The early flying years!

When i first started flying we did mostly there and back holiday flights, then in 1989 Caledonian leased a 747-236 to operate the LAX and MCO flights, we were positioned out to Winnipeg on Northwest Airlines early May 1989, we flew Gatwick to the twin cities of Minneapolis/St Paul and then connected onto a rusty Northwest Boeing 727 on to Winnipeg.
Our Caledonian 747 would leave Gatwick 3 days later and arrive in Winnipeg to refuel, the crew would get off and we would all get on for the first time with 462 passengers awaiting us for the onward flight to LA, daunting but it had to be done, we then got a week in LA as we only had one 747 and it had to fly back to Gatwick, operate an Orlando then back out to Winnipeg where the previous crew would be waiting, then they would bring it to LA and we could bring it home, all in all it took 11 days, amazing that crew have 24 hours in LA now and we had a week.

The Grenada trip on the DC10 was also a 7 day layover at the Renaissance hotel on the beach, great times, great trip, great people, well, some of them.....there are some people on my pics that broke the BA strike in 2010 and will not be named or talked about.

 Poor John Swain, above Right with Ged, he died of an HIV related illness, scatty as a fruit cake but heart of gold and sadly missed, RIP John.

This was a 5 day trip to Barbados, room party every night before dinner and most days spent by the pool, tanning....once again great times. Sam Lords castle where we stayed is not rotting and uninhabited.

Ged loved coming on my trips and had some great holidays all inclusive and on staff flights....just not the same now!

This is me and Neil Phipps and good friend who i still in contact with , but not enough.....we were on the crew bus back to the aircraft, There was great team spirit in those days and everyone looked out for one another, that seems to have vanished now and its who can dob in who now!!!

Another room party in Barbados, i think this was New Years Eve, around 1992/1993