Link to Author's biograph

My First Ever Commercial Flight

More Agreeable Nostalgia

August 1950, no school as it was summer holiday time.

Stage 1
Mission Control

Grandma (Mum's-Mum) and I were lodging at my cousin Jean's place in 
Cleveleys, near Blackpool and just for the two of us a tram-ride into
Blackpool was planned. A simple pleasure enjoyed by us both I think, 
an odd  couple we might have seemed, Gran was 73, I was 15 and still
by choice in short pants.

Stage 2
Toward the Launch-Pad

The Blackpool Tramway follows the coast and has its own road space with
sea-views. Hence the trams rarely compete with other traffic,
and our ride was very comfortable.
Then out of the blue we were buzzed by a small plane, a rare sight indeed.
It was heading toward the sea then turned left to fly alongside our tram,
or so it seemed.
The interlude really excited Gran, and suddenly she was full of questions
like, "Can we do that ?" etc etc. So we must have taken advice from 
the guard and topped up our fares as far as the tramway terminus
close to the Aerodrome (Squires-Gate).

Stage 3
Check In

The small office was very quiet and unmanned as we waited and waited.
By the time we were noticed Gran was getting quite agitated and she laid into
the unfortunate clerk. The scene was something like a cartoon with
the old-lady slapping her brolly on the desk etc. We were lucky not have been
chucked out and I was relieved as we were issued tickets to ride.

Stage 4
The walk around inspection of Auster G-AIJR

Oh heck, I thought, "Only 2 seats including the pilot's". And that's the way
 it was, Gran cheek to cheek with the pilot and me with no harness
sliding around in the back on a pile of maroon mail-bags.
Eventually we were back to where this saga started. We had flown over the
back-streets of Blackpool and were crossing the Tramway near to Gynn Square.
Not much more to say about the actual flight - - just a very happy memory.

Auster at Squires Gate in 1950
Please open the Link :-

https://www.airliners.net/photo/Loxhams-Flying-Services/Auster-J-4/1908988?
fbclid=IwAR1w-ocPrAJJc0TEHI4CwbtBhiPkeP_szv39yPm-BNWzpLIi1qYL9U-zidM




Emailing method

© 2021  GEOFF  ROYLE  G4FAS