Round The World and other travel

Flight Log 13: SK1636

Frankfurt (FRA) - Copenhagen (CPH)

As I settled into 1F, I noticed that the Business Class cabin physically consisted of two rows of seat pairs on the left side and two rows of three seats on the right side. However with the two 'E' seats blocked, that meant a total capacity of eight. In reality, there were only four of us up front. We pushed back from our remote stand nice and early at 2011 and any inconvenience caused by being bussed to the plane was made up for by the very short taxi to 25C, where we hissed and whooshed our way into the air at 2017. (I am always amazed at how quiet an MD80 seems when inside the cabin, compared to the appalling racket emitted by these elderly beasts into the outside world.) Unexpectedly, we made an initial turn towards the south, before a big U-turn towards the right sent us on a more appropriate northerly heading. The airport was clearly visible to the right as we completed this manoeuvre.

The cold meal was based on the firm Scandinavian favourite of Gravad Laks served with boiled potatoes and sour cream, which I found very pleasant and refreshing. With a fairly generous helping of potatoes, it proved to be far more filling than it looked. The tray also contained a bread roll, two types of cheese, a portion of butter and a miniature box of chocolates. I drank white wine and water initially, followed by coffee. The cabin attendant offered to put an ice cube in my wine glass as the wine was clearly not sufficiently chilled. My coffee was topped up during the clearance run.

The initial approach into Kastrup was over water, with Sweden on the right and the Danish island of Zealand / Sjaelland on the left. As we made a left turn, there was a good view of Malmö and the relatively new Øresund bridge-tunnel, linking the Swedish city to Copenhagen. Immediately prior to touchdown at 2115, I was intrigued to find that I could clearly hear the co-pilot's countdown. The ground was damp, presumably from a recent passing shower. We arrived spectacularly early at 2118.

Despite being on board a museum piece, and a thoroughly skanky one at that, this was actually an enjoyable short hop on a sunny summer's evening.