Now there was an Aviator
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Ian Harvey.
Maybe off the thread a little, but like many who joined BEA in the '60s & '70s, I was trained by Ian on the Trident. What a thoroughly modest guy! We flew together for 20 or so sectors plus lots of nightstops and yet he never once mentioned the Viking bomb, Dunkirk, the George Medal or any of his war experiences. Interestingly enough, this was the time of the Vietnam War and many of my generation held strongly pacifist opinions, so stories of flying Lancs & bombing the hell out of Northern Germany were not often heard. That said, they all wore their medals with pride.
Maybe off the thread a little, but like many who joined BEA in the '60s & '70s, I was trained by Ian on the Trident. What a thoroughly modest guy! We flew together for 20 or so sectors plus lots of nightstops and yet he never once mentioned the Viking bomb, Dunkirk, the George Medal or any of his war experiences. Interestingly enough, this was the time of the Vietnam War and many of my generation held strongly pacifist opinions, so stories of flying Lancs & bombing the hell out of Northern Germany were not often heard. That said, they all wore their medals with pride.
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Just a little postscript to this.
I read earlier this year the in the Telegraph an additional article on the Viking incident as papers relating to it became available under the Freedom of Information Act.
Apparently there were only relatively few people on board; one or two were diplomats, one of whom may have been carrying some sensitive documents.
However, main suspicion fell on the last man to use the toilet, who it turns out was a Frenchman with a criminal record who had clocked up some rather large debts. More to the point, he had recently insured himself for a sum large enough to cover these debts, and more...
Unfortunately I can't remember how the article concluded but I assume that there were no charges brought against this man due to lack of evidence.
The other interesting thing is that I cannot find any reference to the article in the Telegraph web site - I think it would have been towards the end of January this year.
I read earlier this year the in the Telegraph an additional article on the Viking incident as papers relating to it became available under the Freedom of Information Act.
Apparently there were only relatively few people on board; one or two were diplomats, one of whom may have been carrying some sensitive documents.
However, main suspicion fell on the last man to use the toilet, who it turns out was a Frenchman with a criminal record who had clocked up some rather large debts. More to the point, he had recently insured himself for a sum large enough to cover these debts, and more...
Unfortunately I can't remember how the article concluded but I assume that there were no charges brought against this man due to lack of evidence.
The other interesting thing is that I cannot find any reference to the article in the Telegraph web site - I think it would have been towards the end of January this year.
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Yeah that's the one, thanks.
What an incredible story. Whatever anyone says, it has to be a wonderful testimony to Captain Harvey's airmanship that he and his crew were able to bring the aircraft down safely under those circumstances.
One thing I really don't understand about it though: why not just head for the nearest safe landing spot? Apparently they nursed the Viking all the way back from the French coast to Northolt. Surely there must have been a more suitable point to put it down?
What an incredible story. Whatever anyone says, it has to be a wonderful testimony to Captain Harvey's airmanship that he and his crew were able to bring the aircraft down safely under those circumstances.
One thing I really don't understand about it though: why not just head for the nearest safe landing spot? Apparently they nursed the Viking all the way back from the French coast to Northolt. Surely there must have been a more suitable point to put it down?
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Xeque
Look at the thread linked below and see what you think.
You'll find a full description of what happened and how a modern "man in the left hand seat up front" handled the situation in a post dated 28 October 2004.
Click here
"Blow two, 8 foot by 5 foot holes in one of todays airliners and then ask yourself whether you really believe that the man in the left hand seat up front really has the experience to handle the situation."
You'll find a full description of what happened and how a modern "man in the left hand seat up front" handled the situation in a post dated 28 October 2004.
Click here
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I raise my cap to Capt. Harvey and his FO, the Sioux City DC10 crew, the DHL A300 crew and to all others who have had to go through something like this and come out safely.
There will definetly be scenarios in aviation that will defy all imagination and as someone has already mentioned in this thread, it all boils down to basic flying skills. The chap in the left had seat is put there not for the fun of it, but because he/she has proved that he/she has got what it takes to be there.
Kudos again to all our heros!
There will definetly be scenarios in aviation that will defy all imagination and as someone has already mentioned in this thread, it all boils down to basic flying skills. The chap in the left had seat is put there not for the fun of it, but because he/she has proved that he/she has got what it takes to be there.
Kudos again to all our heros!
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A Job well done! As were the others mentioned above.
Planecrazi,
age 83, 1950 : Captain's age at incident :28!!!!!!!!!
He was NOT "old", we have no info as to "bold".
He certainly was skillfull. [and at that age probably learnt his craft in the war]
Planecrazi,
age 83, 1950 : Captain's age at incident :28!!!!!!!!!
He was NOT "old", we have no info as to "bold".
He certainly was skillfull. [and at that age probably learnt his craft in the war]
Cunning Artificer
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The Captain of Aloha 243 was hot stuff too, even though he was just an ordinary everyday pilot guy. You don't lose eighteen feet of fuselage every day, after all.
The young lady copilot did pretty well too, and she lived to make it to Captain herself these days.
Nope, I reckon pilots are still pilots, whatever generation they come from.
The young lady copilot did pretty well too, and she lived to make it to Captain herself these days.
Nope, I reckon pilots are still pilots, whatever generation they come from.
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I suppose the bottom line you just don't know if a situation is retreivable 'till it's happened - a lot will depend on luck. Sim sessions will allow practice of flight with inop or jammed controls and failed systems, but can't replicate the effects of physical damage (a door wrapped around the tailplane, or the aerodynamic effects of a damaged fuselage or wing and the resulting disrupted airflow).
But as others have said, I think the DHL incident demonstrated that Captain Harvey's 'right stuff' is still around. And remember the Emarald Airways 748 engine fire a while back with a football team on board? The drill said to take the failure into the air - the experienced captain judged it would be safer to keep it on the ground. Chances are that if he'd taken it into the air they would not have survived.
SSD
But as others have said, I think the DHL incident demonstrated that Captain Harvey's 'right stuff' is still around. And remember the Emarald Airways 748 engine fire a while back with a football team on board? The drill said to take the failure into the air - the experienced captain judged it would be safer to keep it on the ground. Chances are that if he'd taken it into the air they would not have survived.
SSD
