Passenger Mark
09-13-2004, 08:29 PM
Once on the ground in Manchester I made my way out the gate and met Lynda! It was great meeting someone that you have been friends with so long, but yet have not seen in person. As I wrote before, If you get the chance to go to a Soarfest, then do it!!!
Later that day I met Lynda's husband Patrick, and their son Damian. What great hosts, they all made me feel right at home!
The next day Lynda had booked a tour of the Concorde. As discussed, these aircraft have been retired, and are on display in different places.
The only one that is still intact, and could fly again with little preparation is the one located in Manchester. The last time it flew was on October 25, 2003.
On Friday it was raining as we made our way back to the Manchester Airport for the tour. Even in the rain, this aircraft was something to see.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0004.jpg
Most of the tour was in the dry, so the rain did not matter. They started off in the visitor's center with a history lesson, and some facts about the aircraft.
Next we went under the plane and inspected the landing gear, engines, etc. The guide explained how the engines worked. It was cool to get and touch this bird! He advised that it was the only commercial airliner that you could stand under. Sounds right to me!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0007.jpg
The guide showed us the rear wheel... thats right... a rear wheel...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0008.jpg
The wheel is there due to the high angle of attack the aircraft makes on landing. A good pilot should not strike the tail on the runway... but sometimes stuff happens!
Then came time to go on board...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0001.jpg
The interior cabin was small, seemed smaller than a 737, but I guess it does not matter when it only takes a little more than three hours to cross the pond!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0012.jpg
This aircraft was the exact one that had flown the Queen and other members of the Royal Family!
I think I look right at home... seat belt on... lets go!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0010.jpg
Of course I like this seat better, not quite a Cessna 172!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0017.jpg
This is where the Engineer was located, right behind the First Officer...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0018.jpg
A great tour, I would have loved to had the chance to fly on this one! Thank you Lynda for arranging the tour!
The next day after Lynda and Patrick gave me a tour of Manchester, was the Soarfest. Lynda had arranged a luncheon at a restaurant overlooking the tarmac and runways. I think all of us have gone and watched planes take-off and land, for some reason it is therapeutic. Great idea Lynda!
Just like the Soarfest in San Diego, we stood around looking for people that fit our group. Soon enough we found each other!
The time together was great! Shared stories, thoughts, ideas, what worked, and what didn't, then we talked about Fear of Flying! ha ha
We watched planes back away from their gates, taxi out, and take off. I pointed out the CRJ-700, several were in the area.
As always, it was great to meet the people behind the screen names. Everyone seemed to enjoy the fest!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/UK Soarfest/DSCF0018.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/UK Soarfest/DSCF0028.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/UK Soarfest/DSCF0017.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/UK Soarfest/DSCF0029.jpg
For all that attended, thank you for the effort you made in coming! And I look forward to the next one!
After lunch the entire gang saw me off. We all went down to the gates! With support like that, there was no way I could fail!
I found my gate, and soon enough was boarding a British Airways Airbus 319. Very similar to the 320 I had arrived on.
I met the pilots, who said that the weather was going to be very clear, a good day to fly.
The flight back, was the same as there... very short! I asked the pilots why they flew such a large aircraft on a short flight. They advised that the flights between Manchester and London were very popular, and a smaller aircraft would not meet their needs.
I quickly found my seat, buckled up and waited for the back-up.
As we backed away from the gate, I could see my friends standing at the window waving me off...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0032.jpg
We pulled from the terminal, and made our way to the runway...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0034.jpg
And soon were at the runway, and started for the take-off...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0035.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0036.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0037.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0038.jpg
As we left the runway, we began a left turn south. I could look out the window and see the Manchester Airport...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0039.jpg
This time the plane took a fairly quick accent to our 20,000 foot cruising altitude, and the Captain was right, a very smooth flight, with great views of England...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0040.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0041.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0042.jpg
Again, as with my flight from the U.S., as we approached London Heathrow, we circled, and circled, and CIRCLED! We circled longer than it took to fly down to London!
The pilot came on and said that we were holding for traffic, and would be coming in over London, and then a direct approach into Heathrow.
The odd thing is that while we circled the seat belt sign was out, and we could move about. Not hard tight circles, just gradual.
London came into view...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0044.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0045.jpg
Then the chime came on, seat belts on, ready to land! We made a nice decent and touch down!
We pulled to the gate, and then... another traditional crew photo!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0046.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0047.jpg
Flight # 20 completed! And the next one... 21, the flight back to Los Angeles.
I really enjoyed Manchester, time with Lynda and Patrick, and my new found British friends I had met at the Soarfest. None of it would have been possible without air travel, the ability to fly from Los Angeles to London, and the quick flight from London to Manchester.
