trudge down the aisle to my seat where I am met with the calculating stare of a 40something guy. He was chatting up a bottle blonde across the aisle and was wearing a button down shirt, a tacky maroon tie, and had a major pants tent working for him. He looks me up in down and sneers. Apparently he was not impressed. I tell him that I'm in the window seat. This jackass actually has the guts to say "this is the emergency exit, can you handle it?" I swear to god I almost punched him. Instead I put on my happy face and began to stow my overhead bag. Unfortunately for the jackass, the bag was open and one of my 16 oz. protein shake cans fell out and landed on macho man's foot. Heheheh. He bitched non-stop about his foot the entire flight. His nonstop whining totally turned off the blonde.
Second, I always check out the person sitting next to me, cuz that poor soul will have the job of calming me down if I freak. Most humans rise to the occaision with great respect and class. I have had some great conversations and met some wonderful travelers due to my fear. I do not hesitate to ask guys if I can hold onto their arms (they love it). I call these people my sky angels >
<I met one very good looking young guy on a flight from Atlanta to Minneapolis who calmly talked to me while we flew through a thunderstorm. All I could think about was how my friend, an Air Force C141 pilot once told me that he was afraid to fly through thunderstorms and over water. I figure if a tough military pilot is afraid, then so should I. Through the conversation I realized that the guy worked for a co. that I was probably going to be in future litigation with. So, not only did I get to hold onto this guy and talk to him, but I got a bit of inside info (yes, I warned him). I ran into the guy after we landed while he was waiting for his ride. He walked up to me and gave me a great hug and whispered in my ear "we made it." My girlfriend, who was there to pick me up was quite impressed.
My favorite sky angel was a woman named Ruth. She was aprox. 70 y.o. and from a town in California named Sunshine, or Happy, or something positive like that. I was flying from Rapid City to Minneapolis and was stuck in coach after I got my boss's fat butt a seat in 1st class (a story in itself). Upon take off I look at Ruth and say "I'm afraid." She looks at me with the most kind, slightly watery blue eyes, takes my hands into hers and says, "my name is Ruth, what's yours?" I tell her. She continues, "I want to tell you about the time that my husband told me to pack up our 3 children for a 3 month trip to Europe and we were leaving in 2 days." She told me all about her lunatic husband who dragged her, a 1 y.o, a 3 y.o. and a 4 y.o. around Europe in a VW van. After what seemed to be 15 mins the plane started pointing downward. Ruth saw the panic on my face, the corners of her mouth showed a hint of a smile. She said "we're landing." God I love you Ruth wherever you are.
All of you potential sky angels will be happy to know that I plan to take tranquilizers for my upcoming flight to and from Rome.
Aug 1st, 2003, 12:00 AM
#56
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Hahaha, I'm also one of those people who is in or on the way to/from the bathroom when the turbulence comes.
I usually don't drink alcohol on flights but I'm starting to wonder if a gin & tonic will help me with my balance...
I usually don't drink alcohol on flights but I'm starting to wonder if a gin & tonic will help me with my balance...
Aug 14th, 2003, 07:45 AM
#60
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MizzEve, you are so funny!!!!THanks for the laugh.....maybe the next time you will seat next to me.I could use some humour during the long monotous flight to Europe...
Take care and have martini on me...
kismet
Take care and have martini on me...
kismet
