[Taxman]

I remember PSA all to well -- several of my good FRiends were on that airplane, including the CO of my USNR hardware squadron (I was in the augment unit -- we flew their airplanes) who had been a shipmate and good FRiend on my first and second cruises in Kearsarge (CVS-33).

I have read a number of accounts of pilots' last words before they bought the farm -- "I love you mom" is the most prevalent, as I recall, followed closely by "Oh! Shit!"

Mostly, the voices are calm and level. Chuck Yeager's calm, level, under-control radio transmissions has exerted a powerful and long-lasting influence on the pilot "community" that is still pervasive. For some reason, we all want to sound like him, even when we are out of altitude, ideas and airspeed.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Interesting post.

If I remember correctly, the phrase, "Oh shit" is spoken in more black box recording than any other phrase. Just thinking of the terror present in a PSA type event, is truly mind boggling and a glimpse into real professionalism of the rapidly approaching end.

[FreedomCalls]

Chuck Yeager's calm, level, under-control radio transmissions has exerted a powerful and long-lasting influence on the pilot "community" that is still pervasive.

To hear Yeager in action follow either of the two links below. You can listen to Yeager and follow along on the transcript as Yeager manages the impossible and pulls the aircraft out of danger. Yeager is seconds away from death, but sounds all the world like it is a routine day at work.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/derekhorne/12121953.html

http://members.tripod.com/derekhorne/12121953.html