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 ...
I turned that one off on the way home tonight. :^)
My pleasure!
Reusuable?
EEEWWWWWW!!!!!...........................
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