As a kid, I dreamed of flying this as the ultimate indulgence

[harvyk]

I’m going against the grain but I feel claustrophobic up top!

So not a fan of narrow bodies either?

 

[Pushka]

So not a fan of narrow bodies either?

As long as I can see a long way ahead or behind I’m fine. It’s also why I don’t like bulkhead. I was trying to figure out why I liked a couple of flights recently - not related to the usual amenities but there were no overhead bins to block my sense of space.

 

[jomar]

I did some software work for BA in the 90s. Every once in a while we used to go to Heathrow to install a new version of the software on-site. Generally it wouldn't go particularly smoothly, so we'd still be there in the evening... at the right time to step outside the building (which was airside near the end of one of the runways) to watch Concorde take off seemingly right over our heads!

Around that time there was a sale of a limited number of spectacularly cheap Concorde tickets, I think to celebrate 20 years of BA Concorde service. BA's phone lines were massively overloaded that day — I tried twenty or thirty times but never got through.

Similarly to several others on this thread, it's recently crystallised for me that while I've got used to comfortable A380 flights even in Y, it'd be a nice nostalgic indulgence to travel on a 747 again. My next trip to New Zealand might have a slightly wonkier routing than usual.

 

[tgh]

Coming closer to the end, I have managed to leave few ambitions unrequited.
Flying in the Concorde is one and I envy those who have .
It was good to walk around the display Concorde recently in New York.
It's only a little thing but looks like it means business...

 

[JohnK]

Oh, the scratching and clawing amongst AFFers to get into the J cabin on that one would be an ugly sight!

I'd take 43H in a heartbeat if I had the time and price was within reason.

 

[jenib]

I realise these are not only 'flight' dreams but...

My first experience with OS travel was aged 5 travelling first class Ocean liner from Sydney with my family so my father could take up duty on exchange with the US army in Hawaii for a year. In 1965 people being posted went by sea!

My next dream was flying business class round the world with DH for a 4 month holiday (1990) - the Singapore airlines RTW J ticket was only $500 more per person than QF Y and included more than 20 flights (paper tickets were much less restrictive than etickets) and transfers from JFK to Manhattan via helicopter!

Then (2008) we did an 9 week J class QF/AA/BA RTW "icon" tour with our daughter to show her as many icons of the world as we could before she went into high school. We combined this with a med cruise to hit all the Mediterranean icons. (Think golden gate bridge, grand canyon, Smithsonian, NYC, La Sagrada Familia, Vatican, Colosseum, Pisa, Florence, Acropolis, Big Ben, Stonehenge etc etc etc)

The next goal (2011) was to catch the biggest plane in the world (A380 to LAX) to cruise on the biggest cruise ship in the world (Oasis of the Seas) from Fort Lauderdale.

There have been many business and holiday trips in between - I'm still considering what is next as a dream!

PS - a couple of days ago I flew Syd->Hong Kong QF in the 747 bubble - in seat12b and 12a next to me was empty! sweet

 

[BAM1748]

I've enjoyed reading all the stories especially when kids. I remember Concorde first arrival into Sydney on a world promotional trip in the Concorde colours (not BA and the French getting here first was out of the question) very classy and I never got to ride although some family did.

Riding upstairs in a 747 is great, I wished I could have done it the 70's when airlines had lounges up there fitted out in the Hugh Hefner style.

matt

 

[Bundy Bear]

I have managed to tick a few things off my bucket list.
Jump seat ride from Auckland to Napier on a Convair 580.
Qantas First class on MEL-SIN, on points, weren't those FASAs just the best.
Seat up front on a Air Pacific 747 where you see the curvature of the aircraft.
First flight on an A380 out of Australia on SQ October 2007, and the first revenue flight to Australia.
Visited the flight deck on a 747 and watched the Himalayas from 30,000 feet.
Flown in the bubble on a 747, on British Airways and United.
Emirates Bar at 41,000 feet was cool as well.
Flown in a helicopter, that was really cool.
I missed the Concorde and I guess my consolation prize was getting a First Award on points from LHR-NRT on a refurbished 777. so you got to use the Concorde room before your flight.

A few other things; travel related I have been able to do, that I didn't think were possible unless you spent a fortune have happened with the help of a few AFF members.

London to Australia non stop, not really wanting to do that in Economy but well if I have to that isn't the end of the world.
Fly over Antarctic, read Johnm's trip report so that has gone up on the wish list.

