On February 24, 1989 - PILOT SAVES 346 LIVES WITH INCREDIBLE LANDING SKILLS

NINE PASSAGERS WERE SUCKED OUT OF A UNITED AIRLINES 747 AFTER ITS CARGO DOORS BLEW OFF

Captain David Cronin was 59 years old and two flights away from mandatory retirement when he pushed the throttles forward on United Airlines Flight 811 just before 2:00am on February 24, 1989. He had 28,000 flight hours under his belt. He was about to need every single one of them. 

The Boeing 747 lifted off from Honolulu with 337 passengers and 18 crew members, bound for Auckland, New Zealand. Sixteen minutes into the flight, as the plane climbed through 22,000 feet over the dark Pacific Ocean, a loud thud shook the aircraft. A second and a half later, the forward cargo door blew off. The explosive decompression ripped a hole in the right side of the fuselage, the cabin floor collapsed, and two entire rows of seats were ejected into the night. Nine passengers vanished. Their bodies were never found.

Inside the cockpit, the crew thought a bomb had gone off. It had only been two months since Pan Am Flight 103 was blown out of the sky over Lockerbie. Flight Engineer Randal Thomas left the cockpit to see how bad it was. He came back pale. A massive section of the fuselage was simply gone. Two of the four engines were destroyed. The emergency oxygen system was knocked out. And they were still over the ocean in the middle of the night.

Captain Cronin turned the crippled 747 around and headed back to Honolulu. The plane was carrying a full load of fuel for the long Pacific crossing, making it far heavier than normal. He landed using a non standard flap setting that no training manual had prepared him for. Every single one of the 346 remaining passengers and crew walked off that plane alive.

United Airlines later tried to recreate the same scenario in a flight simulator. They ran it over and over. They could never land it successfully.

The investigation revealed that Boeing had known about flaws in the 747 cargo door locking mechanism since 1975. The fix cost $3,000 and took 15 hours, but United delayed the work to avoid disrupting flight schedules. N4713U was scheduled for the upgrade in April 1989. It never made it. The crew received the Secretary's Award for Heroism, and Captain Cronin's skill on what was nearly his final flight saved 346 lives.


Wikipedia - United Airlines Flight 811

THE FLIGHT THAT LANDED SAFELY - BUT NO ONE SURVIVDED - SAUDIA FLIGHT 163

It was August 19, 1980. A Lockheed L-1011 TriStar took off from Riyadh carrying 301 people. Most were pilgrims heading to Mecca. Some had never been on a plane before.

Seven minutes after takeoff, an alarm sounded. Smoke in the rear cargo hold. The crew spent five critical minutes debating whether the warning was real. By the time they turned back, the fire had already burned through the cabin floor. A flight attendant radioed the cockpit and said passengers were fighting in the aisles. She could not get past the middle of the plane.

At 9:35 PM, the aircraft touched down in Riyadh. Smooth. Controlled. From the tower, it looked completely normal.

But instead of stopping on the runway, the captain kept taxiing for nearly three minutes. Then the plane stopped but the engines kept running for another three minutes. This was catastrophic. The L-1011 had plug type doors that open inward first. With the engines running, the cabin stayed pressurized, making the doors nearly impossible to open from inside or outside.

No evacuation was ever called. No one could get out. No one could get in.

Firefighters rushed to the plane but had never fought an aircraft fire before. They did not know how to open an L-1011's doors. It took them 23 minutes. When they finally got one open, they shouted into the darkness. No one answered. Seconds later, fresh air triggered a flashover. Trapped gases ignited and fire tore through the cabin.

All 301 people were dead. Autopsies confirmed every one died from smoke inhalation, not burns. They were almost certainly alive at touchdown. Every body was found in the forward half of the cabin, pressed against exits that never opened.
The pilots were found still in their seats.

It is the only known case of a widebody jet landing safely with no survivors. It changed aviation forever.

Wikipedia - Saudia Flight 163

A Little Bit of THIS and A Little Bit of THAT!

 

1989 - Incredible IN AIR Disaster - 185 Survived!!!

