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Thoughts from the flight from Detroit to Somewhere In Pennsylvania
It's a tiny, mini, baby plane! It's a freaking biplane! I think Charles Lindbergh flew this very plane! THIS PLANE HAS PROPELLERS! I prefer the mystery of the big planes with those whirly enginey things that people are always getting sucked into in movies. I don't know how those work or what they are exactly. I know how a propeller works, and that scares me!- The flight attendant has just informed us that we are in a Saab 340. This Saab is only slightly bigger than the ones on the road. I wonder how it handles on ice.
- "... In the emergency, floor lights will illuminate." I think she meant "in the case of an emergency." Um... I hope that's what she meant. Dear god, how are these propellers going to keep us up?
- That was the most unpleasant takeoff I've ever had. I wanted to cry. First I was convinced, for no reason whatsoever, that we were going to burst into flames as soon as the engines started up. Then once we got off the ground, we seemed to wobble back and forth a lot, which led me to believe we weren't actually going to get up anywhere and that our dinky little propellers weren't going to hold us up. Or one would and the other wouldn't and we'd fly sideways all the way there. This was followed by a hard left turn in midair, tipping the plane far to the side. I considered screaming but thought better of it. Now I am mesmerized by this one panel on the wing that doesn't look like it's fastened down very well. WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE! And I have documented the whole thing. That's supposing that Isidore and his hard drive aren't melted when we plummet to earth and burst into flames, of course.
- Hey, Cheryl! Apparently I'm flying over Cleveland right now.
- "There will be a short wait after we've landed while we wait for your baggage to be unloaded and THE PROPELLER TO STOP." (capitals mine, inside my head, screaming)
- Saab? That's what that landing made me want to do! I think the weaving and wobbling was even worse than on take-off, and I swear we were at at least a 75° angle at one point. Why do I clutch the armrest when that happens? If the plane is crashing, what good does it do me to hold onto the crashing plane?
srah - Tuesday, 2 August 2005 - 1:50 PM
Tags: travel
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Comments (10)
katie - August 2, 2005 - 3:49 PM - ℓ
I wish I had known ahead of time that you would be on a puddle-jumper, because I could have soothed your fears. Because Vermont is puny, to fly from Vermont to anywhere, you have to take a prop plane to a larger airport, like Boston or New York. So I'm very used to those little ones with the propellers. Nothing to fear. Also, it's fun in the rain because water is spattered about by the props.
Sylvie - August 2, 2005 - 7:11 PM - ℓ
ahhhh I love little planes. My wonderful fiance was taking flying lessons when we first starting dating. I got to go up in tiny 2 seater and 4 seater plans. It is so cool to be able to see how it actually works. And, I believe that I have a better chance of surviving a small plane crashing than one of them jetliners.
mommy - August 2, 2005 - 10:49 PM - ℓ
Just remember that Grandma flew over the Atlantic in a plane like that. Love you and have fun tomorrow.
Tony - August 2, 2005 - 10:49 PM - ℓ
You should be happy, these are the few planes that you can actually look into the cockpit as they fly them anymore. Primarily because they are too small to do enough damage if they were hijacked :-P I especially liked it the one time when the pilot was tapping an oil pressure gauge to make it register a reading.
NeighborGuy - August 3, 2005 - 12:23 PM - ℓ
My cousin-in-law flies a Saab 340 for that company. He can be a bit of a hot-dog sometimes. ;)
And yes, they do in fact take off at a steeper angle than a jet plane. Wheeeee!
LOL . . . someday I will have to tell you of my mother's terrifying ordeal on a plane such as yours flying off of Long Island, I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the look of terror in her eyes (back in the day when you could stand outside on the tarmack ). . . Uncle John has some hair-raising adventures as well . . flying in a prop plane in a thunderstorm somewhere in Iowa I believe! Glad to hear you arrived safely, and hope your interview goes well. Traveling Mercies to you my dear!