During one of our recent trips, one of us experienced a different kind of flight, with a view from the cockpit. From here the views are spectacular and the flight feels more 'real'. Of course, we couldn't resist taking photos, and today we're sharing our pictures.
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Flights from Djerba, Tunisia
After visiting the lovely island of Djerba in Tunisia, it was time to fly back to Sweden. In the past, many charter companies had direct flights between Djerba and Stockholm - and maybe it will start again in the future - but currently the flight was a bit more cumbersome.
We flew first to the capital Tunis, then to Frankfurt and finally to Stockholm. And it was on this first short flight, between Djerba and Tunis, that we were able to enjoy the view from the cockpit.
Flight from Djerba to Tunis
With hindsight, we should of course have photographed the aircraft from the outside, but we didn't do that. It was early in the morning, and we were mostly concerned with getting on and off. We both find flying quite boring and uncomfortable, and are mostly thinking about how to pass the time - perhaps with a book, photo editing, a film, a nap or something edible.
On this particular flight, we had just started various activities when the aircraft crew suddenly came by and told Peter to come to the cockpit. What?
View from the cockpit - in flight
Our guide, who had previously worked for the Tunisian airline and knew the pilots well, managed to arrange for Peter to sit in the cockpit during the flight and landing. He was strapped into a seat behind the pilots, allowing him to see the view from one of the best seats in the plane.
Being in the cockpit during flight and landing was a fascinating experience. You get a completely different view from the plane's small side windows, and the flight feels somehow more 'real'.
The pilots themselves were very relaxed, sitting and chatting during the flight.
The weather was fine and the journey was very calm. For much of the flight, the autopilot is used, which makes the pilots' work easier, although manual monitoring is of course needed at all times.
Look, there's the runway! We once tried flying in the flight simulator in the Norwegian Bodöand we found it very difficult to land. However, when the pilots had to bring the passenger plane down, it seemed easy as pie, which may be partly due to the use of autopilot on approach, but mostly due to the knowledge and experience of the pilots.
That's it, the plane is back on the ground!
The pilots talk to the passengers and tell them about the conditions at their destination, the Tunisian capital Tunis.
More different types of air travel
Flying is often cramped and uncomfortable, and you often do your best just to pass the time until you reach your destination. You don't want any adventures in the form of bad weather and bumpy flights, you just want the journey to be safe and secure. But, can air travel also offer different or (positively) exciting experiences?
We remember some flights with amazing views, including over the Austrian Alps. Helena also remembers domestic flights in Iceland in small planes with only seven passengers. Then, of course, we've seen pictures of seaplanes in the Maldives, for example, which looks fascinating. Have you been on a different or fascinating flight?
4000mil says:
Wow what a dream!
But only Peter, didn't you see?
05 December 2021 - 9:38
Helena says:
Really! And yes it's true, only Peter. Think they might just have such a belted place up front? But it was perfectly ok, I was happy just to see how happy he looked when he came from there, like a child on Christmas Eve 🙂 .
05 December 2021 - 9:41
Ama de casa says:
How cool to be invited to the cockpit and also to be there at the landing! I understand that Peter was very happy with that experience 🙂 .
I have visited the pilots a few times but never during landing. Have also flown with small planes where you are more "with" the flight. The coolest tours have probably still been the times we went by helicopter over NY and Hawaii. From a helicopter you get a good view 🙂
05 December 2021 - 10:02
Helena says:
A special experience! 🙂 And agree that helicopter is also really cool! We have flown once together in Stockholm and I (Helena) have travelled once over the Faroe Islands as well 🙂 ).
06 December 2021 - 8:56
Lena+in+Wales+and+Spain says:
Cool!
But not for me. I never want to see the pilots before or during the journey. What if I think they don't look trustworthy or look too young? Better to just think they know what they are doing and fall asleep in my seat.
Happy second advent!
05 December 2021 - 10:27
Helena says:
I can sort of understand what you mean! In Vietnam, we once saw the pilot afterwards and he looked like he was 15 or so (which of course he wasn't!) But I would have certainly been nervous if I had seen him before 😉 Wishing you a great week!
06 December 2021 - 9:02
bmlarstravellingblog says:
How cool is it to take a trip in a small aeroplane? We flew over the Okavango Delta when we were in Botswana and flew over herds of elephants and buffalo. My coolest flight was when four of us went into the Equador jungle and landed on a carved out runway in all the green. It felt like we were far from civilisation.
05 December 2021 - 15:16
Helena says:
Wow, what flights and what experiences!!! Now I get a little hungry for adventure 🙂
06 December 2021 - 9:03
BP says:
Cool if you are as adventurous as Peter. Guess you were pretty happy that you got to stay in your passenger seat;-)
Great pictures and sitting behind the pilots is like being a first officer. Because the helmsman sits behind the pilots on long flights.
Flying over the Alps is always fascinating, but I've never actually photographed it...
05 December 2021 - 17:01
Helena says:
You know me, haha 😉 Yes, in a way I was probably happy with it, although I understand that it is a fascinating feeling to sit in the front!
06 December 2021 - 9:04
Ditte says:
How cool! And it's an amazing experience. Very cool pictures. Fun to do this. Have flown a whole trip in the cookpit between Stockholm and New York, from takeoff to landing. We flew over Greenland and into Canada..and flying into New York and landing there at Kennedy Airport was an experience. . So powerful. A long time ago, though, in the late 70's. But the memories remain.
Nowadays, it is usually very regulated who is allowed to ride in the cookpit for safety reasons. But I would gladly do it again.
05 December 2021 - 17:39
Helena says:
Wow, what cool air travel you've done! And true, nowadays it is much more unusual. I think this was possible because it was people who knew each other and the pilots had a lot of influence. In general, I also understand safety procedures when it comes to things like this.
06 December 2021 - 17:58
Daniel on FlyingDryden says:
What an awesome experience, definitely inspiring to kind of... well, "happen to it" in the future! 😂 Congratulations!
05 December 2021 - 23:19
Helena says:
Haha, yes right? I completely understand your comment! We usually want to tip about things that others can also do ... but in this case it is a matter of having a little luck 😉.
06 December 2021 - 18:02
Liniz Travel says:
Isn't it cool 🙂 .
I enjoy beautiful views when I am a "cockpit" hostess.
What an amazing journey you have made,
Hugs
06 December 2021 - 7:56
Helena says:
Oh, awesome! Understand that you get this experience from time to time 🙂 .
06 December 2021 - 18:03