There are always things to do if you put your mind to it, and sometimes you don't think its possible but if you want to do it then just start planning for it, take the time off work, save the points and or spend the money, a little bit of luck helps as well.

That 747 won't be around forever,

 

[BAM1748]

That 747 won't be around forever,

Nothing is around forever, but Lufthansa took delivery of a bunch 5 years ago so a bit longer yet. Wouldn't surprise me if 747s are still going after the 380s are parked in the desert.

 

[tgh]

747… timeless like a London taxi….

 

[Berlin]

Each time I have a friendly crew and a decent seat... So many an F flight and even quite a few business flights really- still love every minute on board!

 

[Matt_01]

I am with a number of others here, would have liked the opportunity to fly on the Concorde. Other aircraft I would like to experience would include a bi-plane, WW2 era fighter or a G65 private jet.

I do not consider myself an aviation enthusiast and tend to think of planes as a flying bus to get from point A to B. Reading this thread and thinking about some of the aircraft/flights I have been on, I realize how fortunate I have been. My first flight was as a child on a QF 707 SYD-PER-BOM-LHR in the mid 70’s. Other aircraft I have travelled on since then include:

• TWA and Pan-Am 747 F class when the upstairs was a lounge and a bar area.
• Helicopters - Iroquois, Kiowa, Blackhawks, Chinook, Jet Rangers, Robinsons, Eurocopter, Puma and a few others.
• Commercial planes - most wide bodies (707, 747,767, 777, 787, a330, 340, 350, 380) and most narrow bodies since the mid 70’s, both jets and prop.
• Travelled in all classes Y, PE J, F and suites. In the 747 and a380 both upstairs and downstairs.
• Other Planes – Caribou, Hercules, Galaxy, Starlifter, Orion, Tristar, Lear 35 (private jet) and a number of small bug smashers.
• Jump seat - Commercial 707 and 747 back when you were allowed to visit the flight deck in flight. Military aircraft - Caribou, Hercules, Galaxy, Starlifter, Orion, Tristar and 707.
• Other highlights include a backseat ride in small fast movers - Harrier, Macchi Jet and PC9
• Simulators – 767 and F18.
• Most unusual airport visited – Diego Garcia

 

[jomar]

Other aircraft I would like to experience would include a bi-plane, WW2 era fighter or a G65 private jet.

Until a few months ago, I worked near Duxford Imperial War Museum and cycled to work each day along the country road running behind the airfield. During summer, it's commonplace to see spitfires and other aircraft flying low over the farmland around there practising for upcoming airshows.

There are outfits based at Duxford who will take you up in one, but last I checked the spitfire trip in particular was eyewateringly expensive. Other vintage planes also available, but that one would be the dream...

 

[choppa]

Piloting or riding along in an SR-71 at > Mach 3. Not possible now.
Current goal, piloting or riding along in a MiG-29 with afterburners. Need to save $30k - can be done in Russia.

 

[QF WP]

As I needed this BP for another thread, I’m finally getting around to posting it. At least one other member has flown Concorde:



@clazman, you need to respond to my Perth MaM thread - time we had dinner together again

 

[QF WP]

I was at the Seattle Museum of Flight recently and took these photos:

B-OAG









ROWS 11 to 20

 

[QF WP]

More photos:

My seat 9D



Display at the front



Flight Deck

 

[QF WP]

Last photos

 

[OATEK]

Fantastic photos QF WP. I have always been jealous of my wife's cousin who flew on Concorde several times when working for the UN. I am always leaning out the window when taxiing at CDG looking for the one mounted there, but the museum access looks amazing.

 

[jb747]

There are a few Concordes spread around the museums. One in NYC, and one of the test aircraft at Duxford. Perhaps curiously, it’s not an aircraft I ever aspired to fly, or fly in...

Of all aircraft, the one that I would most have liked a fly of (and not from the back seat) was the F-4. I actually knocked back the offer of a ride in an F-18!

I’ve sat in the coughpit of an operational SR71, and taken photographs from the boomers position on a USAF KC135 (mostly of F-4s).

Now though, I have no interest in flying in any warbirds, and wouldn’t even dream of going on any of the ‘fighter’ rides that are sold around the place (generally using old trainers) but with inactive bang seats. No seat..no ride.