GKirk From UK - Scotland, joined Jun 2000, 24621 posts, RR: 58 Posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 2761 times:
Date: 28th June 2004
Scheduled Departure time: 0800
The weather at MAN was looking good when I arrived at terminal 2 for check in for my Excel Airways flight to Dalaman, which would be my first flight on the airline, and also my first flight on a 757, so I was looking forward to it
After checking in, I proceeded to go through to the departure lounge, and upon arrival there, decided to have a pint of stella before the flight And this was just after 5am in the morning.
So I sat with my pint sitting next to the large windows at T2, looking out on the apron, and seen an AF A320, KLM B737, OK B737, 2 x XLA 752s & 1 x 762, a VS 742 (another arrived from Orlando about an hour later), an Air Atlanta 747, loads of First Choice a/c inluding A320s, B757s with a 767 arriving. Other arrivals at T2 before I boarded the a/c to Dalaman inluded CO 777, SQ 777, and over at T1 a MYT DC-10, BA 767, AY A320, 757 (op for Air Scandic) amongst others.
We were bussed out to TF-ARD which was parked on a remote stand oposite T2, unfortunatly on boarding the a/c we were informed that there would be a slight delay due to the a/c dumping it's bowels out on the airport tarmac
Must have had too much curry or something the night before
Anyway, I got seat 14A, and noticed that there were extraordinarily hot FA's on this flight today
Pushback commenced after a PIA 742 had taxiied in to T2 and we taxieed to the runway 24L for our departure, passing Concorde on the way, which unfortunatly was on the other side of the a/c from me
Takeoff was very quick, and the climbout very steep (just like others have said, the 757 is one hell of a rocket ).
After take-off, we turned right heading up towards Newcastle, before turning down onto a heading for Amsterdam, Munich, Austria, the Balkans, Greece and Turkey.
Flight time was due to be 3.5 hours, and the film was 50 First Dates, which I thought was pretty crap after watching it, so after that had finished decided to listen to the radio.
The seating onboard this 757 was very comfortable and the legroom was not a problem at all
Descent into Dalaman commenced and as was approached the airport we flew in a spiral pattern to be able to lose height for landing. Landing was good and we taxied into Gate 3 at DLM airport.
Overall, Excel Airways were a great airline, they apologised for the delay and the onboard service was great.
When you hear the noise of the Tartan Army Boys, we'll be coming down the road!
Ba319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8267 posts, RR: 56 Reply 6, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2359 times:
"decided to have a pint of stella before the flight And this was just after 5am in the morning"
Nothing wrong with that.When you can drink Sella at 5am, you are on vacation!
I cannot believe that was youir first 757 flight! - what have you been doing?
Rick767 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2000, 2662 posts, RR: 52 Reply 10, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2340 times:
You said it.
I can't complain too much of course, but taxying out behind a Britannia 757 doing an afternoon Palma when I'm on my first sector of 4 (Copenhagen then boring Glasgow), it hurts man...
I think to myself "what am I doing?" rather than when I was on the 757 thinking "when am I next going to the Dominican Republic?". Worlds apart... anyway bring on the airbus, that will keep me going!
I used to love the smell of Jet-A in the morning...
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