Ernest K Gann
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Compulsory reading
But surely if it was complusory reading for IR students it would take away the surprise element of lighting matches under their noses on finals.....
Taff
Taff
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Location: It wasn't me, I wasn't there, wrong country ;-)
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Ernist K. Gann
Not dead, the name is the spirit within all aviation loving folks, be they pilots, engineers, dispacthers, loaders, ramp tramps, gas pumpers ! Hey even those folks (nice folks) at the FBO who charge 4.47 USG ITP for JetA1
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Still feel its the best book about civil aviation ever written. Still don't like the title. It implies that fate did the damage. Not true it was early days,early experience, dodgy engines, systems and so forth. Gann survived because he was good. He did himself a disservice.
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Good....... and lucky.
Good, because he was able to keep his 1-engined DC4 out of the waters of the Flushing River, but lucky the plugs had only been changed on three engines.
Good, because he got his aircraft and pax on the ground in one piece at Stevensville, but lucky to find the 'sucker hole'.
Fate? Whatever, this thread has prompted me to read it again.
Taff
Good, because he got his aircraft and pax on the ground in one piece at Stevensville, but lucky to find the 'sucker hole'.
Fate? Whatever, this thread has prompted me to read it again.
Taff
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Perhaps the survival of crew and pax in Gann's day was a function not only of fate, but of sufficient training / planning to be aware of "sucker holes" and the like, and take advantage of them when necessary. 
Really impressed with the navigation skills required of pilots in those days. I like the bit where he goes to the astrodome to do a few shots which he then calculates and plots himself. How many could still do that in these days of GPS etc?
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Remember the Duke
Are many of you old enough to recall that John Wayne starred in The High and the Mighty? The Duke was his goldarn normal wooden self but I can still hum the theme tune as played by Les Baxter and Chorus, as a matter of fact I may not be able to stop humming it.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Thread Starter
I've just watched the film "Fate is the Hunter". Not a bad film for its era, but how it can claim to be based on the book is beyond me. Unless you can claim significant co-incidences. BTW, if you want to watch James Stewart play a pilot, I can recommend "Strategic Air Command". Worth it for the aircraft shots alone; and he does play the part well. Watch for the Freudian slip he makes, which is not picked up by the director.
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BTW, if you want to watch James Stewart play a pilot, I can recommend "Strategic Air Command".
Herod,
Bg. Gen. James Stewart didn't "play" a pilot. He was one. He flew B-12's, B-24's, B-36's and B-47's to name a few. What have you flown?
C2j
Herod,
Bg. Gen. James Stewart didn't "play" a pilot. He was one. He flew B-12's, B-24's, B-36's and B-47's to name a few. What have you flown?
C2j
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Per a former post 'Song Of The Sirens' is a wonderful read for those who like sailing and adventure.
Amazon.com: Song of the Sirens (9781574090925): Ernest K. Gann: Books: Reviews, Prices & more
For those who have seen the movie 'White Squall', also highly recommended - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Squall_(film)
this was the brig that Gann writes of in Song of the Sirens.
Amazon.com: Song of the Sirens (9781574090925): Ernest K. Gann: Books: Reviews, Prices & more
For those who have seen the movie 'White Squall', also highly recommended - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Squall_(film)
this was the brig that Gann writes of in Song of the Sirens.
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Re: Fate is the Hunter (film)
Quote
I've just watched the film "Fate is the Hunter". Not a bad film for its era, but how it can claim to be based on the book is beyond me. Unless you can claim significant co-incidences. BTW, if you want to watch James Stewart play a pilot, I can recommend "Strategic Air Command". Worth it for the aircraft shots alone; and he does play the part well. Watch for the Freudian slip he makes, which is not picked up by the director.
Unquote
Here's the wikipedia entry:
Fate Is the Hunter (film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gann wasn't happy with the results...
I've just watched the film "Fate is the Hunter". Not a bad film for its era, but how it can claim to be based on the book is beyond me. Unless you can claim significant co-incidences. BTW, if you want to watch James Stewart play a pilot, I can recommend "Strategic Air Command". Worth it for the aircraft shots alone; and he does play the part well. Watch for the Freudian slip he makes, which is not picked up by the director.
Unquote
Here's the wikipedia entry:
Fate Is the Hunter (film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gann wasn't happy with the results...