Your worse air turbulence experience?
Mar 5th, 2004, 12:11 PM
#21
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I was "fortunate" enough to win a free trip on Midway Airways inaugural flight from Chicago to Washington DC (early 80's). The plane's fuselage was beautifully painted, but when we got on board, the seats were very tacky and dirty. Looking out at the wing of the DC-9, I could faintly make out "TWA" which was apparently the original owner. Knowing I was flying on a TWA reject didn't make this Fearful Flyer feel much better. Everything went smoothly until we got about halfway to DC. Over Ohio the pilot announced that things "might get a little bumpy, so I'm turning on the seatbelt lights". Next thing you know, we were in the tornado from the Wizard of Oz! The plane was bouncing up and down, then lurching side to side, then yawing back and forth. I truly thought the plane was going to break in half. Oddly enough, my complimentary Champage didn't spill. I just kept staring at it on the table in front of me because I was too afraid to let go of my armrests. After an eternity, we reached the calmer skies over Virginia. I never flew Midway again. I still have that Champagne glas with the Midway logo.
On another occassion, a totally calm, beautiful flight was suddenly turned into maybe 4.8 seconds of pure terror for me when we reached the isle of Puerto Rico. Suddenly the plane dropped like a rock. This was not the typical turbulece induced 100 ft drop. This Bad Boy felt like the Vomit Comet the NASA guys ride. I felt weightless for a couple seconds. once the plane righted itself, everybody acted like nothing happened. I've never been to Puerto Rico again.
On another occassion, a totally calm, beautiful flight was suddenly turned into maybe 4.8 seconds of pure terror for me when we reached the isle of Puerto Rico. Suddenly the plane dropped like a rock. This was not the typical turbulece induced 100 ft drop. This Bad Boy felt like the Vomit Comet the NASA guys ride. I felt weightless for a couple seconds. once the plane righted itself, everybody acted like nothing happened. I've never been to Puerto Rico again.
Mar 6th, 2004, 05:43 AM
#26
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On a warm, very windy day in April a few years back, I knew it was not a good sign when the flight attendant passed out mints to the passengers before the flight even took off, then she fastened her seatbelt and stayed there the rest of the flight. Fortunately it was only an hour commuter flight but it was like being in a small motorboat on a rough ocean. The plane bucked constantly all the way from DCA to Charleston, WV. A number of folks were not handling it at all well. If the flight had been 5 minutes longer I would not have either. My stomach did hurt for the rest of the day though.
Mar 6th, 2004, 10:34 PM
#27
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Come join us up here in S.E. Aslaska where the complimentary drinks are handed out BEFORE you ever leave the tarmac because you won't get them otherwise! Fog, shorter runways, surrounded by water. Quite the experience in winter. Last flight the pilot "missed" the landing twice, having to gun the engines and retake off seconds before (apparent) touchdown. The stewardess got on the intercom and suggested we give the captain a hand for getting us back on terra firma...even they were obviously relieved.
