How to Ditch Like You Mean It Real Stories of Survival

[@frankk6416]

that lady is such a badass... really impressed by how she handled the emergency and subsequent ditching.

[@VictoryAviation]

What a helluva experience and an insane story!!!

[@cmichaelhoover8432]

Absolutely amazing lady!

[@williamdavis3509]

Years ago, my flight instructor told me, "If you ain't wearing it, it ain't survival gear❗"

[@tenpiloto]

Hear, hear--exactly! See my comment.

[@clarkkent7999]

That was the best ditching story I've heard for awhile. What struck me the most was her inherent good judgement, making one good decision after another, and of course, her incredibly good luck.

[@paulyoung181]

Excellent vlog Scott.

[@CLEAREDDIRECT]

Thanks for letting me share my story, Gunny. Keep up the great work. What a service you provide to our community! Man, Heidi is impressive!

[@FlyWirescottperdue]

Thanks! She did an amazing job!

[@PondXr]

I was just going to say the same about you. I was very lucky in that I had time to prepare. After that, my next flight over water was with four engines....and I still felt a little funny being out there!

[@CLEAREDDIRECT]

@@PondXr nice job! it seems we're in this dubious club together... Thanks for the nice note

[@RamblerMan68]

@@PondXr Thanks so much for sharing Heidi! Thanks to Scott too for bringing you to us to learn from a bit of history...I do believe I'm your first subscriber....I subscribed to see if you will post the whole story there maybe....hint, hint😉👍😎🙏👌

[@PondXr]

@@RamblerMan68 Hi ‘Rambler’, I may know how to fly a 747, but this whole KZbin thing is new to me. I didn’t know you could subscribe to ‘ME’? I was really floored by all of the positive comments after the video was posted. For years and years, whenever I have told my story, it’s all the same…”You should write a book!” I never really had the time (or just procrastinated too much). But this has given me incentive to get going on my long overdue book. Once it is done, I will definitely let Scott know, so he can let his followers be aware that a book is out there. Thank you so much for your kind words. (My grandmother had a Rambler Station Wagon, back in the 60’s. I haven’t thought about it in years!)

[@warwickkinscher5986]

11 out of 10 for your interview technique, Scott - ask your question and let them tell their story just as it was. Real people telling real stories - warts and all - gotta be one of the best lessons you can watch and learn from. I’ll be waiting for the next couple of episodes! Then one day I’ll put it into practice / readiness flying from Victoria to Tasmania across Bass Strait.

[@JamesDonald-bl3zp]

Great videos man , great stories

[@patrickfreeman8257]

Heidi was picked up by a Russian Refrigerator ship. "Cool" stories. I see what you did there haha Anytime so-called "enemies" come together to save a life it restores my faith in humanity.

[@burnsloads]

The Christmas soccer game in WW1 is one of the best.

[@patrickfreeman8257]

@@burnsloads I couldn't agree more

[@jimw1615]

There are no enemies in an emergency on the high seas.

[@LTVoyager]

Great stories. I can relate to Heidi’s comment about what happened 10 minutes or so after she declared the emergency. I had a similar thing happen to me 25 years ago. I was flying home to PA from Purdue University where I had been on a recruiting trip. It was nighttime in January and there was the normal icing forecast southeast of Lake Erie as the lake was not yet frozen and the winds were strong (I had a 60 knot tailwind at 9,000’. The icing was forecast 7,000’ and below so I filed for 9,000’ thinking that gave good margin. Well, as forecasts are wont to be, this one was a little off. I ran into a wall of sleet and freezing rain just south of Cleveland if memory serves. I immediately start losing power as the air intake on the 182 ices over quickly. I pulled on alternate air and got back most of the power. I decided to try to climb above it, but only got about 400’ before I could not climb. I checked the pitot tube with my flashlight and already had about 2” of ice on the vertical part and could no longer hold altitude. I was about to make a 180 when I came out of the sleet/freezing rain. At that point, I informed ATC of my situation and since I knew the weather was good ahead and I had a huge tailwind, I decided to continue on course. I was losing altitude at about 200 fpm even at full power, but I did not want to slow below the top of the white arc. I figured that was a good target speed not knowing the stall speed with 2” of ice on the leading edge. By then, just as Heidi said, the panic suddenly left and things got very peaceful. I accepted that I was going down and the only question was where. There are not a lot of airports in Western PA that have long and well lit runways and I had to either continue east or go south as heading back towards Lake Erie was not a good plan. It appeared that Bradford, PA was the best option as it was almost directly downwind and I was making 180 knots ground speed. I did some calculations and figured I had enough altitude to make the airport given my ground speed and current descent rate. I planned out a message to send to my wife to convey to ATC once I got below 4,000’ (ground level is 1,500 to 2.500 in that area) as I was not 100% sure of a successful outcome. I was completely calm at that point and just flew the airplane and tried to plan how best to maneuver to land. Thankfully, as I descended to 5,000’, I was able to gradually slow my descent rate and maintain altitude running wide-open. I then decided to fly on to my destination and hope to shed some ice so I could better see to land as the windshield was completely opaque. I knew it was in the lower 40s on the surface at my home airport so I kept on going with the defroster on high (such as it is in a 182). I carried the ice all the way to ELM and shot the ILS there. Thankfully, just about at the outer marker, the ice on the windshield came off in one sheet and I had a perfect view of the runway. I maintained my 90 knot approach speed all the way to the flare and floated some distance down the runway, but made a normal and uneventful landing. I could not believe the amount of ice on the airplane when I got out. It was 2” thick on most of the leading edge of the wing and tail surfaces. I was glad I was in a 182 as I am still amazed at how well it flew given the circumstances.

