We had a prompt recently … 'our first flight' – well it introduced a range of memories for the eight of us … trips to the States to meet up with relatives who'd left the Welsh valleys, others who'd gone south to Africa with their families, an English-American who'd lived in Sri Lanks, or holidays into Europe …
... then me (of course) … I'd remembered we'd taken in the mid 1960s, our car over the Channel from Lydd airport, on the Kent coast ...
Showing a car being boarded at Lydd
... so my mother could drive the three of us down to Italy, where my father would fly out and join us.
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| The leaning tower was one of our stop overs |
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| Panorama view of Lake Como - another stop over |
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| Using both the USA and UK flags as their logo |
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| It certainly shows Freddie ... |
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| Map of Lake Como ... I've no idea where we stayed, but my mother, father and I did learn to play Bezique here |
... well believe it or not Norwegian Air International has placed these images on five of their tailfins … strange bedfellows I thought – and I'm sure you do too? Little things amuse me …
Normal service will be resumed shortly …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
40 comments:
I've seen some of the Norwegian fail fins - great fun.
You must have been some of the first people to transport a car by 'plane. How exciting to be a pioneer.
This post got me wondering when was my first flight? I went on a trip in high school to New York City with my church youth group but it was by a chartered bus. So I'm thinking it must have been when I flew out from Illinois to California to get married. That was 54 years ago this month, in fact, and I had recently turned 22.
I didn't know tail fin pictures were anywhere outside of the wars. Interesting info, Hilary.
I didn’t know you could transport your car in a plane like that! John remembers their family car going by train from Glasgow to Cornwall which also seemed odd to me. I think I was well in my 20s when I flew for the first time.
@ Janice – oh how interesting … amazing link – thanks. I think we probably were one of the first – we were near you in Surrey … so it wasn't so far to go to. Certainly map reading through Europe was interesting – albeit my parents had sorted the route all out for the journey … like clockwork it went – and we came back via friends in the Army – Jill and I were at school together – that was a raucous night!
@ Karen – going to NYC by bus must have been a long journey; then yes I can understand you flying to California – long time ago … 54 years this month, yet very sadly now on your own … with thoughts …
@ Jacqui – nor did I – hence I decided to write 'an easy quick post' … but lots of memoir rabbit holes popped up and I fell into them.
@ Anabel – well I'd never have known … but my parents found out; oh yes I remember the car train to Cornwall … I don't think we used it, but certainly other elderly relations did … I'm sure I met them in Cornwall once or twice.
Cheers to the four of you – I'll let the others know your comments … funny old world. Thanks for being here - Hilary
I've never seen pictures on the tail fins of planes before. Not a place I would expect to see Freddy Mercury--lol!
My first flight was in 1969 being flown home after running away to Canada. Long story. ;)
Freddie Mercury was very talented, as far as my generation was concerned. Even on 2024 his voice is identifiable after just one line of his music. But I bet there were some arguments about putting his portrait on the tail fin.
I've never seen pictures on tail fins either unless it was specifically for that airline.
Hari Om
Fascninating about the tail fin decoration... I've only ever seen the various airlines' own logos. First flight??? Oh yes, out to Nigeria in 1975 on a KLM DC10. Discovered I loved flying! YAM xx
@ Rita - I have to admit, nor had, I noticed tail fin artwork before ... but those five 'heroes' together are certainly 'odd'. Oh what a caper, yet troublesome time for you - I'm glad they got you home safely ...
@ Hels - Freddie is forever Freddie isn't he ... but I didn't investigate any negative aspects about him being included ... I only do positive, as I think you know ...
@ Alex - oh - I surprised you ... now that's one up to me!
@ Yam - the tail fin artwork bemused me totally/ You flew to Nigeria in 1975 ... I went to SA in 1978 ... but ok and you were hooked on flying - I can 'see' from your various comments about life on other continents ... I was never that hooked - but I'm glad I've been able to travel ..
Cheers to the four of you - thanks for your thoughts ... interesting to see where we've all been - Hilary
My first flight was only a little one. To Sydney. I was sick, much to my embarrassment.
Love decorated planes.
That is quite a picture, Hilary, of the car being loaded onto the plane. I had no idea such a service existed and would have assumed that the ferries would have been used. I would imagine that driving a car based on the left side of the road in England would have been discombobulating at minimum driving on the right in Europe. As for the tailfin adornments, bravo I say! They need to put David Attenborough on one. He has probably flown more miles than almost anyone else alive. Hugs - David
I always enjoy your memories, Hilary. I've never seen a car loaded on a plane. My dad was a World War II Army Air Corps pilot.
Love,
Janie
What an interesting idea. And I'm not sure if I mean that sarcastically or not.
Wow! What memories! And that's a weird coincidence: a post about aviation history, and just yesterday we (and thousands others on the Saanich Peninsula) turned out to watch another piece of history. Did you ever hear about or see the water bombers that help fight wildfires? One of the last Martin Mars aircraft made its last flight yesterday, and landed on the water by the airport where it will be moved to the aviation museum. Those aircraft are huge. A most impressive sight as it flew overhead.
