Passenger Mark
09-13-2004, 09:31 PM
Part of my trip to England was to get to meet Lynda and attend the UK Soarfest!
Lynda and I became friends here on the board, and it is always great to meet someone in person that you have come to know here. That is the fantastic thing about Soarfests. If you get the chance to attend one... DO!
Now I had a choice... I could take the train from London to Manchester (about 3 hours) or a flight. At first, I was going to take the train to see the countryside. I even felt better about not having to fly! That made me mad that I was feeling that way.
Also Lynda has tracked me on almost all my flights, and it did not seem fair that she would have to see me come in on a train instead of a plane! ha ha
And what better way to go to a Soarfest than to fly? So with all of that, I booked a flight on British Air.
Left London Heathrow on Thursday August 19th. Got to the airport, and saw my Airbus 320 waiting...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0007.jpg
Soon loaded the plane. I really liked the Airbus, it had the same layout as a 737, but seemed wider. Not sure if it is, or if that was my imagination.
Met the pilots who told me that it would be a quick flight. The weather was a bit stormy, and they said we may experience some chop along the way.
This would be the shortest flight I have ever taken. About 45 minutes gate to gate, less than 30 minutes total flying time. The shortest I have had before that was Ontario to Las Vegas, about 55 minutes gate to gate.
Soon we backed from the gate, and began our taxi to the runway...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0010.jpg
As we taxied out, there was a Concorde on display...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0012.jpg
As you may know, all the Concordes have been retired, and they are on display around the world. There is only one that is still completely intact, and airworthy, and it is in Manchester! Lynda had managed to get us a tour on it the next day!
Soon we took to the runway...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0013.jpg
Sped down the runway, and we were off...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0015.jpg
It was not long and we were in the clouds being bumped about a bit...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0017.jpg
After take-off, the overhead displays dropped down, and showed our speed, altitude, location map, etc.
The engines slowed, and we stayed at 7,000 feet for at least 10 minutes. While still bumping around a bit, at 7,000 feet, something I had never seen before happened. Two dings, and the flight attendants got up and started serving snacks and drinks!
I guess since it was such a short flight, they had to get to it! ha ha
I kept wishing he would climb so we could get out of the clouds, and hopefully some smoother air!
Finally we began to climb...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0021.jpg
And as we did the air began to smooth. We reached our cruising altitude of 18,000 feet. Never cruised there before! But at least the air was smooth!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0020.jpg
We cruised there for about 10 minutes...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0024.jpg
And then started our decent into Manchester. Wow! what a short flight!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0028.jpg
We started bumping around again. Sure did not seem to affect the flight attendants as they were busy picking up the rubbish from the snacks.
Now I did get nervous at this point, as while we were bumping around the pilot began turning here and there. But I kept snapping my photos. This one is kind of cool of a canal (I think)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0029.jpg
The flight attendants sat down, and strapped in. All this bumping and turning reminded of flying into Vegas, except the view outside was different!
At about 7,000 feet he really began to descend quick. I noticed that I was pushing on the floor with my feet, pushing myself back in my seat. Now we were turning, bumping and rapidly descending all at the same time! :eek I for sure did not like this! Also there was that noise of the spoilers and flaps interrupting the air-flow. This was for sure not one of my favorite descents!
Soon he leveled off, and we began a "normal" approach into the airport. Started coming over the towns...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0031.jpg
Also, as we were now below the clouds the air smoothed out...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0033.jpg
I thought... Lynda has seen this same approach! I also thought... if they land EVERY time like this, I can see where her FOF comes from!
Soon enough... Touch down, a nice smooth landing...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0034.jpg
And the slow down!!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0035.jpg
We taxied to the gate, and "ding" everyone jump up!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0036.jpg
And of course my traditional photo with the crew!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0037.jpg
All in all, a good flight. New procedures, flying low etc. And all the bumping and turning was good practice! I also added another airline, British Air, and a another aircraft, Airbus 320 to my list!
