Your favourite aircraft to fly on?

747 just love it, but over the last 30 years I have been lucky to fly on

DC8
DC9 Super 50
MD-83
Boeing 707
727
737-200,400,800,NG
747-100,SP,200,400
757
767
777
Airbus 300, 310,319,320,321,340
L1011-500 ( BWIA )

Ironically the 330 which I have not yet been on will be flying next week to Barbados on either Miss England or Diamong Girl. However the 747 will still be the Queen Bee to me

In the last 30 years (October will mark the 30th anniversary of my very first flight with Tunisair), I had the chance to fly the following types:
A310
A319
A320
A321
A330-200
A330-300
A340-600
B727
B737-200
B737-300
B737-400
B737-500
B737-700
B737-800
B747SP
B747-300
B747-400
B757-200
B767-300ER
B777-200
B777-300ER
DC9
DC10
MD-11
MD-80
MD-83
MD-87
Sud-Caravelle
Fokker 100
ATR72-500
BAe 146, Avro85, Avro100
Lockeed Tristar L1011

In the last 30 years (October will mark the 30th anniversary of my very first flight with Tunisair), I had the chance to fly the following types:
A310
A319
A320
A321
A330-200
A330-300
A340-600
B727
B737-200
B737-300
B737-400
B737-500
B737-700
B737-800
B747SP
B747-300
B747-400
B757-200
B767-300ER
B777-200
B777-300ER
DC9
DC10
MD-11
MD-80
MD-83
MD-87
Sud-Caravelle
Fokker 100
ATR72-500
BAe 146, Avro85, Avro100
Lockeed Tristar L1011

Is there one you havent been on ? Lol

In the last 30 years (October will mark the 30th anniversary of my very first flight with Tunisair), I had the chance to fly the following types:
A310
A319
A320
A321
A330-200
A330-300
A340-600
B727
B737-200
B737-300
B737-400
B737-500
B737-700
B737-800
B747SP
B747-300
B747-400
B757-200
B767-300ER
B777-200
B777-300ER
DC9
DC10
MD-11
MD-80
MD-83
MD-87
Sud-Caravelle
Fokker 100
ATR72-500
BAe 146, Avro85, Avro100
Lockeed Tristar L1011

Is there one you havent been on ? Lol

Like Hazban and myself, missing the DC3 experience....

Is there one you havent been on ? Lol

Unfortunately quite a few ... Concorde being my biggest regret but I've missed on DC8, A300, B707 and some more and I would have loved to fly on the Comet and the Constellation but I'm a tad too young for them...

My favourite rotary aircraft; SA341B Gazelle AH.1, Airbus EC120B, Chinook HC3 and Lynx Mk 9A.

'Stupid, yes. Also dumb. But it is something I've gotta do.'

My favourite is the one with my name on a UC seat plan leaving the UK.
It means I'm off on holiday.

Looking back I have very fond memories of flying out to Malta on a Comet in 1962. I had done it a couple of times before on a Viscount and was amazed by the speed and altitude of the Comet. And it looks pretty cool.

Moving on to 1972 three of us flew to Schiphol in a Robin three seater. As we came in on approach the tower was calling us to speed up and calling another aircraft to slow. We could see the light a mile or two behind and thought no more of it, but as we touched down and cleared the runway a 707 came hurtling past. That was a fun weekend and a fun way to travel.

My favourite modern plane is probably the 747. It's a classic and I remember when I first saw one thinking 'that can't fly' but we have had a few flights in them including an Air Malaysia first class to Oz and last year Virgin UC to MCO. It was a childhood dream come true to sit at the bar.
Less than 300 days now till the next one.
Dick D

To answer the question, my favourite now is the A380 on which I have done 12 long hauls in the last two years. It has taken over from the 747 in popularity for me, it has obviously got something to do with the "comfort" of 4 engines. And the 380 is incredibly quiet and smooth and comfy.

However, as I have said elsewhere, the 380 wouldn't be top for the business class experience for me, I prefer a smaller more exclusive cabin..but First will do nicely on the 380 so I had better start saving.