[@johansteyn59]

Your story is also an amazing one. Staying cool headed all the time. I was in the jumpseat in a 737 1981 landing at Cape Town international. We came in from the south east over the mountain an over False Bay with zero visibility within seconds. Suddenly the windscreen iced up and that within about 3 seconds. The de-icing did its job. The first officer was flying the ILS and remember him doing it as pale as a sheet and sweat dripping from temples. Fortunately just before 800 feet, there was a break in the cloud right over CPT and it was a beautiful sight!

[@LTVoyager]

@@johansteyn59 Thankfully, it is about the only time since I started flying in 1978 that I seriously doubted a successful outcome to the flight. I fly around ice a lot living in the northeastern US 150 miles east of the Great Lakes, but have never encountered ice like that. Usually just light rime than can quickly be exited and builds slowly. Ice and thunderstorms are both prevalent where I live, so each season has its challenges, but both can be dealt with using care and planning, but every so often things go to crap and that is just life.

[@VictoryAviation]

That is absolutely intense! My flight school is in Valparaiso, Indiana, about 30 miles SE of Chicago. It lands right smack in the middle of the ice belt. I’ve definitely been on high alert for anything that even comes close to icing conditions. Our 172’s won’t last a heartbeat in bad icing conditions if caught off guard.

[@LTVoyager]

@@VictoryAviation Icing is to be respected, but in our area, if you cancel every flight that has ice possible, you basically have to stop flying for 6 months each year. Most icing can be avoided with good flight planning or exited quickly if encountered inflight. However, the lee side of the Great Lakes in the winter with a strong wind is an ice making machine like no other.

[@VictoryAviation]

@@LTVoyager And that area is exactly where Valparaiso is...

[@desertdog185]

I flew with Hidie many times in the Atlantic and Pacific. The great thing about having her on an ocean crossing is that she had the time to really get into the details of her story. Fabulous pilot and she really made the time pass quickly.

[@MisterTechnologic]

That second story was incredible - so lucky to be alive.

[@Craneman4100w]

Wow, quickest 37 minutes ever.

[@jimw1615]

Yes, I was riveted to my computer screen watching, and the time flew by for me, too!!

[@willhartsell2283]

Heidi’s story is amazing...I would love to hear her tell the “full” Story.

[@garysulin]

I survived ours. N774TA. March 11 2015. Never stop flying the plane.

[@stuart8663]

Brilliant. Im a big guy, but I almost cried listening to her story.

[@jimw1615]

I did get chocked up listening to Heidi's story.

[@joro18d93]

2 great stories but the Lady's story was amazing. So glad she survived to tell. So glad the Vtail pilot and passenger made it out. Praise God.

[@leifvejby8023]

I once had a chat with a guy who had ditched a C175 Skylark, and his experience was, that as soon as the nosewheel touched the surface, the cockpit was full of water!

[@grahamrowe6278]

Same thing you need on a small yacht. A GRAB BAG! With a clear procedure. Sort it today!!

[@RaivoltG]

I would love to hear more about the lady's ditch! That's a crazy story! It should be a movie! Great channel, love your videos!

