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Post by countrygal on Jan 15, 2009 16:10:49 GMT -5
A plane crashed into the Hudson. The more I watch and think about it, those pilots did one heck of a job. I think they had time to figure out where to crash and they picked the river. If they had crashed anywhere else, people on the ground would have been killed!! We'll have to wait for more info.
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Post by Clipper on Jan 15, 2009 16:16:01 GMT -5
Amazing, it is now being said that everyone on the aircraft has escaped without serious injury, and all have been rescued. It is truly a miraculous thing, and the pilot is a true hero.
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Post by dgriffin on Jan 15, 2009 18:51:21 GMT -5
The pilot had very little time to make a decision, according to the report I just watched. What a mafnificent landing in the water! To get it down and keep it in one piece, with the nose up almost to a stall so that the plane would continue to float. What a terrific job! But he had an "angel on his shoulder," too. Another commercial pilot who flies out of LaGuardia said that had the flight not been on Runway 4, it would not have been positioned to make the river and instead, the pilot would have had to opt for finding an open spot in New Jersey, which is loaded with shopping malls and commuter traffic.
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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 15, 2009 19:37:02 GMT -5
That pilot is some hero. God bless him, his co-pilot and all the attendants. Fantastic job!!!!!!! So happy I'm flying Us Air in March with pilots as that. They're saying the plane fuel helped to keep the plane afloat so all could get off safely.
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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 15, 2009 20:42:34 GMT -5
just heard the pilot was also a glider instructor. WOW!!!! If those passengers didn't luck out getting him as their pilot today. ;D
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Post by frankcor on Jan 15, 2009 23:48:09 GMT -5
Do you suppose there will be an extra charge for using the life rafts?
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Post by denise on Jan 16, 2009 9:57:56 GMT -5
US Airways is lucky to have such a skilled pilot.
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Post by Clipper on Jan 16, 2009 10:04:30 GMT -5
I think there was THREE pilots in that cockpit! They definitely had an extra copilot guiding the hands of the captain. It was said on the Today Show this morning, that no one else has successfully ditched a jetliner without fatalities or serious injuries.
That pilot really had his stuff together to be able to glide that aircraft to the river, flare the nose, and set it down without dipping a wing to cause cartwheeling. Remarkable piece of flying. There is obviously no substitute for experience.
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Post by dgriffin on Jan 16, 2009 11:05:41 GMT -5
There is obviously no substitute for experience. We should think of that the next time we see some old fart with wings on his cap enter the cockpit, instead of, "I hope that old captain doesn't have a heart attack as we lift off."
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Post by Clipper on Jan 16, 2009 11:16:48 GMT -5
He is a former F-4 pilot. Those things were like a rock if they flamed out. NO GLIDING OPTION with an F-4, haha.
It really is amazing the the pilot was able to keep that aircraft at an attitude that allowed it to land without dipping a wing and breaking up. It would have been a whole different picture, had the wings broken off or the fuselage had broken in two. It was a great piece of flying to glide the aircraft to a safe landing, nose up, without stalling and falling straight down, uncontrolled.
The space shuttle lands "dead stick" but it is designed and engineered to do so. Airliners aren't meant to land without power. I guess I appreciate the gravity of his skill a little more, having worked for the Air Force as a crash firefighter for several years. Pilots are highly trained, highly skilled individuals. I stood by once for an inflight emergency at Griffiss, while a 26 year old, female Navy Lt. made a "gear up" landing with a C-130. She flared the aircraft, just as this pilot did, and landed straight as an arrow, right on the centerline of the runway. Her skill protected the lives of a crew of 6 or 7. The US Air pilot's skill saved the lives of over 150. God bless him.
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Post by lucy on Jan 16, 2009 15:08:42 GMT -5
Could you imagine catching another flight after having a crash like that?
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Post by Clipper on Jan 16, 2009 16:09:10 GMT -5
Well, given the statistics, I always felt safe on an aircraft. The number of crashes and incidents involving commercial airliners, compared to other modes of transportation is actually quite low. When our time comes, we are going to die, whether we are on a jet airplane, or a carousel horse at Sylvan Beach.
I watched a television interview today with one of the woman passengers. Her husband and sons were flying from Charlotte to NYC to meet her, and to drive home to Charlotte in a rental car. They aren't afraid to fly, but she is keeping her feet on the ground. I don't blame her for that I guess.
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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 16, 2009 19:31:32 GMT -5
I'd still be more afraid of a car trip then a plane trip. Either way it's just like falling off a horse and getting right back up on it. Been in three bad car accidents and still here and driving. ;D
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Post by corner on Jan 16, 2009 21:55:21 GMT -5
god bless all involved and the terrific rspnse from fire police and civilain ferrys,,, both engines gone remarkable flying clipper is right you cant beat experience when i flew to vegas in oct tone of the pilots on four flights was a female who i would have guessed to be all of 28,
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Post by corner on Jan 16, 2009 22:03:50 GMT -5
looking a plane tickets now for august prices are up 30 bucks from last weekend should have bout them then anyone notice gas prices creeeping up looks like our allies in the middle east are porking us again
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