Most of the time I'm fine with bumpy flights and rough landings. Even when people are crying or praying I'm usually just listening to music or watching the clouds, but there have been a few flights that spooked me.
1. Exceptional Engine Sounds - It's not uncommon for aircraft engines to sound off or to vibrate more than usual but one flight was so loud with so much vibration you could not even hear the PA announcements. This was really unusual for a high bypass turbofan in my experience and I was uncomfortable for most of the flight. (WN B737).
2. Zero Visibility Landing - I've been through some rough landings but one had so much rain you could not see
anything outside the window and we could feel the aircraft hydroplaning on the runway. I have never had a landing like that before or since and I feel the pilot made a mistake by landing in those conditions. (WN B737)
3. Unexplained Reaction - Nothing was rough or wrong with the last flight but for some reason I had a sudden unexplained feeling of acrophobia and claustrophobia as I left the lavatory and returned to my seat. For about fifteen minutes I felt extremely uneasy but then the feeling seemed to vanish almost as suddenly as it appeared. If that is what it feels like to be afraid of flying then I can see why some people avoid it like the plague. (AA MD80)
I'm not as much of an "avgeek" as some - I have done a couple of inaugural flights for the experience, and flying on a new acft type for the first time is interesting, but I can't say I've travelled just to check out a particular plane.
Exploring new aircraft, airlines, and airports is most of the attraction for me. The act of flying itself lost most of its appeal many years ago. For me the ideal business trip is a same day return with no overnight while the ideal tourist trip is falling asleep shortly after the main service and not waking up again until landing. My longest flight was 16:30 and I simply cannot comprehend how people can enjoy ultra-long-haul flights no matter the cabin or service.
It was a very bright flash and loud bang, and then an announcement by the Captain as to what happened. We just continued on to our destination Delhi Palam (now Indira Gandhi International) Airport.
Only had one lightening strike and remember every window getting crazy bright followed by all the lights going out and the engines changing pitch. After a few long seconds the lights came back on and the flight continued landing.