The cockpit of a Boeing 314
Posted on 05/11/2018 5:53:26 PM PDT by Flick Lives
Just as the flying boat seemed about to hit the gorges he gave one final, desperate, heave on the yoke and she finally broke a few inches free from the water. The California Clipper flew forward over the rim of the gorge. Without the benefit of the ground effect that had allowed her to break free of the surface, she immediately plunged down into the rocky defile below, curving out just above the water once again.
The plane was now racing along just a few feet above the water through the narrow rock walls of the Congo valley.
With her engines still red-lining, the California Clipper screamed in agony. 100… 110… 120.. 130… every second at full power was an extra inch of height, but it was also a step closer to critical failure.
“Rate of climb ten feet a minute!” Mack shouted over the sound of the aircraft’s distress, his eyes locked on the dials in front of him. “Mack!” Ford shouted to his co-pilot. “Turn ahead!”
Ford’s eyes had remained firmly focused forward and he’d spotted that the canyon they were flying down was about to make a shallow turn. They wouldn’t clear it before they got there.
“Roger!” Mack cried, “We’re still marginal for a stall but we can bank!” Ford nodded and waited for the point at which he’d need to begin a gradual turn. Then, to his horror, he discovered that the controls wouldn’t respond.
(Excerpt) Read more at medium.com ...
A completely remarkable story. Not much to add to that statement.
I will definitely take the time to read the story. Good post
Being an aviation buff and history buff, I thought this was a fascinating story. It read like one of those serialized adventure TV shows.
Bkmk.
BTTP
bfl
Fantastic story, and thanks for posting. A Bump To The Top!
One remarkable thing about the whole saga (to me) is the whole notion of putting yourself in the minds of the pilots & crew. I guess they had a list of airports/refueling stops they could go to. I assume they had good navigation tools of the day; however primitive those might seem to us today. And a functioning radio. As I read this story about a month ago, I think they had about 5% of the money they would need to buy the fuel they would need. I guess it just wasn’t the thing to do for an unfriendly nation to hold a giant plane like that hostage for a giant payment from Pan Am.
So here they were, kind of setting off on an incredibly lengthy journey without knowing how they would get through it, without knowing whether the plane was in good enough shape to make such a journey, and certainly knowing that they didn’t have the money to buy the fuel they would need at their various stops. There’s something mythical about the whole thing when you consider the impossibilities they had to sit with for several days without knowing whether they’d come out the other end of the pipe.
Bookmark
The cockpit of a Boeing 314
Astounding story of the providential grace of God., even if He is not mentioned, and with a manner of men and equipment that seems rare today. Thanks for positing the account.
Thanks. Riveting story.
Did he put on his cowboy hat?
There’s something mythical about the whole thing when you consider the impossibilities they had to sit with for several days without knowing whether they’d come out the other end of the pipe.
—
It is the very stuff of myth. A dangerous journey into the unknown. Man and his machines against the elements.
Finally, Ford unlocked his flight case and pulled out his .38 revolver. He strapped it to his hip.
Did he put on his cowboy hat?
—
Lol!
“Survival kit contents check. In them you’ll find: one forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days’ concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings. Shoot, a fella’ could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.”
Bookmark.
Seems like I once read that the original script used "Dallas" rather than "Vegas." After Kennedy was assasinated, they dubbed over that part...
Wow great story. Thank you for posting.
Almost incredible story. I read it on line nonstop, and ordered the kindle version from Amazon.
I have been a rabid aviation buff since I was a kid. I do not remember even the slightest hint of this epic flight.
The first round the world flight by a commercial airliner!
In 1942.
There so many things not answered; too numerous to mention.
To begin with, were the wings on that monster thick enough to service the plane during flight?
And we can go from there.
One incredible point I had never even thought about, although I am effectively a STEM educated engineer, and even obtained my student license in Super Cub, the ground effect and surface tension forces on the biggest commercial flying boat ever, must be humongous.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.