One last point I would like to make: does anyone remember the Canadian 767 that became a glider? They made the same scenario for 10 crews on a flight sim and they all failed. My point is... not everyone is capable of that kind of flying regardless of experience. Was it luck? maybe so
It was luck! It was extremely good luck that the Captain, Bob Pearson, happened to also be a very experienced glider pilot and that the acting First Officer, Maurice Quintal, had done his Air Force training out of Gimli and remembered that Gimli existed.