Well... I never got into model airplanes or the likes. My dad used to own 2 flying companies while I was growing up and quite often would let me fly. My first favorite plane was a Cessena 206. Was a very easy plane to fly even at 7-8 years of age... although I was too short to see stuff below to actually land. Later on when I was 12 years old, he bought his companies first twin engine plane. A Cessena Twin Comanche. I loved that plane more then the 206 and 207's that was the mainstay of my dad's fleet. But he did not like it and soon sold it. While vastly faster, it did not have enough payload capabilities. Was my first plane I got to not only land, but take off as well
And how times have changed... On a different post I mentioned going to Puerto Rico when I was a kid and on our way back we bought that 206. Anyways, on our first flight out of Nome it was my first time ever traveling in a jet and I kept saying I wanted to goto the cockpit in that 737, I do not remember if it was a 100 or 200 model. Finally my dad pushed the button for the stewardess to come over after we were served our meals. He asked her if I can get the captains permission to goto the cockpit and look at it mentioning how he is a pilot himself and is teaching me how to fly. So the stewardess went to the intercom and I was staring at her the whole time going to the phone and talking. She noticed I was looking too and she came back with a smile on her face to me seat and said the captain said it was alright. So off I went expecting to find at least 3 people in there like is normally seen on movies. To my surprise there was only 1 person in there (not even the captain, but the co-pilot. He said the captain is in the restroom right now but if I like I can take the captains chair. I gladly went in it after I went through a scrutinizing assurance that I will not touch any of the controls or rudder pedals. Was very kewl seeing the world from that high up for my first time in a captains chair of a jet. The co-pilot kept pointing at a lot of things and asking if I knew what the were, he was a very friendly person. Sadly, their cockpits are filled with many more things then those small Cessena's I was in, I only got about 30% right. Still he said that was very knowledgeable for someone my age.
The captain came back into the room, he was a prick unlike the co-pilot, I did not like him at all and soon quit talking and just started looking at all the stuff in the cockpit. He finally said to me bad turbulence is coming so you better get in your seat. So I went, and on my way out I heard the co-pilot say to the captain he knows a lot. That kid might make a fine pilot some day. Needless to say no turbulence came.. lol.
Later on a different jet, a 747 for the flight from Dallas Fortworth to Miami I got to go into the cockpit of that jet. There was a lot of people in that one and I was literally surprised at how much stuff and people were in there. I was overwhelmed, but unlike the 737, I could not take the pilot or co-pilot's seat. They said I was way to young for that but they gladly showed me everything and explained what a lot of the stuff does. Now we managed to hit turbulence while I was in there and the flight engineer told me I better take my seat as this was unknown turbulence that was not reported. Glad I did take my seat on that one. It turned out to be very bad.
$20 says if I were to have my kids with me on a jet now-a-days and I ask the stewardess if either one or both of my kids can see the cockpit, I would probably have a secret service agent on me.... Sadly my vision is not good enough to get a commercial pilot's license, that shot down my dreams of becoming a pilot. When I was a teenager my dad sold out his flying company anyways. Never flew again till about 7 years ago when our state senator (Donny Olson) wanted to train me for flying as I was working in his cargo department wanted to refresh my memory on how to fly. He did not let me take off, he did let me land though since that is vastly safer then taking off. Was my biggest plane I flew to date. But it was only a 12 seater twin engine plane. He let me take the controls of a helicopter too while in mid flight. They do not handle anything like a plane and even my flying was scaring me. I quickly gave the controls back. lol. He later ran for senator and all but closed down his air business after getting elected. Since then I have never been in any plane again, but have no doubts I can still fly
But I am considering flying again. Got my mind set on one of these, which is a little more on topic to your post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kocIPCucpJU just dunno if I can afford one... :|