First Flight

Missy was jumping on the inside but trying to remain cool on the outside, after all sixteen year olds were suppose to be cool , right?

She found her assigned seat next to an elderly, white haired couple, “Great old folks! Two and half hour flight and no-one to talk to.”

The couple, after learning it was her first flight. smiled, “ Here you take this seat by the window, we fly all the time.” 

Missy smiled and thank them. “Maybe they are not so bad after all,” She leaned against the window, noticed it was an emergency ext. She stared at the tarmac, waiting for the wheels of the plane to start moving. “This is it, no turning back. You are going on your first flight Don't be scared, even though you don't like heights you are safe”

Missy looked at the couple who seem to be oblivious, the stewardess going over safety information, Missy paid attention, but was anxiously waiting for take off.

She imagined the elderly couple boarding their flight, greeted by the stewardess.

“ Good morning Mr. and Mrs.Williams. So nice to have you flying with us today. Will you be in first class?” “Oh no dear, we will take coach this flight”.

Missy imagined that they would be flying to other destinations once they landed in New York. Places like London or even Paris.

"Just how much did they fly?" she wondered.

Missy felt the plane lurch and could hear the engines revving up. She must have jumped slightly because Mrs. Williams patted her and saiid “It is ok dear, we are getting ready to taxi to the runway."

“Taxi? Funny term.” She imagined the pane as a very large yellow taxi with checkerboard trim.

 Missy watched the surroundings go by, turning around like a carousel as the plane turned and taxied on various paths. She watched the wings, bounce slightly like a large bird’s wings preparing to fly.

Soon the plane rolled to a stop, engines grew louder. Missy looked at the runway beneath them. Oh how she wished could see out the front window.

Faster and faster the lines on the runway flew by. 

She felt the front of the plane lift off the ground, then she felt it, the little jump in your stomach as if your insides are lifting off before your body does. It was like being on top of a roller coaster, and as the car goes over the first large hill, your stomach stays up, while your body is hurled too the bottom of the hill and you wait for your stomach to catch up with you. Only this was the reverse your stomach stayed down and your body going up, waited for your stomach to catch it.

Missy's ears felt like they were under water. She chewed on some gum, someone said it would help.

She looked at the scenery below, noticed how small things were, but she could still make out details of rooftops.

She pressed against the window exit trying to se all there was below.

“ This is fairly low, I know I haven’t flown before but this is not right “ then she heard the announcement.

“Ladies and gentleman we are turning back to KTY. Our board indicates that our landing gear and emergency doors are not locked,” 

Immediately an arm wrapped around her shoulder and pulled her to the center of the seats, away from the window she was leaning against. 

“What’s going on? I want to see.” Then Missy looked at the sign where she was leaning against, EMERGENCY EXIT and remembered the Captain’s words, “EMERGENCY DORRS NOT LOCKED.”

Again the Captain spoke, “Ladies and gentleman We will be landing in ten minutes please remain in your seats. Please follow your stewardess’ directions. Fire trucks will be standing by, and fire personnel will board the plane to check for any signs of fire. We apologize for this inconvenience. Your safety is our first priority. Thank you for choosing KTY airways.

“Fie trucks, fire personal, stay in your seats? I think I would rather be off the plane. Landing gear not locked.? Will we do a belly landing? Wonder if it would be like sliding on your belly on a water slide."

 Missy had no idea that sliding on a the belly of metal plane on the concrete and asphalt runway is not the same. That usually foam is put down to squelch any sparks that may ensue. But there is no foam that she knew of at least the Captain never said. 

Was her first flight going to end in a crash before it really got started?

“Should I be scared? No one else is panicking. There was no announcement saying passengers should assume crash position. Maybe they don't know? Oh, come off it girl! You have an over active imagination they know what they are doing". 

Then another announcement:

“Ladies and gentleman we will be touching down shortly. We ask once again that you remain your seats until the fire department has cleared our plane.”

“No mention of belly landing.” Missy looked out the window exit, careful not to lean against it. She could see yellow-green fire trucks with lights flashing, racing parallel to the runway“

 She watched the ground rise to meet them, and everything that once seemed so still and motionless was now racing past her. Thud, wheels touched down. Missy drew in a quick breath, they’re holding. A loud cheer was heard throughout the plane. They were safely on the ground. Everyone stayed put as the plane taxied to an open area of runway and emergency vehicles approached the aircraft.

Missy watched as the fire personnel enter the plane.

“Ok, we are like sitting ducks and they are in the fire retardant suits, looking like interplanetary visitors.”

Soon the plane was cleared and the passengers would soon disembark and then transfer to another plane when it was ready . 

While waiting for different plane they were served the breakfast that they should have been served somewhere over Ohio, but instead were enjoying it , on the ground, at KTY.

 As Missy was leaving the aircraft, she smiled and turned to the pilot, “ You know, I think I would like to talk to my uncle.” “Oh, who is your uncle?” “He is the chief mechanic for this airline.” “Smiling the Captain said , “You know what, Miss? So would we.”

Missy did make it to New York that day.She continued flying over the years but none were as memorable as her first flight.