LIS/FUN/LIS
Another trip to Madeira, to do my "Atlantic Turtle" Film...
This time, I was going with some Friends to assiste me, one of them never flew before, and...poor woman...
It was also my 1st time on TAP's new B-737.
The flight was going nicely, and we went to the cockpit to talk with the Captain. He was a very nice, quite aged gentleman, with his hair all white. He warned us it was very windy in Funchal!
We went back to the seats, on the 1st rows, and as they were flying with the door opened, I could see the landing! Well, you cannot even imagine how it was! You would need to go to Madeira and experience it 1st hand! The Captain violently maneuvering the stick to counteract the tremendous motion! Mu Friend who never flew, asking me it it was always like this! Some other people shouting and praying!
We landed somehow, and I went to the cockpit to thank the Captain! He was completely soaked in sweat! He asked with a trembling voice: "Was it so bad? I am sorry, but I can barely speak"... The Co-Pilot then said, "If it wasn't for this Captain, we would have to divert to Porto Santo Island...
I then understood, how bad the B737 was in turbulence and wind, in fact, Boeing's worst airplane, until they launched the new 800/700/900 series...
Fortunately, the return flight not so bad....