Re: Were going in the Hudson

On Feb 6, 8:10 am, "Allan Smith" <guess...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Mark,

Sullenberger is one of only two pilots to ditch a jet airctraft and have all
passengers survive. Last time was 1963 in a Russian aircraft that had the
engines built into the wings instead of hanging below them.

There aren't that many attempted water ditchings, and even fewer
where the crosswind component and strategic line of descent
happen to be in favorable circumstances.

As the clip shows, he flared-to-stall and put the tail in first. That acted
as a drag-rudder to prevent the deadly cartwheel that usually happens when
the fist engine hits the water. It is definately not per-the-manual, but it
worked, and an engine was ripped from the plane instead of the plane being
ripped apart.

Precisely, he employed the typical flare-to-stall technique which is
piloting 101 for landing a plane. In this instance, he timed the
moment
of impact and pulled the yoke all the way back to get a 'tail drag'.
Not exactly a hero kind of thing. Just doing his job.

That's what pilots do. They fly planes.

Not like Sullenberger did. Compared to controlled collision with the surface
without power, flying them is easy.

A fifth grader can sit behind the controls at steady and level
flight. To take off and land is what all those hours and thousands
of dollars pay for. It's an acquired skill, and honestly, I'm pretty
sure Sullenberger feels the same way I do.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm happy for him and all the survivors,
and their grateful families. My comment is that the concept of
hero is thrown around much too often. I mean, what other
choice did he have?

Now, on the other hand, if he had somehow volunteered from
a position of safety to be "teather dropped" onto the disabled
plane, and deliberately risked his life when he didn't have to,
then yes, I would call him a hero.

Since that is impossible anyway, I will stand by my position
that he is an experienced pilot that didn't choke under pressure.
In other words, he earned his Friday paycheck.

I heard on the news that his success is rewriting the manual for all pilots
having to ditch.

That would be anchor desk hyperbole.

---
Mark
"The minority position"






Allan

--
One asks, many answer, all learn -- Plato, on the 'Forum
---
True civility is when every one gives to every other one every right
 that they claim for themselves.

"Mark" <blueriver...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:d72c0d5e-c9d4-4928-8748-84247f603e0f@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Feb 5, 10:58 pm, Dave Head <rally...@xxxxxxx> wrote:



I have been in awe of Capt. Sullenburger ever since this happened. Most
people
can only dream of being that competent at _anything_. I mean, not one
mistake.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

.

Relevant Pages

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  • Re: Were going in the Hudson
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