On July 19,1989

United Airlines Flight 232

From Denver to Chicago suffered a catastrophic failure when the tail-mounted No. 2 engine exploded at 37,000 feet, sending shrapnel through all three hydraulic systems and leaving the DC-10 with no flight controls. 

In an unprecedented display of airmanship, Captain Al Haynes and his crew - assisted by an off-duty DC-10 instructor who happened to be onboard - managed to steer the crippled aircraft for 44 minutes using only differential engine thrust, a technique never practiced in simulators. 

The eventual crash landing at Sioux Gateway Airport in Iowa occurred at nearly three times the normal descent rate, causing the aircraft to cartwheel and break apart. 

While 111 lives were lost, 185 passengers and crew survived what aviation experts had considered an un-survivable scenario. 

The accident led to major safety improvements, including redundant hydraulic systems and enhanced crew training, cementing Flight 232’s legacy as both a tragic disaster and one of aviation’s most remarkable displays of skill under pressure. 

The crew’s heroic efforts demonstrated that even in seemingly hopeless situations, exceptional training and teamwork could make the difference between total catastrophe and miraculous survival.

Info from this Instagram page

A video I found on YouTube with a lot more info:

4:19 Minutes

Maintenance Mechanics With a Sense of Humor!!

This is HILARIOUS!

After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe sheet" which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS pilots ("P") and solutions recorded ("S") by maintenance engineers:

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit
S: Something tightened in cockpit

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for.

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to: straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from midget

From Fact or Fiction:
We contacted UPS about the e-mail. We were surprised by the answer. Even UPS doesn't know if it's Fact or Fiction. The spokesperson did tell us, even UPS employees find it entertaining, but the one thing they do not joke about is safety. The company has not been able to verify the authenticity of the notes.

Remember it takes a college degree to fly a plane, but only a high school diploma to fix one. Reassurance for those of us who fly routinely in our jobs.

WOW! REALLY OLD FOOTAGE OF FIXING PLANE IN MIDAIR!!

Barnstormer replacing landing gear in flight

Cancelled Flight-Please Read

I received this on Tue, Sep 25, 2012 at 5:50 PM

Tedd Petruna is a diver at the NBL (Neutral Buoyancy Lab) facility at NASA Houston. Tedd happened to be on the AirTran Flight 297, from Atlanta to Houston. Here's his report :

"One week ago, I went to Ohio on business and to see my father. On Tuesday, the 17th, I returned home. If you read the papers from the 18th you may have seen a blurb about where an Air Tran flight was canceled from Atlanta to Houston due to a man who refused to get off of his cell phone before takeoff. The story was only on Fox News. That was NOT what really happened.

I was seated in 1st class coming home. Eleven Muslim men got on the plane in full Muslim attire. Two of them sat in 1st class and the rest seated themselves throughout the plane, in coach class, all the way to the back. As the plane taxied out to the runway, the stewardesses gave the safety spiel that we are all so familiar with.

At that time, one of the men, in 1st class, got on his cell and called one of his companions back in coach. He proceeded to talk on the phone in Arabic very loudly and very, very aggressively. This activity took the 1st stewardess out of action for she repeatedly told the man that cell phones were not permitted at that time. He ignored her as if she were not there. The man, who answered the phone back in the coach section, did the same and this took out the 2nd stewardess. Further back in the plane, at the same time, two younger Muslims, one in the back on the aisle, and one sitting in front of him by the window, began to show footage of a porno video they had taped the night before. They were very loud about it.

The 3rd stewardess informed the two men that they were not to have any electronic devices on at this time. One of the men said "shut up infidel dog!"

The stewardess attempted to take the camcorder and the Muslim began to scream in her face in Arabic. At that exact moment, all eleven of the men got up and started to walk throughout the cabin. I guess that because of the noise, the flight crew must have decided that there was something amiss and changed the plane's directions to head back to the terminal.