Interesting memories, HIlary! ☺ I wonder why Norwegian Airlines would put images of famous people on their tail fins? It does seem a little odd. My first flight was in the summer of 1959 at 4 years old, from Düsseldorf, Germany to Montreal, Canada. Sadly, I don't remember any details.
London Airport....yes, you're right it was always known as that. I remember going there when I was about 6 or 7; you could sit on an "observation deck" and watch the planes land and take off. At the time it was thought that my brother was going blind and mum wanted him to see as much as possible before then - luckily his eyes have not deteriorated at all in the last 60-odd years! I think it must have been about 1980 when I first managed to actually get on a plane.
@ Sue - oh dear ... easily done I expect ... no barley sugar offered?!
@ David - well I remember the car and us going over ... and I'm not sure why, whether the ferries were available for cars ... hadn't thought - I'll have to try and find out! Yes - when I think of the things my parents achieved ... I'm impressed - driving down on the 'wrong' side of the road ... and driving to Italy with three kids in the car must have been a challenge. I remember Mum saying to us ... please don't make faces at the German border ... because there were borders to cross then. They weren't too chuffed at us - but after sour faces with some chuntering let us go through ...
Discombobulating is one of my favourite words ... my father was in Europe during the War - I think my Ma stayed in the UK. David Attenborough is an amazing man ... isn't he - travel yes I bet 'he's been "the I've been everywhere man"'!! Incredible he's just turned 98 ... cheers and yes a hug or two ...
@ Janie - thank you ... your father must have had an interesting life being a pilot during the War ...
@ Liz - I was just surprised to read about the art works on the tail fins ...
@ Ian - yes ... we dredged our memories and now more here. Yes - I know about the water bombers fighting fires - they're doing them in Greece at the moment. I probably heard about them working out of the Saanich Peninsula ... I certainly saw fires when I was out there. I bet seeing the actual Martin Mars aircraft over your house must have been impressive ... and it'll be a great attraction at the museum out at the airport. I did take a seaplane ride out of Victoria when I was over. Though tiny compared to your water bombers! Thanks for the interesting comment. As another link ... Airbourne is coming up this weekend - the old planes, the Red Arrows etc ... Eastbourne will be packed and noisy ... !!
@ Debbie - I have to say I've no idea ... but they did, and what an interesting mix of 'heroes'. I'm not surprised you didn't remember that first flight of yours ... changing your life forever - funny old world isn't it ...
@ John - thank you ... it became Heathrow in 1966 I spotted/noted. How interesting to read about your brother ... well I'm glad his eyes didn't get worse ... thank goodness for that and you can still enjoy your outings together. I remember the observation deck - and definitely was aware of various places you could, probably in latter days (1970s), go and park up to watch the planes go in and out. Something we never did ... I think many people didn't start travelling abroad til the late 70s or 1980s ... now it's 'so common'!!
Thanks - fascinating to have your comments and thoughts ... set me off thinking about many other aspects of those early days ... cheers Hilary
I had no idea about the pictures on the tail fins:) YOU, take special care:)
I'm flying to Norway in November, I've not yet been told which airline it will be, but I'm now hoping the plane will be it'll be one of these! I wonder if Finnair have considered anything similar!
I have found the Norwegian to always be very pro-British. I flew for the first time in 1966 - to Majorca. Incidentally, I was one of the last people to be allowed to climb to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I think they closed it to the public a few weeks later!
Very fun tail fins!
I don't think I have seen anything other than logos on tailfins! My first flight was from only a few hours long- but I remember it well because I was close to 20 years old!
@ Sandra ... nor had I - but it was the mix of characters chosen that 'amused' me ... I am in normal, slow mode!
@ Keith - oh how lovely ... enjoy your Norwegian visit - I hope you get to see the tail fins, even if you don't fly in one. Well you could suggest to Finnair that they do similar ... a talking point, if nothing else ...
@ Bazza - yes the Norwegians always have been friendly towards us. I think most of us probably flew first in our late teens etc. We did walk up the Leaning Tower ... it looks like it was closed in the early 90s for eight years to stabilise the base - well you managed to climb it - and it didn't tip over!
@ Holly - lovely to see you ...
@ Jess - I've never thought about the tail fins ... I guess if I'd seen Freddie Mercury peering down I'd have noticed! I think many of us wouldn't have flown til they were in their early twenties ...
Thanks everyone - so good to see you and read all your relevant comments ... fun to learn about - cheers Hilary
I think its cool to put famous people's faces on "tail fins" of airplanes. Wow, what a lot of memories you have here. I'm getting so old my grandkids look at me with wonder at the things I "remember" they think are impossible. Of course I remember my first flight - don't remember the Airline though. I was 18, going from Washington state to Texas for basic training in the Air Force. I got so lost in the concourses - but luckily there was a guide for everyone to watch his back as he lead us through. So much different than all the airport security we have now days.
How fun. I love when flying was very exciting back in the day. Apparently my grandfather made the local newspaper when he flew from PA to CA. It was a "thing". I do like the eclectic tail fin pics - rather amusing. . This was a fun post and no doubt good memories for you. Lake Como is pretty!
