Hi;
Keyda81, This is who I will blame!
There was a cold winter's day. February fourth to be exact. In the Year of our Lord 1952. I was all of ten years on this Earth. Never had been outside of our little town where even the phone operator adult lady knew who I was from the four party line!
Dad and I are going to Albany to the New York Dairy Farmer's Association Convention in Albany , New York! We left the house in the 48 Chrysler " Town and Country" Convertible, and drove to Buffalo N.Y in the dark and turned in at the Buffalo Municipal Airport!
Airplanes everywhere! This kid was beyond himself! There were about seven D.C.3s on the apron and a couple of planes with two or four engines that had tri-cycle landing gear ! Some had their engines running and some were starting up and being backed up by little tractors!
Dad went to a bench and this nice lady in a very spiffy uniform gave him some tickets! Her uniform was a nice blue and boy, was she purty! Now we went and sat in some chairs until a plane destination and "please board" was called.
We all got up and went to a exit door and walked out into the cold and walked to this big silver and white Plane. It said 'Capitol Airlines" in a line above the windows. She was called "Miss Washington".
We went up two steps and entered this plane and climbed a little incline to our seats. I got the window right next to the engine. On the what I know now, as the Starboard side.
I sat there wiggling like a worm. I could not sit still! Then the engine sputtered and coughed to life! What an experience, as that big engine came up to speed. They closed the door and the nice lady said we would be taxiing soon, "Please fasten our belts."
The plane sat for about what seemed forever, then was maneuvered out of it's spot on the apron and turned toward the taxiway. we taxied out to a spot in the dark and sat while the engines spun up and down. Then they spun up again and we started to move. We sat again at another place and the pilot really ran those engines up, then I felt the brakes let go!
We started at what seemed like a gentle speed and faster,and faster, and suddenly we were flying! higher and higher, till I felt the gear come up and off into the brightening sky we went! Gee, the ground below looked so small I think we flew over a lot of farms and stuff and the cows looked like little ants down there.
Soon, after flying through some clouds and the engines lulling me into an early nap we decended into Albany, reverse everything in the daylight and "viola" we were in the building in Albany. Me sporting a beautiful set of Golden Wings ( they were plastic, of course) for my first flight with " Capitol Airlines".
Talk about strutting! I certainly was. I was a " Captain " for that Airline. That was what the Wings said too! Some years later I had to go to Florida because Granpa was going to go to heaven soon. This time the plane was blue and silver and said " United Airlines " on the side. We had to climb a set of stairs on wheels to get ino this one.That plane had Four,count em,Four! of those big noisy engines and I think we were flying a lot higher than we did before!
Guess what? I got to visit the Cockpit that time. What a tiny space for two grown men to fit into! Oh ! And all those gauges and gadgets!! The captain got up and had me sit in his seat. The Co-Pilot looked at me and said " You have the Airplane ,Sir" " ME!Who ,Me? " Of course, years later I realized they had it on auto - pilot. Still holding that yoke burned flying into my Psyche. Many years and dollars earned and such as life handed me I had three Birds, a" Skinny " J-3 Piper, a Side by Side Four placed Cessna 180 Float,n,Land and Last but NOT least a North American B-25 -J !.
Oh my gosh, those were the days! Flying is the Cat's Meow! I think that is why some of us have favorite planes that we like to build in miniature. I never have flown a fighter, but got to ride in one! The first edition of the Harrier when it came to Little Rock for an air show.
Later in life, but before Little Rock, I have flown in some planes for the military. C-130 Hercs and C-123 Providers as well as Hueys during Nam. The wonder has never left this old man. I envy and rise on gossamer wings with each person that gets to make their first flight in whatever kind of plane comes into their life.
I would hope they can see it as the wonder it is. T.B.