Nervous about flying?

ps I have had a short flight in a private plane like that, but not to anywhere as glamorous as Paris

I always knew that you were posh Phoenix

Your own private jet to Paris for the day!
Wow!

Oh Wow Phoenix, that looks fantastic! I couldn’t do it now as balance problems mean I’d be sick, but how wonderful!

I’m not keen on being squashed into cattle class long distance seats and the terrorist threat is a bit of a concern otherwise flying is great. I love take offs and landings and small airports, but hate the claustrophobic feeling of all the crowds in many large airports. It’s been better since I’ve admitted to needing assistance to get through transfers in the available time. I’m just whisked through and parked at my gate and I can emerse myself in a good book or people watch until take off time.

Here's an example of what it was like, we used to call it the Airfix kit, because when it was first delivered, it still smelled of glue!

www.google.co.uk/search?q=fournier+rf+5+for+sale&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwif15eb0eXaAhVDKMAKHcYgCpwQ_AUICygC&biw=1440&bih=794#imgrc=f4yFOtmL1Fj2ZM:

Without wishing to sound precious, until I was 25, all flights had been with a pilot I knew! {grin]

My mother worked for a private executive jet charter company, and if the client wanted to fly (for example) from Paris to Munich and back again, it meant the plane was "empty" from Heathrow to Paris, so we would go along for the ride!

Meant we had a day in Paris, mooch about, have lunch etc.

Also just for fun, my step father had a motorised glider, Fournier RF5, if I remember correctly, lovely 2 seater little thing, sat one behind the other,perspex roof which locked with the sort of bolt you would have on a toilet door! 5 point harness, he used to take me flying over the countryside on days off from school, doing barrel rolls and other aerobatics.

Well I love the experience which is good as until rcently I flew all over the world. I look upon the whole experience as part of the adventure. People watching, a good book to read, music to listen to, new people to meet and talk to and so much to learn from others. I accept not every experience is positive, but then that's life in general. One thing I do dislike is the duty free shops, but I did eventually develop an ability to switch off from them.

I started this thread because many people do find the topic fascinating. It's an area of everyday life that many avail themselves of but few are aware of what goes on 'behind the scenes'.

Furthermore, RAF personnel, particularly aircrew tend to have a dark sense of humour, as do many fire & rescue and front-line medical staff that I know; it goes with the territory of the work they do and acts as a safety-valve for the emotions.

David Gunson, in keeping with many ex-RAF personnel, is a master of hyperbole. I recall watching a documentary on the AVRO Shackleton where a member of the crew described the aircraft as, '20,000 rivets flying in close formation!' and concluded with 'What more could anyone want? We're flying with Rolls-Royce engines and leather seats!'

Yes, aspects of Gunson's talk may be slightly dated as is 'Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses, One Foot in the Grave, etc but it is the humour that is timeless.

Gunson was interviewed on Central Television in the early 80s just after his record was released. It was the interviewer who suggested that, 'maybe it was just the thing for someone who is nervous about flying!'

I don't think this was meant to put anybody off flying, i just think a sense of humour is needed, lighten up

My husband developed a fear of flying after many years of travelling on planes. Tried hypnosis, pills etc. He booked a fear of flying course but had to cancel. He is not afraid of crashing, it's more a form of claustrophobia, the thought of not being able to get off when he wants!

I have been in a balloon in Kenya - it was brilliant! (Although the landing was a bit bumpy...!)

We heard this cd on a coach trip years ago and thought it was hilarious. Bought the cd and enjoyed it. He does go on a bit, though.

I also think Changi airport in Singapore deserves its no 1 airport award. Another airport I like is Luxembourg. All British airports are awful.

GrowingOldDisgracefully,
My husband and I had a balloon flight about 20 years ago in the south of England. He was incredibly nervous - I loved it but not the landing part so much. Overriding memory was that the skin of my hair parting got really burnt due to the heat from the flames and I had mega dandruff for a couple of weeks.

DS suddenly developed a phobia about flying and after he'd had to cancel a holiday he paid for one of the fear of flying courses. It worked brilliantly for him.

Take off and landing I find exciting
So does DH - and those are the bits I like the least. Once we are up I can relax a bit and pretend I am 'in a bubble' unless there is turbulence.

I took a diazepam for a flight and by the time the plane took off it had worn off - the flight was delayed because another plane had crashed on landing - very encouraging!

Thank goodness there are airports and aeroplanes. Many of the hub airports are very interesting.
Take off and landing I find exciting - the middle bit tiresome - and always book my seat as early as possible -or facilitate an exchange when booking in.

It’s the perfect way to visit my son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. ?

Singapore airport is lovely and there is plenty to see and do to pass the time when in transit. The sunflower garden on the roof is worth a visit.
However, we didn't find the food particularly good last time.

It's the flights either side that are the problem!

My DH is a retired airline captain and travelling with him is a nightmare! Not in the air - he's usually asleep by the top of climb- but the airports!!! Too used to going through the crew doors!

Hi I've never posted before so here goes! I hate flying too. Have done since my very first flight. However about 20 years ago when we started to look at taking our daughter to far away places for holidays I went to the docs who gave me some diazepam, only enough for the flight and return. It did work and calmed me down but I just didn't like the thought taking drugs. Once I had managed to do the yearly long haul flights for several years but dreading it all the time we started to cruise. If we have to join the ship at a foreign port I dread the thought of flying there but what else can I do! No matter how often I have done it I dread starting my holiday then I worry about coming back. It is a terrible position to be in but if I don't get on with it we wouldn't go anywhere. It is truly awful.

Lucky Girl. That’s exactly what I thought. I have always hated flying. I’m a bag of nerves until we’ve landed and then I’m dreading flying back! My daughters are fine, only seems to be me in the family who is like that. I do fly but preferably as short a flight as possible. However I did go to Thailand with my ex and he loved flying. It was over 11 hours! He was one of those people who could fall asleep within two minutes. If only I could fall asleep for the whole of the flight. I’ve never slept on a flight yet. I have stomach ache for the whole of the flight.

Thanks for that Beattie9! I've 2 long haul flights to 'look forward to' on Wednesday.
The worst thing about travel I always think is the travelling.
I hate hanging around airports, and getting to Heathrow from where I live is a 4-hour train journey on its own.
Have to hold onto the fact that it's a means to an end!

I too enjoy the people watching at the airport - fascinating wondering what they're all up to. Singapore airport sounds lovely; wish our UK ones were like that. I do only tend to fly from the smaller UK airports though, hate the big scale ones, too stressy!

I have literally just got back this morning after a 23 hour flight from Sydney via Singapore. The take offs and landings were absolutely fine, I'm so full of admiration for the pilots especially as it was an airbus 380, they are HUGE! Like others on here I love airports, shopping, eating and people watching. Singapore airport even has a Butterfly farm and a large koi carp lake as well as real trees and flowers everywhere and gentle music to help de-stress. As for the long flight, I watched 5 films, read half a book, had some lovely food and slept. Great way to spend a day!

I don't mind flying at all, and I love spending time at airports, drinking tea or something stronger depending on the time of day and people-watching, browsing in the shops which I never get to do at home, living out in the sticks as I do.

Normally I hate waiting - always arrive at the station just in time to catch my train, and am never early for appointments, but when flying you have to leave plenty of time and I feel deprived of my browsing enjoyment if I arrive at the airport with only just enough time to bumble through security and charge to the gate, straight on to the plane.

moggie57 how about rescue remedy or calms tablets? Get both from a health store. If you're more nervous than that perhaps some hypnotherapy would help?