The commotion and noise was reaching a feverish pitch, and at this point I had had enough! I got up and started towards the back of 1st class, when I heard a voice behind me, from another Texan twice my size, say "I got your back." Then I grabbed the man, who had been on the cell phone, by the arm and said "You WILL sit down in your seat or you WILL be thrown from this plane!" As I "led" him around me to take his seat, the fellow Texan grabbed him by the back of his neck and his waist and headed him back to his seat. I then grabbed the 2nd man and said, "You WILL do the same!"

He protested loudly, but my adrenaline was flowing now and he was going to go also. Just as I escorted him forward, the plane stopped, the doors opened and three TSA agents and four police officers entered the cabin. Myself and my new Texas friend were told to cease and desist for they had the situation under control.

I was quite happy to oblige actually. There was still some sort of commotion in the back, but within moments, all eleven Muslim men were escorted off the plane. The TSA agents then had their luggage unloaded. We talked about the occurrence and were in disbelief that it had happened.

Then suddenly, the door opened again and in walked all eleven Muslim men! Stone faced, eyes front and robotic, (the only way I can describe  it) they were reseated. The stewardess from the back had been in tears and when she saw the men, she was having NONE of it! Since I was up front, I heard and saw the whole ordeal. She told the TSA agents that there was NO WAY she was staying on the plane with the Muslim men. The agent told her that they had searched the men and were going through their luggage with a fine tooth comb. However, nothing had been found and that the men were allowed to proceed on to Houston.

The captain and co-captain came out of the cockpit and told the agent, "We and our crew will not fly this plane!" After a word or two, the entire crew, luggage in tow, left the plane. Five minutes later, the cabin door opened again and a whole new crew walked on. Again, this was where I had had enough! I got up and asked the TSA agent, "What the hell is going on?

I was told to take my seat. The airlines and TSA were sorry for the delay and we would be home shortly. I said "I'm getting off this plane". The stewardess sternly told me that she could not allow me to get off. Now I'm really mad! I said "I am a grown man who bought this ticket, who's time is mine with a family at home and I am going through that door, or I'm going through that door with you under my arm, but I AM going through that door!"

And then I heard a voice behind me say "So am I!" Then everyone behind us started to get up and say the same thing. Within two minutes, I was walking off that plane where I was met by more TSA agents who asked me to write a statement about the incident. I had five hours to kill at this point waiting for the next flight to Houston, so why the hell not give them my statement. Due to the amount of people who got off that flight, it was canceled. I was supposed to be in Houston at 6 PM, but I finally got there at 12:30 AM. If you don't believe this, look up the date and then Flight 297 from Atlanta to Houston.

If this wasn't a terrorism dry run, I don't know what one is. The terrorists wanted to see how TSA would handle it, how the crew would handle it, and how the passengers would handle it. I'm telling this to you because I want you to know. The threat IS real. I saw it with my own eyes."

Tedd Petruna

Some Very Rare Photos

The FIRST McDonald's

Che Guevara and Fidel Castro

Sadam Hussein with noose around his neck

Early construction of Brasilia, Capitol of Brazil

Papa Pio XII and Hitler

Elvis Presley drafted into the Army

The Beatles before they became famous

The Beatles when they were adolescents!

Osama Bin Laden Family.  Osama is the one with red circle

Titanic at the bottom of the sea

The Titanic ship before sailing

First photograph in history in France

Construction of Disney World

Berlin wall being torn down

Evolution of the Coca Cola

John Lennon, signing autograph before his death

Adolf Hitler as a child

Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee

Black physicians treating in the ER a member of the Ku Klux Klan

Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro - I wish the year was listed!

Construction of the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro

Albert Einstein in Brasil

Charlie Chaplin and Mahatma Gandhi

First computer ever made!

1931 Construction of the Empire State Building.  This is the copy of the original photo

 School grades of Albert Einstein

????? - These questions marks were the only "words" written for this picture - anyone have an idea what this picture is?

Google in 1999, when they started

Holocaust done by Hitler

Jews in concentration camp

Lady Diana accident scene

Football player dies while playing football

Pope John Paul with the man that tried to kill him

Sept 11, 2001  -  The moment when George Bush was notified of the attack on the Twin Towers

WWII Miracle - Flying Fortress

FLYING FORTRESS MIRACLE!!!

