KA 007 The Korean Airliner shot down by mistake by the USSR

[Pete999]

Sorry to bring this up, but have any Members been scared beyond belief whilst flying Scheduled routes? When I was posted to Moscow in 1984, imagine my surprise when approaching Soviet airspace, to be told by Biggles, the Pilot, that if I cared look out of the Window at my 3 o'clock I would get an unrestricted view of 4 MIG 21s escorting us into Moscow, welcome to the USSR. 1st job change of underwear, and a shot of Vodka.

 

[Megawatt]

Sorry to bring this up, but have any Members been scared beyond belief whilst flying Scheduled routes? When I was posted to Moscow in 1984, imagine my surprise when approaching Soviet airspace, to be told by Biggles, the Pilot, that if I cared look out of the Window at my 3 o'clock I would get an unrestricted view of 4 MIG 21s escorting us into Moscow, welcome to the USSR. 1st job change of underwear, and a shot of Vodka.

Pete no joke that would be scary to escorted by 4 MIG 21s

 

[telectrix]

better escorted than chased.

 

[snowhead]

It would be scary if you Weren't going into Moscow or anywhere in Russia.

Not scared beyond belief , but slightly concerned when I flew to New Zealand and back (obviously not on the same day, or even same month) earlier in the year and we flew over the Indian Ocean.
It was a VERY long way over water from Qatar to the Australian coast.

 

[Strima]

May 1992 RAF Tristar landing at Mount Pleasant airfield in the Falkland Islands, looking down the runway from my window as the wind was that strong the plane landed sideways...

Twas a giggle...

 

[Pete999]

It would be scary if you Weren't going into Moscow or anywhere in Russia.

Not scared beyond belief , but slightly concerned when I flew to New Zealand and back (obviously not on the same day, or even same month) earlier in the year and we flew over the Indian Ocean.
It was a VERY long way over water from Qatar to the Australian coast.

Yes, but did you have 4 dirty great Migs bristling with all kinds of A to A ordinance staring at you from about 50mtrs, 2 on each side?

 

[littlespark]

I once tried to park on a double yellow line, but chickened out cos the traffic warden was stalking up and down....

Not quite the same thing, is it.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Sorry to bring this up, but have any Members been scared beyond belief whilst flying Scheduled routes? When I was posted to Moscow in 1984, imagine my surprise when approaching Soviet airspace, to be told by Biggles, the Pilot, that if I cared look out of the Window at my 3 o'clock I would get an unrestricted view of 4 MIG 21s escorting us into Moscow, welcome to the USSR. 1st job change of underwear, and a shot of Vodka

may be they where thier to make shore you landed Pete ,just in case you not on the plane.lol.

 

[littlespark]

It would be scary if you Weren't going into Moscow or anywhere in Russia.

Not scared beyond belief , but slightly concerned when I flew to New Zealand and back (obviously not on the same day, or even same month) earlier in the year and we flew over the Indian Ocean.
It was a VERY long way over water from Qatar to the Australian coast.

I did that New Zealand trip a couple years ago..... UK to Dubai, stop for a refuel, and you're not even half way there yet. 27 hours sitting on your backside with only the left hand side of your earphones working.

 

[Dan]

Russia (with their current name right now) shot down a passenger plane and blamed it on rebels. Just a year or so ago.

I'll try find the article.

It quickly went through the news. You never see that for long. Gagging orders and whatnot so countries don't end up rioting.

 

[snowhead]

I did that New Zealand trip a couple years ago..... UK to Dubai, stop for a refuel, and you're not even half way there yet. 27 hours sitting on your backside with only the left hand side of your earphones working.

I did Heathrow to Hamad (Qatar) 6 and half hrs.
2 hrs on the ground and swop planes.
16 and half hours to Aukland.
1 hr through customs and waiting for Son / Grandson
20mins to house.

Same on the way back except 3 hrs in Hamad swop planes and return to Gatwick.
Would have been 8hrs wait if I'd come back into Heathrow.

 

[buzzlightyear]

the worst flight for me when I went skiing in the former soviet country Yugo ,when the plane broke down and they had to get a spare plane ,so we all sat down ,and on walks the capt with dark glasses and I mean dark ,me looked up ,bloody hell are flying back with capt roy Orbison .the plane was a old cargo one ,held together with duck tape .
what a ride back.

 

[FatAlan]

Tunisia early 80s. Flight delayed out due to the Yanks shooting down a coupe of Gaddafi’s fighters. A couple of years later, another holiday to Tunisia, Day trip into Tunis the guide points out a house. ‘That’s where Yasser Arafat is living’ The following week, just as we’re about to fly back the Israeli’s fly down and bomb it. That was my last holiday in Tunisia!

 

[littlespark]

2005 I was working on Heathrow T5. Spent every second weekend touring round London on my own.
At the time, there had been a bomb attack at one of the stations. I missed it by 3 days or something.
I spent hours convincing my wife that London was safe... Police with guns and all that.
Just got her happy with that, and they arrested someone trying it again 3 weeks later.

 

[FatAlan]

Pilots are masters of the understatement. ‘We’re about to experience a little turbulence!’ Seat belts on please.
‘The engineers have done their best to try and fix the fault so we’re good to go!’
Reassuring stuff!