Now it was off to meet Lynda!
Next report... The Concorde!
Lynda and I became friends here on the board, and it is always great to meet someone in person that you have come to know here. That is the fantastic thing about Soarfests. If you get the chance to attend one... DO!
Now I had a choice... I could take the train from London to Manchester (about 3 hours) or a flight. At first, I was going to take the train to see the countryside. I even felt better about not having to fly! That made me mad that I was feeling that way.
Also Lynda has tracked me on almost all my flights, and it did not seem fair that she would have to see me come in on a train instead of a plane! ha ha
And what better way to go to a Soarfest than to fly? So with all of that, I booked a flight on British Air.
Left London Heathrow on Thursday August 19th. Got to the airport, and saw my Airbus 320 waiting...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0007.jpg
Soon loaded the plane. I really liked the Airbus, it had the same layout as a 737, but seemed wider. Not sure if it is, or if that was my imagination.
Met the pilots who told me that it would be a quick flight. The weather was a bit stormy, and they said we may experience some chop along the way.
This would be the shortest flight I have ever taken. About 45 minutes gate to gate, less than 30 minutes total flying time. The shortest I have had before that was Ontario to Las Vegas, about 55 minutes gate to gate.
Soon we backed from the gate, and began our taxi to the runway...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0010.jpg
As we taxied out, there was a Concorde on display...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0012.jpg
As you may know, all the Concordes have been retired, and they are on display around the world. There is only one that is still completely intact, and airworthy, and it is in Manchester! Lynda had managed to get us a tour on it the next day!
Soon we took to the runway...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0013.jpg
Sped down the runway, and we were off...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0015.jpg
It was not long and we were in the clouds being bumped about a bit...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0017.jpg
After take-off, the overhead displays dropped down, and showed our speed, altitude, location map, etc.
The engines slowed, and we stayed at 7,000 feet for at least 10 minutes. While still bumping around a bit, at 7,000 feet, something I had never seen before happened. Two dings, and the flight attendants got up and started serving snacks and drinks!
I guess since it was such a short flight, they had to get to it! ha ha
I kept wishing he would climb so we could get out of the clouds, and hopefully some smoother air!
Finally we began to climb...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0021.jpg
And as we did the air began to smooth. We reached our cruising altitude of 18,000 feet. Never cruised there before! But at least the air was smooth!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0020.jpg
We cruised there for about 10 minutes...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0024.jpg
And then started our decent into Manchester. Wow! what a short flight!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0028.jpg
We started bumping around again. Sure did not seem to affect the flight attendants as they were busy picking up the rubbish from the snacks.
Now I did get nervous at this point, as while we were bumping around the pilot began turning here and there. But I kept snapping my photos. This one is kind of cool of a canal (I think)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0029.jpg
The flight attendants sat down, and strapped in. All this bumping and turning reminded of flying into Vegas, except the view outside was different!
At about 7,000 feet he really began to descend quick. I noticed that I was pushing on the floor with my feet, pushing myself back in my seat. Now we were turning, bumping and rapidly descending all at the same time! :eek I for sure did not like this! Also there was that noise of the spoilers and flaps interrupting the air-flow. This was for sure not one of my favorite descents!
Soon he leveled off, and we began a "normal" approach into the airport. Started coming over the towns...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0031.jpg
Also, as we were now below the clouds the air smoothed out...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0033.jpg
I thought... Lynda has seen this same approach! I also thought... if they land EVERY time like this, I can see where her FOF comes from!
Soon enough... Touch down, a nice smooth landing...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0034.jpg
And the slow down!!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0035.jpg
We taxied to the gate, and "ding" everyone jump up!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0036.jpg
And of course my traditional photo with the crew!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/London Heathrow to Manchester/DSCF0037.jpg
All in all, a good flight. New procedures, flying low etc. And all the bumping and turning was good practice! I also added another airline, British Air, and a another aircraft, Airbus 320 to my list!
Now it was off to meet Lynda!
Next report... The Concorde!