My last report, London to Los Angeles, I will do next week. Now it is getting time for NASCAR!
Later that day I met Lynda's husband Patrick, and their son Damian. What great hosts, they all made me feel right at home!
The next day Lynda had booked a tour of the Concorde. As discussed, these aircraft have been retired, and are on display in different places.
The only one that is still intact, and could fly again with little preparation is the one located in Manchester. The last time it flew was on October 25, 2003.
On Friday it was raining as we made our way back to the Manchester Airport for the tour. Even in the rain, this aircraft was something to see.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0004.jpg
Most of the tour was in the dry, so the rain did not matter. They started off in the visitor's center with a history lesson, and some facts about the aircraft.
Next we went under the plane and inspected the landing gear, engines, etc. The guide explained how the engines worked. It was cool to get and touch this bird! He advised that it was the only commercial airliner that you could stand under. Sounds right to me!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0007.jpg
The guide showed us the rear wheel... thats right... a rear wheel...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0008.jpg
The wheel is there due to the high angle of attack the aircraft makes on landing. A good pilot should not strike the tail on the runway... but sometimes stuff happens!
Then came time to go on board...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0001.jpg
The interior cabin was small, seemed smaller than a 737, but I guess it does not matter when it only takes a little more than three hours to cross the pond!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0012.jpg
This aircraft was the exact one that had flown the Queen and other members of the Royal Family!
I think I look right at home... seat belt on... lets go!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0010.jpg
Of course I like this seat better, not quite a Cessna 172!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0017.jpg
This is where the Engineer was located, right behind the First Officer...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/concorde/DSCF0018.jpg
A great tour, I would have loved to had the chance to fly on this one! Thank you Lynda for arranging the tour!
The next day after Lynda and Patrick gave me a tour of Manchester, was the Soarfest. Lynda had arranged a luncheon at a restaurant overlooking the tarmac and runways. I think all of us have gone and watched planes take-off and land, for some reason it is therapeutic. Great idea Lynda!
Just like the Soarfest in San Diego, we stood around looking for people that fit our group. Soon enough we found each other!
The time together was great! Shared stories, thoughts, ideas, what worked, and what didn't, then we talked about Fear of Flying! ha ha
We watched planes back away from their gates, taxi out, and take off. I pointed out the CRJ-700, several were in the area.
As always, it was great to meet the people behind the screen names. Everyone seemed to enjoy the fest!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/UK Soarfest/DSCF0018.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/UK Soarfest/DSCF0028.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/UK Soarfest/DSCF0017.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/UK Soarfest/DSCF0029.jpg
For all that attended, thank you for the effort you made in coming! And I look forward to the next one!
After lunch the entire gang saw me off. We all went down to the gates! With support like that, there was no way I could fail!
I found my gate, and soon enough was boarding a British Airways Airbus 319. Very similar to the 320 I had arrived on.
I met the pilots, who said that the weather was going to be very clear, a good day to fly.
The flight back, was the same as there... very short! I asked the pilots why they flew such a large aircraft on a short flight. They advised that the flights between Manchester and London were very popular, and a smaller aircraft would not meet their needs.
I quickly found my seat, buckled up and waited for the back-up.
As we backed away from the gate, I could see my friends standing at the window waving me off...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0032.jpg
We pulled from the terminal, and made our way to the runway...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0034.jpg
And soon were at the runway, and started for the take-off...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0035.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0036.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0037.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0038.jpg
As we left the runway, we began a left turn south. I could look out the window and see the Manchester Airport...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0039.jpg
This time the plane took a fairly quick accent to our 20,000 foot cruising altitude, and the Captain was right, a very smooth flight, with great views of England...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0040.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0041.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0042.jpg
Again, as with my flight from the U.S., as we approached London Heathrow, we circled, and circled, and CIRCLED! We circled longer than it took to fly down to London!
The pilot came on and said that we were holding for traffic, and would be coming in over London, and then a direct approach into Heathrow.
The odd thing is that while we circled the seat belt sign was out, and we could move about. Not hard tight circles, just gradual.
London came into view...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0044.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0045.jpg
Then the chime came on, seat belts on, ready to land! We made a nice decent and touch down!
We pulled to the gate, and then... another traditional crew photo!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0046.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Manchester to London Heathrow/DSCF0047.jpg
Flight # 20 completed! And the next one... 21, the flight back to Los Angeles.
I really enjoyed Manchester, time with Lynda and Patrick, and my new found British friends I had met at the Soarfest. None of it would have been possible without air travel, the ability to fly from Los Angeles to London, and the quick flight from London to Manchester.
My last report, London to Los Angeles, I will do next week. Now it is getting time for NASCAR!