Wow. What an experience!

Last October I was flying IAH-EWR on a Continental DC10 with my family. Before take off the pilots invited my son (4 years old) into the cockpit, put him in the left seat, raised it all the way up, put on a pilots cap and let him touch all the buttons and play with the controls. They helped him press the "right" buttons so you would hear "Pull Up Pull Up" with those whooping sirens in the background. It was very exciting for him and me and I videotaped it so we can look back and enjoy it when he is older. I guess that is the best experience one can have in the USA, but I'm not complaining. But eastwest, your experience makes all of us jealous. Thanks for the great post!