[3aidlillahi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'a')s for on ground transportation; a car uses as much as being a passenger on a plane

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Byron100', 'W')hy not just focus your practice in Montana (or Seattle)? I don't see the logic of doing the commuting thing to Seattle at all...just pick one place that you like best and make a go of it there. It'll not be too long before they start eliminating flights to out-of-the-way places like Montana, for sure...

[drew]

I have only been on an airliner twice and in small planes around four times. Had I had a normal childhood I would have become a professional pilot, no question about it.

Drew

[mystiek]

We adopted our oldest children from Russia two years ago and I am mortified of heights and flying (to the point of tears). My husband was in the Airforce during Vietnam and he thinks flying is great. Needless to say he was somewhat embarassed sitting next to me on the flight. The airport kept repeating if you noticed any suspicious activity to report it-when you are scared to death everything looks suspicious!! Its a very long flight to Moscow then change planes and go to a smaller location in Russia to the orphanage-I did not sleep one wink until we were on the ground. On the way home, the last flight from Atlanta to Florida I started to get airsick and stumbled back to the bathroom-so much for sympathetic stewardesss-she was really rude and said-just don't throw up on my bag. Personally, I would be glad to never get on another plane again but I won't say never in case there's an urgent reason.

[Maddog78]

Modern airline travel is more akin to herding cattle than anything resembling "luxururios" travel.

I fly +100,000 miles a yr. and sad to say, I have come to hate nearly every other person on the plane including the staff.
There are some exceptions but it is rare.

[Pretorian]

Last flights.. Are you serious guys? You've been everywhere you ever wanted to be at already?

[Maddog78]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GASMON', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Maddog78', 'P')attaya is great.
I haven't been there in a while but went several times in the late 80's and early 90's. Hopefully it is still a good place. I've heard it still is.

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', 'L')ast flights.. Are you serious guys? You've been everywhere you ever wanted to be at already?

[heroineworshipper]

Hopefully if your government can goose my mortgage a little, say to a few million bucks, I'll be able to switch to private planes.

[Heineken]

I used to fly a lot when I was younger, but that's all over now (both being young and flying). My last plane trip was to Miami about ten years ago, for a vacation with my newfound love (we're still together).

My first plane trip was at age 8. It was 1963 and we were moving overseas to Vienna, Austria, where we lived for the next five years. We were treated like royalty on that KLM flight. That's what flying was like in those days, and not just in first class.

I enjoyed flying and always got a window seat if possible. I just loved looking out and studying the landscape and the cloud patterns. My nose was almost always glued to the window.

The flight I most enjoyed was on an American Eagle propeller plane flying from NYC to Washington, DC. The plane flew very low the whole way and I had an incredible view as a result. I enjoyed the incredible vibration from the propellers. Propeller planes are more lovable than jets, in my opinion.

My dad's childhood best friend grew up to be the no. 1 pilot for American Airlines. He used to fly my dad around in a small private plane for fun. Toward the end of his career, this pilot flew once or twice a month between Dallas and Tokyo. That's all he had to do by then to earn his enormous salary. After he retired, he drove a motorcycle across Australia.

It's become quite obvious that the days of routine commercial air travel are numbered. This will change and expand our world incredibly.

It's sad in a way, but flying is just another one of the amazing good things we had going for us that are passing into history forever. Human flying is against nature, and nature always reasserts herself.

[RedStateGreen]

Got back in one piece.

I do love going into the air, the actual flight. It seems miraculous. I just wish all the other stuff wasn't included.

The TSA people seemed very reasonable this time, much nicer than usual, even when they searched my future son in law's bag on the way out (after they saw his pocket knife in it, he forgot to take it out) and my (13 year old) son's bag on the way back (I'm not sure what they thought they saw there; they never said and never found anything).

The whole security thing is bizarre, IMO.

[dunewalker]

WB, RSG, how was California--smoky where you were?

[RedStateGreen]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shannymara', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RedStateGreen', 'G')ot back in one piece.

[RedStateGreen]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dunewalker', 'W')B, RSG, how was California--smoky where you were?

[MidwesternMom]

I have only flown one time back in 2004 to Ireland, fufilling my dead mother's dream. We were planning a trip there, but the cancer overcame her so she never got to see it. I went with my aunt instead. Ireland was great, a little chilly, but beautiful. I wasn't too fond of flying though, I could not sleep well at all on them. We, dh, ds and I, are going to India in January to visit family, I suspect this may be the last plane ride for us, as the airline industry is going down, but dh has been here in the US for nearly 8 years and has not gone back to see his family, so it's best we do it now, while we (hopefully) still can.

[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'I') used to fly a lot when I was younger, but that's all over now (both being young and flying). My last plane trip was to Miami about ten years ago, for a vacation with my newfound love (we're still together).

My first plane trip was at age 8. It was 1963 and we were moving overseas to Vienna, Austria, where we lived for the next five years. We were treated like royalty on that KLM flight. That's what flying was like in those days, and not just in first class.

I enjoyed flying and always got a window seat if possible. I just loved looking out and studying the landscape and the cloud patterns. My nose was almost always glued to the window.

The flight I most enjoyed was on an American Eagle propeller plane flying from NYC to Washington, DC. The plane flew very low the whole way and I had an incredible view as a result. I enjoyed the incredible vibration from the propellers. Propeller planes are more lovable than jets, in my opinion.

My dad's childhood best friend grew up to be the no. 1 pilot for American Airlines. He used to fly my dad around in a small private plane for fun. Toward the end of his career, this pilot flew once or twice a month between Dallas and Tokyo. That's all he had to do by then to earn his enormous salary. After he retired, he drove a motorcycle across Australia.

It's become quite obvious that the days of routine commercial air travel are numbered. This will change and expand our world incredibly.

It's sad in a way, but flying is just another one of the amazing good things we had going for us that are passing into history forever. Human flying is against nature, and nature always reasserts herself.

[Heineken]

That's a valuable historical document you've created, Byron. One day people will read accounts like that with awe and wonder . . .

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RedStateGreen', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shannymara', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RedStateGreen', 'G')ot back in one piece.

[Heineken]

Zardoz, be nice! Those are just expressions.

Plane trips are remarkably safe, but they can leave psychic scars, esp. these days.

I'll never forget a landing I once made in New Orleans. There was a terrible thunderstorm, and the plane kept circling and bucking like a bronco. It was night. I thought I was a goner.