I havent flown sence I was this many, and Im freaked out!!

[The Ghoul]

the only evidence that I ever drove a mustang. but I got two honeys in the back seat so its all good 
Seriously though
the family and I are flying out to Disney Thursday and I am freaked out. I didn't think id be this much of a wreck but I haven't slept for the last 2 days.. Not that I keep thinking about it... Just for some reason I don't sleep and this is the only reason I can think of.
Its going to be me, my fiancé, my little sister and her boy friend, my older sister, her 6 month old sone, her husband, my mother and my father. I am bringing my laptop on the plain.... not to keep my mind off flight, or because I distrust the baggage handlers but because I know if any one tries to do any thing stupid I've got a 5Lb projectile at my disposal....
I don't know what bothers me more the thought of some crap going down on the plan or.
the fact that I went to western Michigan university. Known for there aeronautic program this means I have gotten drunk with the people that are traing to fix planes, fly planes, and design planes and I wouldn't trust any of them holding my dime bag for me as i wade off into the middle of the pond to get the Frisbee which they insisted would clear it because of the updraft coming off the banks!!!!
sorry if this makes no since. I'm about a half way thru a dirty thirty trying to get my self to pass out so I can get some friggin sleep.
The only reason i am not insisting on driving my self there is because every one that means any thing to me in my life is on that plane, and I have no clue how Id hadel loosing all of them at once.

[Silver R/T]

You're gonna be alright, I flew once and it wasnt bad at all. I kinda got bored being in plane for 8 hrs straight though

[The Ghoul]

You're gonna be alright, I flew once and it wasnt bad at all. I kinda got bored being in plane for 8 hrs straight though

geeze and Im freaking out about 2!!

[Troy]

Geez, it's not really all that scary... try jumping out of one and that will keep you awake!

So, you're probably actually safer flying there than driving there and your odds of getting your wallet lifted at Disney are probably higher than being in a plane crash. Just think of it like a road trip in Greyhound bus and don't look out the windows.

Troy

[Silver R/T]

i wonder why they wouldnt install parachutes on planes for every passenger, so in case plane goes down most of the people will survive.

[Old Moparz]

Geez, it's not really all that scary... try jumping out of one and that will keep you awake!

So, you're probably actually safer flying there than driving there and your odds of getting your wallet lifted at Disney are probably higher than being in a plane crash. Just think of it like a road trip in Greyhound bus and don't look out the windows.

Troy

I've flown many times before, it's no big deal. (Yes, it was even in a plane at times.) The scariest ride I ever had, & refuse to ever do again in my lifetime, was on a Greyhound bus from South Carolina to New Jersey. It was 12+ hours in a rolling hell that stopped every 10 minutes to exchange humans along the way. The only thing that bothers me on a plane is changes in altitude that sometimes make my ears pop so bad I'll punch the seat. Takes 3 days to get my hearing back too.

[Old Moparz]

i wonder why they wouldnt install parachutes on planes for every passenger, so in case plane goes down most of the people will survive.

They used to do that, but the lawsuits from people slamming heads into the wings & each other on the way down made it cost prohibitive.

[The Ghoul]

this helps guys thank you.
I know all the stitistics and stuff... I just cant explain it ...
Im just freaked for some reason.
troy dont you ever sleep man?
any how
I was once told that on a jet if you try to jump out of it while its moving (assuming you can get the door open) the wind moving across the out side of the plain is like a belt sander.
youd be ripped appart if you tried...
Id still try 

[Troy]

i wonder why they wouldnt install parachutes on planes for every passenger, so in case plane goes down most of the people will survive.

You ever seen how long it takes to evacuate a jetliner when it's sitting on the ground and all the passengers have to do is jump on a big slide? You also have to take into account the fact that they'd all have to figure out how to properly strap into the parachute AND manage to jump out at high altitude without getting creamed by some appendage of the plane AND remember to actually open the chute. I think most would end up dead any way because if the plane is so out of control that they can't at least glide in for a crash landing then it's coming apart or down so fast that jumping out is impractical.

Troy

[bull]

Just remember, it's not the fall that kills you it's the sudden stop at the end.

Seriously, I really don't like flying either but I do it fairly frequently. I used to have no problem with it at all until once about 7 years ago when my wife and I flew out of Vegas back to Portland. That was the worst turbulence I had ever experienced and I was nearly convinced my life was over. But my brother-in-law who's a private pilot told me there's always an updraft before you reach the ground so turbulence will not take you down unless it actually damages the plane somehow. So yea, it's almost always mechanical problems that cause accidents. I wouldn't worry too much about it while flying over land, it's the thought of those overseas flights that freak me out. Nothing but water landings for 8 hours or so.

