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I wake up at 6:00am to get ready for my 8:30 am flight out of PHX to STL. I take a shower, and finsih my last minute pack. After staying a week in Phoenix, I was ready to go home. We gather in the car, and head to PHX. It is only a 15 minute drive so we weren't very far. I arive at the Terminal(I forgot which one...). I once again check my luggage, and take my backpack on board with me. Security was fine(Again remember this is before Sept 11th.). I preceded to the gate. My gate was C14, 2 gates away from my when I arrived from STL. I go to the end of the terminal and watch some planes land and take-off. I saw, a TWA MD-80, Delta MD-80, LOST of America West, and Southwest. One Continental 737, and some NWA 757. I thought I saw a British Airways, but was unsure. Finally my unt called me because it was getting close to time to check in at the gate. I get to preboard again. There were 10 children flying on my flight and all required Flight attendent help so they were very busy!! I got in line and then the pilot of my flight got in front of me, and so I followed him into the plane. It was cool. I even didn't mind that he butted me. OH well. LOL. I quickly find the seat I want and sit down. Behind the wing on the right side. Because they had to deal with all the children, we were 30 minutes late from pushing back from the gate. We were supossed to leave at 8:30 but didn't leave till 9:00 or so. Then, we taxied toward the runway- 25R. WE stopped, and waited for an American MD-80 heading either to STL, DFW, or ORD. Finally, it took off, and then we turned on to the runway. 30- seconds later, I hear the engine power up and we started the take-off sequence. Even tho I have taken off many times, its always thrilling and a new experience for me. WE pass an AWA and SWA terminal and then lift off into the sky. WE Immediatly, and I MEAN IMMEDIATLY bank HARD RIGHT, I swear almost to the side, that I was looking DOWN to the ground. I was trying to figure out why we banked so hard, then remembered that planes take off into the wind, so we took of into the west and then banked right towards the east to get to STL. Finally, we are still climbing and then Sky Harbor airport slides underneath the wing, and I think "Good-bye Phoenix" I managed to get an areial(sp?) view of the airport on camera. Then we level off. So, we are already 30 minutes late. I listen to music, read my book. Have a nice conversation wih the lady next to me. We get to Jefferson, City, and turn for our sequence into STL. Apprantly we must have got a HECK of a tailwind because we ended up landing 15 minutes early!!!! But anywas...There was a storm in St. Louis, that had just ended, and the clouds were just breaking aprat, so you can imagine there was some turbulence. It was very heavy as well, the wings were flapping up and down, sometimes, I couldn't even see the wing, because it was sooo cloudy. Finally, between clouds, we broke through and I saw the Mississippi River as we came onto on our approach. Now this confused me because usually you see the mississippi river when you are flying from teh east into STL, but we were coming from the west and the all of a sudden LANDING into the west. Anyone explain that to me?? Finally, I see the ground, and the pilot comes on and says we are 1 minute from landing. Sp I have my camera ready to snap the moment we touch down. A minute goes by and we are still banking left to right to probably straighten the approach I dunno. I wasn't to worried. Then another minute goes by, and now I get worried. Then I see the runway and start to relax. I see it slide under me, and then breathe a sigh of relief cause I know we are close to landing. But guess what?? I look out again, and the runway ended. I FREAKED. I was thinking back to when SWA over shot the runway at BUR. I was terrified. Because I knew my family was watching the landing and would freak if they saw me crash. Then when I am to busy thinking over the incident in my head, I hear a thump and realized we are on the ground. Now I REALLY BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF!!! I then remembered to take a picture and then, we slow down, and turn of the active runway. We had a really big crosswind. We stop to let some TWA plane take-off. and MD-80 by the way. That took 3 minutes. Then, finally we crossed over the runway and stopped at the gate. I decided to stay on the plane and be the last person off the plane to scare my family into thinking I missed the flight or something. I am evil ain't I? LOL. Finally, I get up and get behind this big muscle man. I get closer and closer to the near of the end of the gate, and then I hear my 6 year old brother say "MOMMY, MOMMY, THERE ALEX, BEHIND THAT BIG HUGE MUSCLE MAN!!!" I laughed and was embarressed to hear him say that. I gave them a hug, and they admitted they were worried about me when I wasn't off the plane. I asked if they saw me land and they said "Yes". My plane was all over the runway is what they said. They said the left wheel hit the runway first, and then the right wheel came hard down(he claims he saw smoke coming out) and then finally the front wheel came down. While I don't remember it feeling that dramatic, it was a pretty weird landing. We get my baggage, and then go home for the 2 hour drive back to my house.
BTW- we stopped and got McDonalds for lunch on the way home.
I hope ya'll enjoyed my flight story and if ya'll have ANY questions or comments, POST THEM HERE!! BYE!
Alex.
BTW- we stopped and got McDonalds for lunch on the way home.
I hope ya'll enjoyed my flight story and if ya'll have ANY questions or comments, POST THEM HERE!! BYE!
Alex.
Well, happy flying people!
". Hope that doesn't happen again as I am due to fly STL-MCO-STL on Southwest again in June. Will post that trip when I come back.
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