Amazing Man
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Amazing Man
Anyone watching C4 at the moment? A 77 year old gentleman who finds himself alone in a Cessna, at night, when his pilot died at the controls.
Incredible.
Incredible.
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Amazing Man
I've watched that program, wow he is lucky.
Incapacitated pilot, having to fly in the dark, not knowing where the cabin lights are, not seeing the instruments yet managing a divert in the dark, keeping up RT all the way, then stalling the a/c with a left wing drop into a spin, managing to recover into a climb.
If things couldn't have gone worse for him, he managed to spot a PAPI system. Then on final recovers from a potential short landing, executes a go around, then lands.
All of this in the dark.
He is one lucky (not a pilot) guy.
Incapacitated pilot, having to fly in the dark, not knowing where the cabin lights are, not seeing the instruments yet managing a divert in the dark, keeping up RT all the way, then stalling the a/c with a left wing drop into a spin, managing to recover into a climb.
If things couldn't have gone worse for him, he managed to spot a PAPI system. Then on final recovers from a potential short landing, executes a go around, then lands.
All of this in the dark.
He is one lucky (not a pilot) guy.
A good prog - similar to the old BBC '999' style programs I thought? I loved the 'can-do' attitude of the guy in question - especially recovering from a possible wing-drop/stall at some point. He seemed to have absorbed a fair bit of 'airmanship' during his 22 years in the RAF (did I hear he was a scribbly?). It would be nice to know if he had managed to get a 'air experience flight' in his time in the mob that subsequently helped him out. We were always happy to take the ground based boys and girls along on our trips - especially gratifiying if one day it could help save their lives. Good job by the Sar crew as well - knowing when to chip in with suggestions is a real art - Rick was always good at the crew co-op stuff in his former role as well.
John is my friend. I fly from Sandtoft.
I was the first person to take john for a fly from Sandtoft when he became a social member in 2010. I have also taken him flying since that incident.
John is a very nice likeable gentleman. He did an excellent job in landing the aircraft in difficult conditions(the dark).
Also the coincidence is that the air loadmasters Rick, is an old acquaintance from the 90's, my gliding days, I knew him through "Civ" my brother at Cosford.
The program told the story well without the Hollywood over dramatic add ins that sometime creeps.
Well done john!
Trevor.
I was the first person to take john for a fly from Sandtoft when he became a social member in 2010. I have also taken him flying since that incident.
John is a very nice likeable gentleman. He did an excellent job in landing the aircraft in difficult conditions(the dark).
Also the coincidence is that the air loadmasters Rick, is an old acquaintance from the 90's, my gliding days, I knew him through "Civ" my brother at Cosford.
The program told the story well without the Hollywood over dramatic add ins that sometime creeps.
Well done john!
Trevor.
think Rick will be giving you a call about your brevet recognition 
- he is (well, used to be 
) an Air Electronics Operator (AEOp) - known on the SeaKing as the Winch Operator. The Air Load Master (ALM) is generally the Winchman although I believe some role swapping does go on? (not my aircraft type so cannot say for certain).
- he is (well, used to be ) an Air Electronics Operator (AEOp) - known on the SeaKing as the Winch Operator. The Air Load Master (ALM) is generally the Winchman although I believe some role swapping does go on? (not my aircraft type so cannot say for certain).
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Saw him being interviewed on Breakfast TV. Good sense of humour "What do you do"...Retired. "What did you do?" As little as possible.
The presenter asked what his badge was (veterans) and then asked whihc service. When he said RAF, the presenter said "Ah RAF", as if everyone in the RAF knew how to fly.
The presenter asked what his badge was (veterans) and then asked whihc service. When he said RAF, the presenter said "Ah RAF", as if everyone in the RAF knew how to fly.
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Also the coincidence is that the air loadmasters Rick, is an old acquaintance from the 90's, my gliding days, I knew him through "Civ" my brother at Cosford.
