Compare the flight experience in the dark ages circa 1958, to the wonderful conditions we "enjoy" today:

http://www.chonday.com/Videos/flylikghjutrs2

The good old days!

Lobster or prime rib?

What the hell happened after that?

And I remember flying as a boy, being asked by the flight attendants if I wanted to go up and see the cockpit and talk to the pilots. Which was always a treat, and they would always talk to me and answer questions, pointing out the various gauges and controls, and then they had those pot metal plated wings they would give you to pin on your shirt. I had quite a collection of them at one time.

Seems pretty silly now, but it was a big deal to a wide-eyed kid.

First plane I flew on was DC-6, mid 1950s. Really don't remember it, but my late mother told me I had a great time romping up and down the aisle.

When Juan Trippe ran Pan Am things were quite different. I lived in Seattle when Boing test pilot Tex Johnson rolled the 707 after take off from Boeing Field.
I flew Lufthansa years ago and was taken back to the rear compartment of their 747 which was part of the cabin, but blocked about half way down the cabin. The pilot's new Mercedes 500Sl 5-speed was tied down there.

Life was sure different.

My first flight was on a TWA Constellation, now that was an airliner.

quote:

My first flight was on a TWA Constellation, now that was an airliner

Such a classic airplane. They have a semi-refurbished one here at the Museum of Flight and I always enjoy having a look. Fantastic airplane that drips with class..

Anybody else recall the "orange pumpkin"?