Now wandering off topic:

My first flight was 47 years ago on a Finnair Caravelle, from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. I had gone to Scandinavia by cargo boat. My first flight on a UK carrier was on that holiday, returning from Stockholm to Heathrow on a BEA Trident.

My first experience of a jumbo was in 1978; in those days BA flew to Hong Kong from Heathrow via the Seychelles and Mauritius. I got off at Mahe!!

I have flown on most of the things which have been listed including Concorde (which I thought was a tad cramped but got me to the States quickly) and a few others which haven't, the VC10 for instance.

And numerous little planes...various Britten-Norman Islanders and Trislanders and any number of Dash 8s on my more recent domestics flights in OZ.

And my favourite flight, apart from any which takes me to OZ....was in Australia, bouncing around on an Islander flying to a coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. The view was magical.
y)

bouncing around on an Islander flying to a coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. The view was magical.
y)

I can see why that would win....

Again wandering slightly OT, but my *least* favourite was when I went up in a small something-or-other when my dad got given a "trial flight" from Squires Gate as a present and I went along for the ride. Despite the instructor's audible repeated "pull back gently when the speed hits 80" dear dad did this at 70, triggering all kinds of stall alarms and a vision of my perishing on the sand dunes of south Blackpool....one of only two times in my life I really did think "oh well, that's it..."

A380 SQ Business or 747 UC A zone for me

oldboy

bouncing around on an Islander flying to a coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. The view was magical.
y)

I can see why that would win....

Paul, perhaps I need to revisit that first sentence which was written in all innocence. Honest guv!!!!

): ): ): ):

Concorde by a mile ^)

bouncing around on an Islander flying to a coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. The view was magical.
y)

I can see why that would win....

Again wandering slightly OT, but my *least* favourite was when I went up in a small something-or-other when my dad got given a "trial flight" from Squires Gate as a present and I went along for the ride. Despite the instructor's audible repeated "pull back gently when the speed hits 80" dear dad did this at 70, triggering all kinds of stall alarms and a vision of my perishing on the sand dunes of south Blackpool....one of only two times in my life I really did think "oh well, that's it..."

Could I enquire as to the other pjh ? I'm curious ( or just plain nosey some might say !)

[honey lamb]

Again wandering slightly OT, but my *least* favourite was when I went up in a small something-or-other when my dad got given a "trial flight" from Squires Gate as a present and I went along for the ride. Despite the instructor's audible repeated "pull back gently when the speed hits 80" dear dad did this at 70, triggering all kinds of stall alarms and a vision of my perishing on the sand dunes of south Blackpool....one of only two times in my life I really did think "oh well, that's it..."

Omigod, my first flight was from Squires Gate on a small something-or other! :0 We lived within walking distance of the airport and a favourite past-time was to go and watch the planes -of which there were very few. There were some "Once around Blackpool Tower and back in time for tea" flights and I used to look on envy as people queued up to get on. One day, my dad out of the blue, asked if I would like to go. Would I!!! He needn't ask a second time. It cost about £2 which was a fortune in those days and it started my love of flying! Thank you, Dad!

bouncing around on an Islander flying to a coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. The view was magical.
y)

I can see why that would win....

Paul, perhaps I need to revisit that first sentence which was written in all innocence. Honest guv!!!!

My reply was in all innocence too... . It's only now you point it out....

one of only two times in my life I really did think "oh well, that's it..."

Could I enquire as to the other pjh ? I'm curious ( or just plain nosey some might say !)

No problem, otherwise wouldn't have mentioned it. Fell asleep at the wheel once on the A1. Glanced a nearside marker of some sort, woke up, car spun, saw lorry bearing down on me. He was my saviour as what he'd seen what was happening and was putting himself as close to me as possible to block other traffic. Not proud of that one.

It cost about £2 which was a fortune in those days and it started my love of flying! Thank you, Dad!

It may be my imagination, but didn't they do flights in a vintage DH Rapide from Squires Gate?