[The Ghoul]

ok then, how about one big parachute on the plane its self? lol

[bull]

ok then, how about one big parachute on the plane its self? lol

Like a dragster or a space shuttle? Hmmm. Might work. It would provide a false sense of security if nothing else.

[The Ghoul]

Just remember, it's not the fall that kills you it's the sudden stop at the end.

Seriously, I really don't like flying either but I do it fairly frequently. I used to have no problem with it at all until once about 7 years ago when my wife and I flew out of Vegas back to Portland. That was the worst turbulence I had ever experienced and I was nearly convinced my life was over. But my brother-in-law who's a private pilot told me there's always an updraft before you reach the ground so turbulence will not take you down unless it actually damages the plane somehow. So yea, it's almost always mechanical problems that cause accidents. I wouldn't worry too much about it while flying over land, it's the thought of those overseas flights that freak me out. Nothing but water landings for 8 hours or so.

im gonna die

[Old Moparz]

Good one Troy, the image of total chaos, human stampedes funnelling through a small hole, flames, twisted metal, & certain death, will make Ghoul want to fly even more.  

[The Ghoul]

Good one Troy, the image of total chaos, human stampedes funnelling through a small hole, flames, twisted metal, & certain death, will make Ghoul want to fly even more.  

see this is usually where most people start to pray. but i dont believe in any thing so thats not an option.... gutss im just gonna have to deal with it in my own way *cracks another beer*

[derailed]

Ive flown a bunch of times, as long as the plane is overcrowded I do ok but i sometimes suffer from severe closterphobia and I get minor panic attacks. This happens especially after the plane lands and all the assholes jump right up and crowd you in and it gets to be about 95 degrees in there real quick and you sit there for 20 minutes. To top it off this is about the time i have to piss after 6 beers

[Duey]

Ghoul, you'll be okay, man!  As an engineer and a pilot, I can tell you there is a huge amount of overengineering and safety systems that go into modern airliners.  They can take a huge pounding and still have room for more.  It's just because they're so big inside that freaks people out so much, I think.  If you had your ass strapped into the back of an F-18, you wouldn't be worrying about anything other than wiping the shit-eating grin off your face that would still be there 72 hours after you landed!   

Just pretend it's a ride at Six Flags, or something!  Dude, look down at your tats, and imagine being at the controls doing this "stuff" Crazy (but cool) helo low flying!

Cheers,
Duey

p.s.  Guns'N'Rotors may have more background on this, but if you want to know how much of a good time you can have (or see) in a helicopter, check this video out! LOL

[HDCharger]

You will be fine.  Try corkscrewing into Baghdad International in total darkness!  Or C130 at nape of the Earth through Iraq.  I've probably got a million miles on my rear after 20 years in the Army.  6 x to and from Korea, 1 x to Thailand, 4 or 5 times toHawaii, 2 times to Bosnia, 8 times to Middle East, and many, many or miscellanous trips.   I much rather land in them than jump out of them and I've done that many times too. 

[4402tuff4u]

You will be fine. Have a couple of cold ones or something with higher octane that will make you relax or take the "nap" shortcut. Just think about the number of flights a day in the US and they all make it without incident. It's probably safer flying now than it's ever been. You would be amazed what tests these jet engines go through before they are finally "OK" for production. Certain commercial turbine jet engines during pre-production test trials are run for a year, non stop, to see what components wear out or fall apart first. They also throw all sorts of debris in the jet engines while they are running at different speeds to see what parts get chewed out - frozen birds, steel parts, ice, snow balls, etc...

So rest assure that these planes are pretty much tested and engineered for use and abuse. A two hour flight should go fairly quick, enjoy the view.   