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You'll not believe this mate, he taught me how to fly gliders! Had no idea he was your brother, should have guessed with the surname. Had my first flight with him 5/5/91.
thing
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You'll not believe this mate, he taught me how to fly gliders! Had no idea he was your brother, should have guessed with the surname. Had my first flight with him 5/5/91.
Yup! That's him. See ya soon.
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You'll not believe this mate, he taught me how to fly gliders! Had no idea he was your brother, should have guessed with the surname. Had my first flight with him 5/5/91.
Yup! That's him. See ya soon.
4Greens
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Got a feeling it would have been better to have had him landing back at base. It was still daylight. Led anyway to a great effort.
Have you ever been to Sandtoft? Runway is smaller and narrower than the first unlit runway at humberside they tried to land john on!.
If you listened to the program, before the pilot passed away, he was receiving a service from humberside, john didn't know how to change channels on the radio, so humberside bought him over to them as they had a radar they could see him on & could give him the assitance he needed.
Sandtoft is just a radio service only.
Also too many obstacles on the approach at Sandtoft before the displaced threshold for john to attempt to land having never landed a plane before.
I think john did a great job given the circumstances he was placed in. He's always watching what we as pilots do when we take him flying, which turned out to be a good thing as his radio work on the night was better than most weekend GA pilots I hear!
Trevor
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Got a feeling it would have been better to have had him landing back at base. It was still daylight. Led anyway to a great effort.
Have you ever been to Sandtoft? Runway is smaller and narrower than the first unlit runway at humberside they tried to land john on!.
If you listened to the program, before the pilot passed away, he was receiving a service from humberside, john didn't know how to change channels on the radio, so humberside bought him over to them as they had a radar they could see him on & could give him the assitance he needed.
Sandtoft is just a radio service only.
Also too many obstacles on the approach at Sandtoft before the displaced threshold for john to attempt to land having never landed a plane before.
I think john did a great job given the circumstances he was placed in. He's always watching what we as pilots do when we take him flying, which turned out to be a good thing as his radio work on the night was better than most weekend GA pilots I hear!
Trevor
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Recorded it, watched it tonight - had me on the edge of my chair ! John did a wonderful job, but he was damned lucky all the same. When you think of all the ways in which it might have gone wrong, the hair rises on the back of your neck !
Churlish to cavil, and I've been away from the cockpit for nearly 60 years, and maybe I'm missing something. But why not fly the helicopter down a 3º approach at correct Cessna speed and ask John to stay with it (no, I don't mean formation , but say 50 yards out). Chopper stands off 50 yards to the side of centre line, says "all yours, John" as the threshold comes up. (I'd say safer than telling a chap with no ASI visible "more throttle, less throttle" - might have stalled and gone in !)
Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing ! Danny.
Churlish to cavil, and I've been away from the cockpit for nearly 60 years, and maybe I'm missing something. But why not fly the helicopter down a 3º approach at correct Cessna speed and ask John to stay with it (no, I don't mean formation , but say 50 yards out). Chopper stands off 50 yards to the side of centre line, says "all yours, John" as the threshold comes up. (I'd say safer than telling a chap with no ASI visible "more throttle, less throttle" - might have stalled and gone in !)
Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing ! Danny.
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Danny, I too watched the programme and thought what a wonderful job John did in getting the aircraft down safely.
Rather than him fly formation on the helicopter, I did wonder why the helicopter pilot did not fly loose formation on him. As a military pilot she was trained in formation flying and being equipped with Night Vision Goggles and FLIR was ideally placed. It would have been easier to sit slightly behind and give directions laterally, vertically and in speed.
Only a thought. Reminds me of those shadow/shepherd exercises we used to perform. In this case possibly easier for a Seaking than a Typhoon.
Rather than him fly formation on the helicopter, I did wonder why the helicopter pilot did not fly loose formation on him. As a military pilot she was trained in formation flying and being equipped with Night Vision Goggles and FLIR was ideally placed. It would have been easier to sit slightly behind and give directions laterally, vertically and in speed.
Only a thought. Reminds me of those shadow/shepherd exercises we used to perform. In this case possibly easier for a Seaking than a Typhoon.