Crumbs , scary stuff , you literally must have seen your life flashed before your eyes ,overwork I'm guessing ,glad you came through it

Crumbs , scary stuff , you literally must have seen your life flashed before your eyes ,overwork I'm guessing ,glad you came through it

It was, it did, and it was. A life lesson.

It cost about £2 which was a fortune in those days and it started my love of flying! Thank you, Dad!

Family tradition has it that my obsession with aircraft came about as a result of flying on a DC3 between an airport in Ulster (probably Belfast?) and Ringway in the late 50's when we were resident in Londonderry...

A340-600 for me on Virgin. The Airbus family is much quieter than the Boeing family. I had a back to back A340-500 and B777-300 and the Airbus was noticeably quieter.

Then secondly I love the A330/340 seat arrangement on economy of 2x4x2 over all the others.

Finally the A340-600 looks so long with only 1 deck and 4 engines which are now a very rare sight.

But for any other airlines then it has to be Concorde.

[honey lamb]

For me, it has always been the 747. I was working in London when it first entered service and my work often took me along the A4 and other routes around LHR. Cars would pull in to the side of the road to watch it as it came in to land. For me it has never lost that magic. OK, it's old and rattly compared with more modern aircraft but she is still Queen of the Skies.

I have to admit though, to a growing fondness for the A380. As it was being developed, I formed the opinion that I still hold, that it is an ugly plane to look at, but having had three flights in it - 2 with SQ and 1 unexpected one with EK - I'm beginning to change my mind. It is extremely quiet and light and airy and I have to admit to liking it, Mind you, the fact that all three flights have been in J may well have helped! :w

I would always go for the 747 if it was an option as I like to get to places as quickly as possible. Case in point being the VS27 we took in late 2011 on the A330 (thought it'd be nice to try it!) which was almost caught up by the VS15 despite leaving on time. Nothing gets you there as quickly as the 747!

Second choice for me would be the A340-600, the RR engines make a lovely noise and it's a great looking aircraft.

The 777 with GE90 engines is very impressive at takeoff but is incredibly noisy so I tend to avoid them.

I do miss the L-1011. That was a fantastic plane to fly on!

I prefer flying on the Airbuses. Visually, though, nothing beats a 747. It's the ultimate in 'classy' flying.

Another vote for the 747 (especially in the bubble)... I know the Airbus will soon overtake this and the 2 engine super eco models will retire this beast - but its still my favourite...

The noise is a bit much if sat by the wing, especially compared to the Airbus range - but that doesn't bother me. It sums up everything about Trans Atlantic flying.

Just to throw one in here:

Lockheed Tristar? I flew on this beaufilu aircraft in the 80's with EAL...

That said, thhe 747 has something that can never be reproduced, it's just a fantastic plane to fly on.

I've flown a lot recently on 777's with BA, and do find that a nice plane, it seems airy and is a great plane to fly on - but perhaps a smidge noisier than the 747, but it all depends where you are seated of course. Upper deck on 747's cannot be beaten for quietness - albeit, I haven't yet flown on an A380.

Agree with others re baby buses (A320 family) aircraft, they are really nice for short haul.

Have flown Embear a lot with BA as well, and really like those planes - again, for feel surprisingly roomy for such a small plane.

Mind you, I have memories as far back as flying on BAC111 (the pocket rocket) with Dan (d)air, B727 with Tunssian, F27 with Air UK, BAE146 with Cross Air and Dan Air, Tridients with BA, DC10's with Laker and American and on and on.

I must list all the aircraft types I've flown on one day, it's a lot! Notable exceptions being Concorde (sobbing uncontrollably), DC3, DC8 and A380.

Notable exceptions being Concorde (sobbing uncontrollably)

That is a shame considering your screen name.

Having flown on Concorde, the most memorable part was the take-off. The power from those 4 Olympus engines pushing me into my seat.

I did say at the time I would rather choose First Class on a sub-sonic aircraft with all the space, luxury and comfort over Concorde with the cramp cabin. The memories.