 B-17  "All American" (414th Squadron, 97BG) Crew

Pilot- Ken Bragg Jr.
Copilot- G. Boyd Jr.
Navigator- Harry C.   Nuessle
Bombardier- Ralph Burbridge
Engineer- Joe C.   James
Radio Operator- Paul A. Galloway
Ball Turret Gunner-  Elton  Conda
Waist Gunner- Michael Zuk
Tail Gunner- Sam T.   Sarpolus
Ground Crew Chief- Hank Hyland

In  1943 a mid-air collision on February 1,  1943, Between  a B-17  and a German fighter over the Tunis dock area, Became the subject of one of the most famous photographs of WW II.

An enemy fighter attacking a 97th Bomb Group formation went out of control, probably with a wounded pilot, then continued its crashing descent into the rear of the fuselage of a Flying Fortress named "All  American", Piloted by Lt. Kendrick R. Bragg, of the 414th Bomb Squadron.

 When it struck, the fighter broke apart, but left some pieces in the B-17.
The left horizontal stabilizer of the Fortress and left elevator were completely torn away.
The two right engines were out and one on the left had a serious oil pump leak.
The vertical fin and the rudder had been damaged,
The fuselage had been cut almost completely through.
Connected only at two small parts of the frame,
And the radios, electrical and oxygen systems were damaged.
There was also a hole in the top that was over 16-feet long and 4 feet wide at its widest;
The split in the fuselage went all the way to the top gunner's turret.

 Although the tail actually bounced and swayed in the wind
And twisted when the plane turned and all the control cables were severed,
Except one single elevator cable still worked, and the  aircraft  miraculously still flew!

 The tail gunner was trapped because there was no floor connecting the tail to the rest of the plane.
The waist and tail gunners used parts of the German fighter and their own parachute harnesses
In an attempt to keep the tail from ripping off and the two sides of the fuselage from splitting apart.

 While the crew was trying to keep the bomber from coming apart, the pilot continued on his bomb run and released his bombs over the target.

 When the bomb bay doors were opened, the wind turbulence was so great that it blew one of the waist gunners into the broken tail section.
It  took several minutes and four crew members to pass him ropes fromparachutes and haul him back into the forward part of the  plane.  When  they tried to do the same for the tail gunner, the tail began flapping so hard that it began to break  off.
The weight of the gunner was adding some stability to the tail section, so he went back to his position.
The turn back toward England had to be very slow to keep the tail from twisting off.
They actually covered almost 70 miles to make the turn home.
The bomber was so badly damaged that it was losing altitude and speed and was soon alone in the sky.

 For a brief time, two more Me-109 German fighters attacked the All American.
Despite the extensive damage, all of the machine gunners were able to respond to these attacks and soon drove off the  fighters.
The  two waist gunners stood up with their heads sticking out through the hole in the top of the fuselage to aim and fire their machine guns.  The  tail gunner had to shoot in short bursts because the recoil was  actually causing the plane to turn.

 Allied P-51 fighters intercepted the All American as it crossed over the Channel and took one of the pictures shown.
They also radioed to the base describing that the appendage was waving like a fish tail and that the plane would not make it and to send out boats to rescue the crew when they bailed out.

The fighters stayed with the Fortress, taking hand signals from Lt. Bragg and relaying them to the base.
Lt. Bragg signalled that 5 parachutes and the spare had been "used", so  five of the crew could not bail out.  He  made the decision that if they could not bail out safely, then he would stay with the plane to land  it.

 Two and a half hours after being hit, the aircraft made its final turn to line up with the runway while it was still over 40 miles away.
It descended into an emergency landing and a normal roll-out on its landing gear.

 When the ambulance pulled alongside, it was waved off because not a single member of the crew had been injured.
No one could believe that the aircraft could still fly in such a condition.
The Fortress sat placidly until the crew all exited through the door in the fuselage and the tail gunner had climbed down a ladder, at which time the entire rear section of the aircraft collapsed.

 This old bird had done its job and brought the entire crew home uninjured.

What an amazing story!

 David K Strate--Agent