The conference was scheduled for 20-23 October 1991. Comair agreed and I was informed that they will arrange my flights and the accommodation. I was given the dates and given all the information. I saw in the information that the hotel room was charged per room and not occupants in the room. I will get meal allowances and transport costs will be covered.

The next day I went back to my manager and spoke to him. I said if I decide to use standby tickets can I take my wife with me on the trip. I said also that I would like to have three days extra to spend some time in Orlando before we return. He agreed and he said that it is possible and he would arrange it. I told my wife and she was excited. I just had to arrange the visas with the US embassy for the trip.

The conference started on Monday morning at the hotel where we were booked. We departed South Africa the Friday evening on our first leg to the USA. On Saturday morning we arrived in London and then later on we flew from London to Orlando. We arrived there the evening at our hotel. All went smooth.

On Monday morning the conference started and there were many people attending the conference. We all registered and then it started. We all had to introduce ourselves. I did as well and because I said we, they asked me where my wife was? I told them in the hotel room and then they said she can attend as well. I should go and fetch her. They also had some lunch for all of us and she could get a lunch as well during the conference. All my suggestions were well received and they will implement the changes to the program. The conference ended on Wednesday afternoon.

We arranged then to go to Disney World for two days. We stayed late there to watch the fireworks display on Thursday and returned again on Friday to the park for a few hours.

We enjoyed it very much and decided to bring our daughters on a later stage as well to the park to see it. On Friday evening we flew from Orlando to Miami. On our arrival at Miami we were informed that the flights to the UK were overbooked. We will not have a chance to get on the flight. I sat amongst all the people and Cornelia walked up and down in front of the check-in counter and prayed in tongues. She called on God to make a way where it seems there would be no way.

A family of six was speaking to the woman at the counter. There were only two seats open on the last flight to UK. This man’s wife and one child took the last two seats on the flight. He then handed his wallet to his wife and they left to go on board.

Cornelia walked closer to the man and his three children to hear what the woman at the counter said to him. She said that there were many seats available on the flight from New York to London the next day. She suggested that he should go, with the rest of his family to another counter as she would call and tell them to keep the flight for them. Cornelia overheard this conversation and waved at me to follow her. We had to run as he and his children run because the other flight already boarded and the gate would close soon.

At the next counter they were waiting for that man and his children and the woman at that counter said there was no time for Cornelia and me to talk as we wanted to buy tickets and be on the same flight. The woman said she know about "the group" and ordered us to place our luggage on the scale and get to the gate. We did not even get boarding tickets.

We got on the flight and got in our seats. They then closed the aircraft door behind us. On the flight I spoke to the man and he said that he was a pilot for BA. We got along very well. We then circled a few times at JFK airport and were then diverted to NewArk due to weather conditions. We then landed at NewArk and we as a "group" helped each other with the luggage. The man’s name was Ian. He said that we needed to get a taxi to take us to JFK.

Because we were a big "group" we needed two taxis. He then realized that he gave his wallet to his wife. I then offered to pay the taxis for the trip. He said he will return the money to us when we arrive in JFK and the BA counters opened. We arrived at the JFK airport early in the morning at around 3:00 am. All the counters were closed. Only a Pizza place was open. We continue to speak to Ian and his children were hungry so Cornelia ordered some pizza for all of us. At that stage we heard he was a pilot on the Concorde. He continued to speak about his job as a pilot for BA. We testified to him and he said at one stage that we should have met his wife and spoke to her. Cornelia said jokingly that the Lord will put us on the Concorde "just like that" and snapped her fingers as she

was a bit irritated about Ians’ boosting about the Concorde. She would rather wanted to speak about the miracle just happened as we flew without tickets and boarding passes and became part of "Ians’ group" Later on one of the children, a little girl, wanted to take a rest and Cornelia helped her to take a rest on some of the seats which were around. At 6:00 am the doors opened and there were people around at the counters. Ian then guided us to one of the counters and returned all the money which we paid for the taxis and the pizzas. At the check-in counter he asked the woman when that flight would arrive in London. He knew that we had a connecting flight to South Africa.

She said the time and he said that we are going to miss our flight. He said to the woman to wait before she checks us in and disappeared behind the counters. He later returned and said that we must move immediately to another gate as he spoke to another pilot on another flight and they have two seats left on that flight. This was on the Concorde and his close friend was the pilot. The woman then checked our luggage in. We greeted and moved to the other counter where we got our boarding tickets. We arrived at the gate and they were waiting for us and took us to the aircraft. We were welcomed at the door and got our seats. They served some refreshments and then they closed the door of the aircraft. We were treated like Royalty

Then they pushed the aircraft back and a hostess came to me and spoke to me. She said I should go to the cockpit as the pilot wants to speak to me. She then walked with me to the cockpit. The pilot and the rest of the crew welcomed me and said that I should strap myself into the seat for the take-off. The pilot said a friend of Ian is a friend of his.

They then went through the emergency checklist and asked me if I understand it. I said, yes. At this stage the aircraft was on its own power and the nose section was lowered. I could see the taxiway and then his line-up on the runway.

He then moved all the throttles and then released the brakes. We started to accelerate on the runway. I could feel the acceleration and then we lifted off. At one stage they throttled back and said to me they measure the noise level and it should be below certain limits. As soon as we reached the sea they moved the throttles forward again and also put some after burners on. This was amazing. I stayed in the cockpit for a while and was told to go back to my seat as they will serve the meal soon.

I returned to my seat. They then served the meals. We got china plates and silver cutlery, glasses. There were no meal trollies on the aircraft. The hostesses serve the passengers. On one of the walls we could see the speed and the altitude of the aircraft. I saw that we were flying at 41,000 ft and at one stage 2,0 Mach. We received some gifts on the aircraft and also a signed certificate from the pilot. We both received silver picture frames for a small photo.

Later a hostess came to me and said I can go back to the cockpit as we will descent soon for the landing in London. She accompanied me to the cockpit. I took again my seat and was told that we will land soon. The nose was still up when I arrived in the cockpit. Then they lowered the nose section and we could see clearly through the windows. I could see the runway in a distance. We were already inline with the runway.

It did not take long before we landed on the runway. I thanked the crew for the privilege to be in the cockpit during the take off and landing. It was a great experience for me, one of the greatest ever. We thanked all the hostesses for their assistance on the aircraft. The flight was 3hrs and 15 min. This was a day to remember - 26 October 1991. When we arrived in the hall we were met by BA to assist us on our next flight. We arrived long before the departure of our flight to South Africa. We later boarded our flight to South Africa the evening and arrived the next morning early in South Africa.