WIFE: SULLY'S A 'PILOT'S PILOT' Praise pours in for former Air Force ace

New York Post ^ | 1-16-09 | Pia Sarker, Tom Liddy, Jeremy Olshan

[444Flyer]

The wife of the pilot who safely landed a crippled jetliner in the Hudson river says her husband is a "a pilot's pilot" who "loves the art of the airplane."

[444Flyer]

God Bless the Sullenberger family.

[smokingfrog]

certified glider pilot — I’ll say!

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

I think the word is overused these days, but Chesley Sullenberger definitely deserves the title of hero. As do all the boat pilots on the Hudson who helped rescue the passengers and crew.

[I see my hands]

I wonder what Joe The Hero Pilot thinks about spreading the wealth.

[444Flyer]

(Side note: who would ever guess a good ole’ USAF ace would steal all of 0’s pre-inaugural thunder with his act of selflessness and bravery. This man is a true American hero.)

[ASOC]

Hero, yes

Zoomie - you betcha

ace? Not hardley. The good ‘Sully’ graduated from the AFA in 73, too late for service in Vietnam.

VIETNAM ACES

6 Charles D Bellevue, Capt USAF (non-pilot)
5 Randall Cunningham, USN
5 William Driscoll, USN (non-pilot)
5 Jeffery S Feinstein, Capt USAF (non-pilot)
5 Richard S Ritchie, Capt USAF

aces, words mean things - at least to some of us. No knock on the pilot - just the “reporter”

[LibFreeOrDie]

Video: Flight simulator - landing a plane in the Hudson River

http://www.wmur.com/video/18498953/index.html

[truemiester]

Instead of ‘non-pilot’ the term the Navy uses is RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) and the Air Force is WSO (Weapon Systems Officer). More generally (and somewhat derogatory) is GIB (Guy In Back).

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

IIRC, it’s derogatory in part because a gib is a neutered tomcat.

[ASOC]

Yup, spent years on the Nellis Rage potting F015, F4, A7 and the like with SAM simulators.

That was back before the Air Force had gotten all eat up with the PC disease.... I was lucky enuf to work with Robin Olds and some of the real Red River Rats - Thud drivers are sooooo strange.

[truemiester]

WOW! Hats off to you. Robin Olds was a fighter pilots fighter pilot. Even in Intel school int eh 1980’s we studied Operation Bolo.

I worked with an SA-8 ‘stim-ulator’ (during and exercise) when I was with an F-4 unit. I will say the RF-4s flew the wings off their aircraft and we never got a shot off. Did shoot down 2 f-15. Must not have been paying attention or FNG’s.

[ikka]

ACTUAL CONTRAST BETWEEN AMERICANS AND OTHERS:

USA: plane goes down in Hudson, pilot does not leave plane until all are accounted for.

PHILIPPINES: plane goes down in warm tropical waters, pilots and flight crew are OUT of the plane before any of the passengers.

[oprahstheantichrist]

"Michael Savage, a millionaire New York businessman, has even offered to take Sullenberger to Barack Obama's presidential inauguration as his guest. "

[jblair]

I have to agree. Words do mean things.

[nutmeg]

bookmark

[HardStarboard]

Savage had got it backwards. It would be more appropriate for Obama to attend "Scully's" inauguration - the guy has real world experience, has proven himself and is a patriot.

.....the only thing Obama can fly is a Teleprompter.

[ASOC]

Seems that today that is a rather open issue - esp with the press.

It may just be a bad education, or a deliberate move.

Real Aces are rare, - hence my fuss. The gentleman is an USAF vet and look to be the original class act - just the kind of folks I love to work with.

And so rare these days.

[notaliberal]

Was there a co-pilot? I’ve not heard a word about a co-pilot.

[Traveler59]

Thud drivers are sooooo strange.

Heh, my first supervisor was a crew chief on Thud's. I once accused him of standing in front of the pods one too many times. He didn't see the humor in that statement and I ended up mopping and buffing for the next week (sigh).

- Traveler

[DuncanWaring]

Of course there was a co-pilot. They’re legally required for commercial airline operation.

From the article:

“Sullenberger’s co-pilot was Jeff Skiles, 49, of Oregon, Wis., a 23-year US Airways veteran. “