Posted on 07/12/2009 10:56:26 AM PDT by thecodont
Tuskeegee Airmen!...
That's why I get hopped up about stories such as this. The flying public is frightened enough about flying (mostly because of what they don't understand) without mis-information and innuendo...you'd think that the "Hudson Hydroplane" incident would lay to rest the commonly held belief that "when the engine(s) quit airplanes fall out of the sky" but even threads here discussing it had those who think that "the airplane landed on it's own with God's help"... when actually "yes Marge airplanes do glide quite nicely with no power.." should have been the final realization...
Mark my words some F-16 jock will reprimand me for saying that because an F-16 sans power glides like a greased anvil...ya just can't win!
There was an incident a number of years ago where a pressurized Mooney had an engine out near the middle of the Sierra Nevadas, and landed at Merced (almost 60 miles away). Of course, Mooneys glide well, and the pilot had plenty of altitude, but he actually passed up a couple of closer airports, because he knew he could reach one that had a bigger runway, and services. He wasn't worried, and simply landed where it was most convenient.
Of course the press doesn't seem to care unless there is a crash with fatalities...and I gotta tell ya if ole' Jake in my trusty Cessna 195 goes silent on me I'm not passing up the first available strip!! There is nothing more useless than sky above you and runway behind you...:o)
Yes but they don't "fall out of the sky" which far too many still think...;o)
When I was tested for power off approach, the examiner cut my power, right after testing unusual attitudes. I had practiced approaches to dirt roads in the desert, but had enough altitude to reach a private airport. Much to my surprise, the examiner took me to a full stop landing. Since I was afraid of landing short, I had too much altitude and stopped near the far end of the runway.
I was surpised that the examiner had allowed a full stop landing, and mentioned it. He told me that he knew I was going to make it, and wanted me to see how close it was, then he gave me tips for shedding energy in the last few seconds of approach.
Even better, we met in the Army reserves. He had just joined and was looking for a school to get into. The way he told the story was just hilarious.
Heck, F-15’s glide well, as do A-10’s and other jets.
In all cases, loss of engine power means a significant loss of systems and power, electrical and hydraulic, so that complicates things.
(Former A-10, F-15E instructor pilot/stan-eval pilot).
“Mark my words some F-16 jock will reprimand me for saying that because an F-16 sans power glides like a greased anvil”
Ok, here I am. Actually, an F-16 glides nicely. Viper pilots practice landing without engine power all the time. In the early model of F-16 flameout were almost common. There is a good you tube video of a flamed out f-16 landing at a civil field in NC. The pilot was cool and calm because of all the practice.
Dave
CFI CFII MEI tailwheel seaplane F-4’s F-16’s and builder of 2 planes. BTW- LOVE the Be-18! C U @ OSH.
Hey Hulka, Sorry about my F-16 double post, I didn’t read all the way to the bottom. Nice to see a fighter pilot freepers out there.
F-4’s don’t glide. The procedure is to eject. Engineers got smarter.
F-4’s. . .I recall the first time I actually saw one up close, and that was while in pilot training. We were students, standing around on the T-37 flight-line, saw a trail of smoke way off in the distance. Boy howdy, we all thought, that guy must be on fire or something, making an emergency landing. Turns out it was an F-4 just smokin’ along for an approach and full-stop.
Got to climb over it and drool while doing so. We being T-37 students we were dreaming of someday getting that jet. . .as F-16s and F-15's were very rare for recent UPT grads. So, no F-4 for me. . .I got the mighty T-37!
Oh well. . .
Cheers.
I used that as a military jet example when one guy flamed me saying they don't glide well without power...OK...a Harrier doesn't glide well without power..(?).:o)
CFI CFII MEI tailwheel seaplane F-4’s F-16’s and builder of 2 planes. BTW- LOVE the Be-18! C U @ OSH....
My specialty is heavy structural repair...just finishing up a Cessna 195 groundloop rebuild...hope to make OSH but going to St Louis to the 195 convention in Oct. for sure...;o)
Yeah it never can really be considered a good thing when the propulsion quits..in almost all cases...but it can be manageable to varying degrees depending on the scenerio...but getting back to my original point that airplanes in general don't just "fall out of the sky" when the engine quits"....:o))
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