Strange bedfellows, indeed, but still fun.
Yeah funny to see Freddie flying. You have been around to some great places. Italy is gorgeous I haven't been to Lake Como but a few other places in Italy. We went there by bus and car. I love flying though and have had a few trips from NZ to the Netherlands
Wow my first flight - that must have been in the early 50's when I flew back to the UK from Southern Rhodesia with my mother to see grandparents. In those days we had to stop halfway for refuelling!!!
Freddie Mercury on a tailfin now that is something quite different!
I hope all is well, sorry I have been so slow this year, buying the adjoining property as kept us more than busy with restoration! Cheers Diane
@ Donna - yes ... it was an interesting prompt for our Writing group; you are most definitely no older than I am ... so relax ... I know that 'I remember' thought - and we wondered at our own grandparents' ideas! Were you in the Air Force - great learning curve ... and oh yes those huge concourses and hangar-style buildings ... walking for Africa, as I think of it. Thankfully there's usually people on hand to guide us in the right direction ... Atlanta was where i got befuddled and as you say so different back in the day.
@ Joanne - I don't really remember being excited about flying - I guess I was just anxious about not making a botch up - also we had customs etc to get through. I'm not surprised your grandfather made a statement when he flew from PA to CA - presumably in the 1920s or 1930s ... early days in flying commercially. Eclectic tail fins ... I was amused ... lots of memories from us all - a 'writing your life-story group' ... full of ideas!
@ Rosey - thank you ... you're right strange tail-fin bedfellows, but definitely amusing ...
@ Marja - yes if I'd actually seen one of those tail fins I'd have been very bemused. I'm not sure why we went to Como - I guess it was a break point down from England - I'm not sure where our father met us ... it might have been there. It is a beautiful country ... as too is your homeland - the Netherlands. I'm sure you must have visited various places on the continent before you moved to NZ - then flights 'down under' ... a lovely place to settle ...
@ Diane - yes I imagine you flew earlier than I ever did ... and much longer flights ... my father's sister moved to Kenya after the war and subsequently married an Englishman she met there - settling locally on their return.
My first flights down to South Africa always had a stop off point ... usually Cape Verde, which I now see is off Senegal, which I hadn't realised before. I did go via Kenya but wasn't allowed out - due to sanctions. Freddie Mercury staring down from a tailfin would totally surprise me too ...
All well here - and I know you're busy with the garden, let along the next door property and its restoration ... good luck!
Cheers to you - thanks for visiting so much - this has proved a fun post ... take care - Hilary
In 1953 when we drove overland from the UK to Rhodesia our Land rover was picked up by a crane and moved on to the the ship that we were travelling in. Diane
@ Diane - thanks an interesting addition to this post ... 'the way we travelled back in the day' ... fascinating to think/hear about things we might not have come across before ... gosh what route did you take? Cheers Hilary
Hi, Hilary - I absolutely adore your rabbit holes. I had never heard of these particular tailfins before. So much so, I actually looked the Freddie Mercury one up. And yup, it was created to celebrate what would have been Freddie's 71ist birthday. Seriously, who knew! <3
I always love reading about your reminiscences, Hilary. It gives me a fun opportunity to think back on my experiences and reflect on the past. I've never seen tailfins like these before, but I can imagine it must be quite a sight!
Lovely pic of Lake Como. Cheers,
Beautiful photo! My first flight was in 1993...I remember it so well!
Have a grand weekend, Hils.
@ Donna - rather too many rabbit holes, but I hadn't heard of these tail fins either ... someone on a trip to Norway in the Autumn said he'd look out for them; I hadn't looked to find out more about them and why they were created ... I guess I should to satisfy more curious ideas!
@ Damyanti - yes I think that's a good way of reflecting ... we all bring different ways of life to the blogging table. I'd be a little surprised to see these tail fins on the airport apron ...
@ Sandra - thanks for both your comments - lake Como is beautiful ...
@ Nas - that's great I've brought back those memories for you ... 1993 is a fair time ago ...
Cheers to you all and thanks for coming by now and whenever! Take care - Hilary
I love the history of flight! Though I'm also interested in your drive across Europe in the 60s! My grandparents did the same thing when they came back from two years in the US, driving from France to Turkey. I wish we had many more photos!
I've been reading a story of the Pacific Clipper, the flight that was grounded for weeks after Pearl Harbor. There are so many interesting stories involving aircraft!
Hi Deniz - thank you ... I'd forgotten (temporarily) that we'd gone over the Channel from Lydd and then driven down to Italy ... I remember it - but the prompt at our Writing Group reminded me - and one of our other members added to the story with the Silver City Airlines info and others added other bits and bobs - then my delving into the rabbit holes that led me to Freddie. Sadly I don't think we have any photos of those days ... just memories.
Re the Pacific Clipper book ... I've just bought The Long Way Home ... by Ed Dover, based on Captain Robert Ford's A Journey into History ... it looks fascinating ... thanks for the recommendation ...
Cheers Hilary
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