A few weeks ago we had our expert flight instructors in to record some new Pilot Tips. After we finished the recording session, they were sitting around telling some of their personal aviation stories. We decided to keep the microphones open, figuring we would capture some really good stuff. I asked their permission to share this recording with you, which they thankfully granted.
I think you will really enjoy these stories. They contain some great lessons learned, and a lot of laughs as well!
Press Play to Listen (28 minutes)
Right click here to download audio MP3 file (20 MB)
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Great stories shared with great guys at a great moment. Touchy and Unforgettable! Mark, with this initiative of yours, you’ve taught us great lessons. I must tell you that I wouldn’t be against your editing new stories like those ones. Thanks.
Iam from argentina ,I enjoy and I learnd a lot, listening their stories
Pilotworkshop is hands down my greatest asset in terms of my continuing flying education
Learn to read railways
Portsmouth, England 8/9/50
I joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1940 as the Royal Air Force considered me too young to learn to fly. 5 years of war in every part of the world and still not flying. I became a 1st class Petty Officer and was sent to Portsmouth, England for a Gunnery Course. Behold an airfield close by. My instructor was a World War 1 pilot. H. Michell who always flew with a pipe in his mouth and always upside down. I took to flying that old Tiger Moth as if I was born in the back seat. My Ministry of Aviation Log Book,has me soloing in 6 hours. Being a sailors gave Mitchell the idea not to waste time and get me going on a cross country flight. My first trip from Potsmouth to Winchester (North) and back home.
I reached Winchester like an old sailor and turned south. Hello the sky is smoky, the fog is setting in. I’m surounded by very light fog. No worries head south and your bound to hit the Channel, then west to home. Piece of cake. Finaly an opening and I spot the Channel and below me good old water. Turn West sailor and home you go.
Time goes by and no Portsmouth, Where are you.
Mitchel had told me “if you get lost follow the railway tracks to a station” read the name and you are never lost. First station coming up “Chinchester”. Never heard of it. I soomed more stations and being a Canadian, I had no idea where I was. Look up, your tank is nearly empty. Another station and no luck. I better set it down. The only thing I see is a farm house and a small field. It’s too small. I hear the motor spurt and the field is big enough. I more or less slid the plane in. A nice gentleman met me and I asked him if I could use his phone. Helleo Mr. Mitchell this is Rolie, Where I am ? Just a minute.
I’m in Hastings and alright. You are 75 miles from Portsmouth and at the wrong end.
Sirens blare, Police & Fire Department suround the aircraft. It’s impounded.
A large groupe of poeple also show all souped up on English Bear and I’m offered a few.
You see I’m in uniform excepot for my hat and the group is from a group who flew Hasting Aircraft during the war. My plane was safe it was impounded, so I went to town and made the local newspaper. We had to dismantle the wings and tow the plane back.
YOU MUST STUDY YOUR RAILWAY TRACKS AND STATIONS.
Later in the 60′s I flew a Vampire over Potsmouth and Hasting, and remembered the old days. Go to the web site and fill in the form and you may win a free vacation in Nevis.
Nuestro trabajo es siempre interesante y variado, Yo me hice piloto en el Centro de Adiestramiento Aéreo De La Guardia Nacional en Venezuela en 1983. Aunque vivo ahora de la aviación civil, no se olvidan las historias y experiencias de vuelo militar. Mi instructor el Mayor Borden Guardia nos insistía que las reglas de vuelo o prevuelo se deben respetar siempre.
Great stories, very entertaining, AND very instructional. Funny, but only in hind sight and with some luck involved. Great job. Please do this some more.
Do you accept stories from us guys out here? If so I have one to relate that I call NOT DOING IT BOOK THE BOOK. Let me know and I;ll send it.
You gotta’ love the “war stories” I can sit down and mix it with em’ anyday.
I remember going through a thunderstorm at 15,000 and watching the VSI go to the stops at both ends, hoping this old Beech 18 was built really strong. Coming out ten minutes later and flying another 3 hours before I could land. That was thirty years ago. You know what? they built those airplanes really well in those days!
When my oil pressure on my instruments fell to zero, i made a very risky emergency landing, on further investigation my oil pressure duct was blocked by a small insect. What i Learned from this was check you oil temperature, if that’s ok take a little time to get to an alternative and don’t panic
I always keep my ears open 360 degree around me, looking for a chance or listen experienced pilots stories and mistakes which other pilot did. This is awesome; I’m sure, I won’t repeat/overwrite the same after listening..
It needs great guts to confess our own mistakes.
Good Instructors, experienced pilots & unheard stories.
Bravo !!! Pilot workshop blog.
Appreciate your efforts
JAi P
Concerning early decent to MDA.
The more experience one has with anything the more comfortable they are with it. The more comfortable a pilot is with any given operation the better able that person is to employ ( within safety parameters) certain depatures from what might be SOP (standard operation procedures).
I had learned to get below the clag at an early stage from early on in my instrument flying but my experience level is relatively limited compared to many so I tend to be somewhat more conservative in just how much I might depart from standard. For myself I tend toward a more stablized approach just to keep that margin of error on my side. I would encourage any student to maintain a more conservative approach also.
Really enjoyed your stories, I have had a few close calls also, being an ex-B52 Tail Gunner we had some interesting stories. We always learn from listening to other pilots stories and I for one really enjoy knowing that other pilots better than me have made some mistakes and have lived to tell about it. Always share those stories to the new student pilots, I think it is really important to share knowledge with them and also us “old timers” that are always learning. I’m 73 and still flying and learning all the time, when I quit learning I will stop flying.
Love to fly and like to share my love of flying with others.
GOOD JOB ON THE STORIES…KEEP THEM COMING TO US!!!
ED RICKS GLENDALE ARIZONA 623-695-9040 CELL
So many roads to reach one destination, amazing and very interesting..Thanks Bill
I am from Brazil, this is great stories, and I hope to learn always about it.
Thanks.
RAYOL
I really do enjoy listening to these pilots
good story to share and we learn from the past make us better pilot…. calm not panic! that is reason why this guy still alive today…. happy flight dude!
Good chat guys.This is a education in constant alert and error prevention.Never assume,or follow a assumed pattern.Treat each flight like you just learned,add extra alertness,and always take time to double check everything.Its not just your life at risk.Study past pilot errors that could have been prevented ect…..great talk
~(:
Excellent program! Hats off to you guys for putting this together! I would hanger-fly with ya’ll any day!
Thank you for doing this; one of the most enjoyable pilot pieces I’ve heard or read lately! I really hope you do more like this.
Paul
Great stories! I have to admit I’ve got a few of those types of stories too. I suppose we all do. Most important is to learn from our mistakes and grow in our skills.
It’s admirable that pilots of this caliber are willing to share.
I’d love to hear more of this type of thing. Thanks,
Ed