Twice for me. First was a Reno Air MD-80 out of SJC. We lined up and started the T/O roll to the north. About the time we hit the "big bump" (SJC flyers know what I'm talking about), a really bad vibration built up and the PF shut us down before Vr. As we we exiting the aircraft, I quietly said to the Captain at the door "nosewheel shimmy damper?" and he kinda smiled and said "yup". All in all a non-event.

Second was more fun with an RTO. It was on an ATR out of Key West on AA. Probably just before Vr we had the brakes slam on and heavy reverse pitch on the props. We stopped real quickly (seat belts are great things) and pulled off the runway and shut down. I told my wife to expect a strong smell of hot rubber and brakes and a visit from the red trucks with the blinking lights. Also, we would need alternate transportation to MIA real soon. The cockpit crew came on the PA and gave a really good heads up about what happened (warning light), why we were sitting (really hot brakes) and why fire/rescue was coming out (in case of a brake/tire fire). After about 20 minutes, we were able to taxi back to the terminal and re-book.

Had one way back in 99 or 2000..... aborted after the fact....

Taking off from IAD enroute to LAX, in the climbout, lightning strikes the fuselage directly above my seat - bulkhead, first class, starboard window.... sparks popping around the outside (can't remember the physics as to why, but it always happens)... even sparks on the inside....

The aircraft seemed to pause for a millisecond.... almost suspended in air - not really what I would call moving forward.... or so it seemed....

I would have thought you would have heard screams... rather, you could have heard a pin drop.... kind of a stunned silence... one of those "so this is where I am going to buy it" moments....

After a few moments, the captain comes on say "As you probably guessed, we just got struck by lightning... and all of the systems seem to check out... but it is a long way to go to Los Angeles.... so I am going to put it back down and we will take another plane to LA.... unfortunately, ATC can not get us back into Dulles, so we are going to have to put down at National..." (I suspect there was more of a problem than he let on...)

I will have to say that a fully loaded 757, full of fuel... landing at National... was... an experience.... to say that the nose was digging a trench in the runway is an understatement....

I looked at the burn mark on the skin, about 2 feet from my head....

Funny thing is that during the 3 hour wait for another plane, some of the passengers started loudly complaining....

I reminded them that it is a good thing that the pilot did what he did so that you would still be capable of complaining.... geeez....

That was one of those... make a diamond out of coal.... moments....