Rodger Pettichord Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Hi all. As part of research for a novel, I ran into a fascinating book, And Then the Engines Stopped: Flying in New Guinea, edited by R. Gerard Ward and Susan W. Serjeantson https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/128830/1/And_Then_the_Engines_Stopped.pdf. At present, it's not available in print, but the internet site has a printable PDF. This is a wonderful collection of anecdotes about people's experiences in the skies of PNG. Which reminded me of the time many years ago that a bush-pilot friend took me with him on a practicing trip into the Cascade mountains in his Piper Cub float plane. We headed up to Mt. St. Helens (still intact in those days), and shot landings on the lakes and rivers surrounding the mountain. He was a good pilot, and I still remember the experience with great fondness. And that leads to this week's topic. THIS WEEK'S MEANINGLESS TOPIC (#47): What is your most memorable real-life landing in an airplane? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradB Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 The one I had on a Cascade Airlines flight (1979) from Spokane to Yakima ; a small Beech If I remember and a gear up landing onto a foamed runway . 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosqr Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Oh when I touched down in New York City and turn my head and there it was, the One World Trade Center. Second best was the arrival in Burlington 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumbypickett Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 That would be the first time I had ever been on a plane as a kid. A boing 727-200 landing in Melbourne. From the time I took off and landed I had found my passion. cheers Gumby 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adambar Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 When I got off the plane and kissed the ground. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Q Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 Well????? 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerribleT Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 After losing one engine in a Baron 55 on takeoff from Buin airport in Bougainville District TPNG, and having completed a go round, the other engine failed over the threshold during final flare - you can bet we all kissed the ground after that one - the aircraft was at MTOW on takeoff ...... 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifejogger Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 My first flight with the Commemorative Air Force when I took off and landed in the B-17 Texas Raiders. Flew in that plane for many years as a member of the Gulf Coast Wing of the CAF. 3 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregmorin Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 As a young CFI, (1971) I had a older student go the wrong way with the controls trying to land. Thank God they rotated high. We were about 50 feet looking straight down at the runway. I snapped her to the vertical and recovered. The towers comment was " I thought you bought it that time" I then encouraged the student to think about another hobby. Greg 3 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc_Z Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 My first solo landing after the CFI turned me loose at Oxford in Connecticut. . 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sniper31 Posted July 31, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 31, 2021 My most memorable landing was being invited to sit in the cockpit of 747 during approach and landing into Shannon Airport, Ireland, on our way to a Middle East theater of conflict. It was a charter flight for the military, so the cockpit was allowed to be open and have guests at certain phases of the flight. As we were coming into Shannon, and I started to see all the runway lights, I remember thinking how surreal it all seemed. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever have such a view from the cockpit of a 747. Super cool. 8 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wain71 Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 My first flight ever..18 years old and a Infantry soldier flying to Gibraltar in a Hercules... bloody amazing.... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Q Posted August 1, 2021 Share Posted August 1, 2021 Hard to say. There were a couple of notable ones. I've not flown IRL that much, neither commercial air carrier, or private. But I guess the one that stands out is a flight with a newly minted PPL friend, Dave. We took off from Westerly, RI, and flew a nice sight seeing flight around the area. But the landing, A real greaser. Didn't feel like we were on the ground until we stopped. Plane was a Cherokee. Another was with another pilot, this time in a C172. We flew into a tiny strip in the Pocinos. It was a short and VERY narrow asphalt runway. I didn't know a plane, any plane, could land on such a tiny strip. I've since learned. Ken 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Abernathy Posted August 1, 2021 Share Posted August 1, 2021 1969 NAS Corpus Christi, TX Wheels up landing in a S2 on a foamed runway. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosqr Posted August 1, 2021 Share Posted August 1, 2021 10 hours ago, Sniper31 said: My most memorable landing was being invited to sit in the cockpit of 747 Oh boy! what a memory indeed I hope I can still have a change to at least fly in a 747 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillwater Posted August 1, 2021 Share Posted August 1, 2021 A good meaningful topic this week, causing so many great memories. And sharing them! I think for me it was the day when the 777 purser asked me "Do you want to see the landing from the cockpit?" Quite an easy decision to make. I got prepared with all my hand luggage ready for deboarding well before the Top of Descend, when I was called to get ahead. I got a little nervous when the crew instructed me how to use the oxygen mask. But with the 3rd pilot sitting next to me explaining all the details from approach planning, choice of run- and taxiways I felt perfect. The unexpected but undramatic sidestep to a parallel runway in the last minutes was just a cherry on the cake. The only disadvantage was that we were the last passengers to leave the plane then, as they all were flowing against my direction towards the hand luggage. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Aussie123 Posted August 1, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted August 1, 2021 As a RAAF photographer, I flew regularly, shooting air-to-air photography from many aircraft over quite a few years. In the back seat of our Mirage IIID fighter aircraft, the 180mph high angle of attack landings were always impressive. Experienced over 20 of those. Aussie 8 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John York Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 Thinking she would enjoy it, I persuaded Sheila to join me when I had to do a three day business trip to the Channel Isles. Going was fine as we went by sea. Problem was, when we came to come home all sea trips were cancelled due to weather in the Channel so we were offered free tickets to travel back by air. Sheila was terrified of flying due to her previous wartime experiences but we had to get back so I managed to persuade her to very reluctantly get on the 'plane. The flight was a bit bumpy and she was holding my hand. Hard. Don't know why but it seemed to calm her. However, coming into land the pilot had to abort for some reason and 'go around'. Stupidly, he said; 'Oops, sorry folks we were coming in the wrong way round!'. That did it! When we finally got off the plane and I managed to prize her hand from mine, my hand was very sore and oozing blood! I've had many business flights since but for holidays, short breaks and so on, if we couldn't go by land or sea, we didn't go! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taph Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 (edited) Been very lucky and had a number of memorable flights, coming into land at Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong and having to look up at the buildings on either side of the aircraft then seeing the end of the runway approaching with sea on three sides. My wife and I went on a shopping trip from Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides to Stornoway, she and my two children sat in the back, and I sat in the co-pilot's seat, the only other person on the flight was the pilot and the first thing he said to me was don't touch the controls or pedals Edited August 4, 2021 by Taph correct typo 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W2DR Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 The first time I touched down all on my own. I was only 16 then but I'll never forget the landing that day. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillwater Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 6 hours ago, Taph said: to Stornoway ... An Eastern Airways flight from Aberdeen to Stornoway would have been my second experience. Few paxes on the plane, full clouds until about 500 ft AGL. And very bumpy in the clouds, too. Suddenly we dropped down and the water seemed to be directly left and right of me. Jumped up and we were back in the cloud. Jumped down and back "in" the water - still no runway in sight. But I knew that pilot would do the flight more than daily, so I trusted them fully. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W2DR Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 (edited) My second has to be my only flight into Kai Tak. That was over 40 years ago now but I'll never forget the approach on the Rwy 13 IGS. It was about midnight when we landed and I have no words to describe the incredible views on that that landing. I feel so lucky to have had the experience of being there. I'll never get back to Hong Kong again but it really doesn't matter as it could never be the same. Life is good. Edited August 4, 2021 by W2DR kant spel 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renault Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 (edited) Almost close to 50 yrs ago when we made our first trip to the UK. Landed at Gatwick. I couldn't believe that such a wonderful, beautiful place existed. Loved it on the first visit and still feel the same way. As W2DR @W2DR said "Life is good" . We have so much to be appreciative of. Cheers Edited August 4, 2021 by renault 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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