[Telvis]

I share your phobia. It can be debilitating. Especially when you start thinking about the fact that most of the airlines are having difficult financial times. It makes you wonder what they are doing to cut expenses. Not to mention the disgruntled pilots who had to take pay cuts to keep the struggling airlines going. I'm sure a lot of them have resorted to alcoholism to reduce the stress of being under paid and over worked. Then you have to consider the aging fleet of aircraft. With all the budget problems a lot of the airlines have kept older planes in the air instead of buying new ones. Kind of like some cities keeping old buses going to reduce the costs. Good new is you might get a nostalgic flight in a plane from the 70's. I'm sure the mechanics are unhappy about the budget cuts. I'm sure a lot of those highly skilled guys have moved on to more lucrative positions. The good news is there have been openings for less experienced young guys to get started learning about older commercial planes. There's nothing like jumping right in and learning a trade! All in all I would say it's a safe way to travel. Hopefully the air traffic controller is sober and well rested. Heck with computers as reliable as they are today I'm sure there's no chance of a mid air or runway collision. It's not like the Canary Islands disaster could happen again. You hardly hear of a plane crashing these days. The airlines have been pretty reliable. They have been pretty lucky in recent times. It's not like they are due for a crash or anything. That kind of thinking would be silly and ridiculous. I'm sure everything will be just fine.
Have a nice trip! 

[Todd Wilson]

The plane will crash and you will die!   

Do not get into the plane!



Todd

[charge69]

I am an Air Traffic Controller and I do not FLY!!!!

[Ponch ®]

the only evidence that I ever drove a mustang. but I got two honeys in the back seat so its all good 
Seriously though
the family and I are flying out to Disney Thursday and I am freaked out. I didn't think id be this much of a wreck but I haven't slept for the last 2 days.. Not that I keep thinking about it... Just for some reason I don't sleep and this is the only reason I can think of.
Its going to be me, my fiancé, my little sister and her boy friend, my older sister, her 6 month old sone, her husband, my mother and my father. I am bringing my laptop on the plain.... not to keep my mind off flight, or because I distrust the baggage handlers but because I know if any one tries to do any thing stupid I've got a 5Lb projectile at my disposal....
I don't know what bothers me more the thought of some crap going down on the plan or.
the fact that I went to western Michigan university. Known for there aeronautic program this means I have gotten drunk with the people that are traing to fix planes, fly planes, and design planes and I wouldn't trust any of them holding my dime bag for me as i wade off into the middle of the pond to get the Frisbee which they insisted would clear it because of the updraft coming off the banks!!!!
sorry if this makes no since. I'm about a half way thru a dirty thirty trying to get my self to pass out so I can get some friggin sleep.
The only reason i am not insisting on driving my self there is because every one that means any thing to me in my life is on that plane, and I have no clue how Id hadel loosing all of them at once.

Im afraid you aint got long...

[The Ghoul]

start thinking about the fact that most of the airlines are having difficult financial times. It makes you wonder what they are doing to cut expenses. Not to mention the disgruntled pilots who had to take pay cuts to keep the struggling airlines going. I'm sure a lot of them have resorted to alcoholism to reduce the stress of being under paid and over worked. Then you have to consider the aging fleet of aircraft. With all the budget problems a lot of the airlines have kept older planes in the air instead of buying new ones. Kind of like some cities keeping old buses going to reduce the costs. Good new is you might get a nostalgic flight in a plane from the 70's. I'm sure the mechanics are unhappy about the budget cuts. I'm sure a lot of those highly skilled guys have moved on to more lucrative positions. The good news is there have been openings for less experienced young guys to get started learning about older commercial planes. There's nothing like jumping right in and learning a trade! All in all I would say it's a safe way to travel. Hopefully the air traffic controller is sober and well rested. Heck with computers as reliable as they are today I'm sure there's no chance of a mid air or runway collision. It's not like the Canary Islands disaster could happen again. You hardly hear of a plane crashing these days. The airlines have been pretty reliable. They have been pretty lucky in recent times. It's not like they are due for a crash or anything. That kind of thinking would be silly and ridiculous. I'm sure everything will be just fine.
Have a nice trip! 

did I mention we are flying out NWA
they are still disputing about the possible pilot strike.
Like I said before. the only reasion Im getting on that plain is if my faimly is going to get taken out.. Im going to be there with them.
I can tell my self a million times that things will be fine and im sure nothing will happen .... dosent mean im not still freaked!!

[Telvis]

Seriously..I do understand the phobia. I use to fly years ago when I was a salesman. I developed a phobia over about a one year period. it got so bad that I had to be wasted to even get on the plane. I probably couldn't get away with it today. There's absolutely no way I can get on a plane today. I get a knot in my stomach when i see one in the air. It's a totally irrational fear. I know they are safe. It definitely makes a vacation more enjoyable if you fly. I am sure everything will be fine.