[@Flying_Snakes]

I fly out in the desert southwest. No worries about water ditching here, but the summer sun will kill as surely as the the ocean. I started wearing a surplus tactical vest, the kind with a few pockets in the front to hold various survival items, after hearing lots of stories where the survival items burn or sink. So I wear mine, and they go out with me.

[@SurvivalHunterNM]

She tells that story really well. Nice job. I love happy endings and they all survived. So, that's a good thing.

[@johnstreet819]

Dang Scott, Heidi had me sweatin' cryin' and cheerin' at the end. Somebody should make that story in to a movie.

[@FlyWirescottperdue]

Absolutely, she had an excellent story and really did a good job!

[@saiajin82]

I don't know what to say, really. I was on the edge of my seat for both stories but at the same time when I put myself in their shoes there is a real fear there. My CFI and I brief a ditching at a nearby lake if we lose power below 1K feet but thinking about it now I don't think we will even make it there never mind what would happen once we hit that icy frozen water in the middle of February in the Northeast. Scott, you always find a way to drive you point home, my biggest takeaway is the lack of time and also making sure I carry survival equipment on my person, a vest is going to be a huge investment. Again, Thank You for putting these videos out there!

[@twc9000]

These stories are good reminders that you will probably only have what is on your body.

[@jimw1615]

And Scott, your lead-in information about the short amount of time from aircraft failure to ditching was perfect and got my immediate attention. From that point on I never had a wavering thought as I listened to and watched the rest of this presentation. Thank you again. It's golden!!

[@MindYourBusinesses]

I love listening to these stories of real life situations.

[@MichaelLloyd]

I like both of these stories because the pilots told them. Great series!

[@sarahalbers5555]

I am just gonna thru this out there. I am not a pilot but a former flight attendant and I did a lot of sailing, not just day sailing and deep sea fishing in Florida. The Coast Guard offers some really great courses on a variety of topics and you can learn a lot. I felt that I needed enough knowledge that if I got stuck on a 60ft + sail boat with an incapacitated individual, in a squall , I would at least like to learn the basics. Check it out, even if its just for fun. Its yet another skill set to help you out, God forbid, if you have to ditch.

[@daedaluscan]

I hope I could make 10% of the good decisions that she made. What an amazing response to a very stressful event.

[@josephdupont]

An amazing story God bless you

[@markbattista6857]

Hey Scott, great vid . I just wanted to say your guests were both 100% but Hidie really impressed me she is one sharp cookie . Thanks , Mark Battista

[@12345fowler]

I remember reading thoses crash stories books edited from the Flying magazine decades ago. (I learned about flying from that - I guess it was the column title) Looks like you can just change dates, bring each story forward 20-30 years and they are all just the same, rinse and repeat. The lady story ditching in the Pacific 500 miles from land is just another level tought.

[@FlyWirescottperdue]

That series was one of my favorites! GrandPa Pettibone is another.

[@dancingtiger577]

Heidi is a savage! both stories were very compelling

[@michaelpcooksey5096]

Great to see & especially survivors that know what was going on. Lady's candor regarding her personal reactions was great. Thank you all.

[@PeteLehmann]

As a Blackhawk helicopter crew chief in the US Army unit assigned to assist the DEA curtail the illegal import of narcotics through the Caribbean, I had to become "Dunker Qualified" through a Navy course. The fact that this was nothing short of extreme torture for me to go through notwithstanding, that training is something that I'll never forget and would HIGHLY recommend to any pilot regardless of how probable a water ditching might be. Trust me when I say this, the experience of the water rushing while you hang upsidedown in your seat and the techniques needed to egress successfully and save your life are NOTHING like you imagine they are if you've never done it.

[@m118lr]

That last with Heidi was a fantastic “EXTENDED” learning experience through HER tough ordeal. Quite the lady I’ll say. Thanks...

[@scaneagle62]

You know I love these story's because they make you think deeper into everything you do. I'm a pilot and I can never get enough information in my mind of things just like this. It started for me when I heard of a pilot who was crippled in his jet ( Vietnam) and a pilot pushed him with his jet to safe water to bail out and after everything of all the heroes that helped on that day the pilot drowned before the helicopter got to him because he got tangled in his parachute. That burned into my brain that even if you think your safe remember your not until the fat lady sings. Because the littlest thing can unwind everything and in a instant. My heart goes out to anybody who has lived though something that is life threatening. You never know how your going to cope until it happens and usually with not enough time to be at your best.

[@gavinward5448]

It's great to live in a society that can deploy so much resource to the aid of one person.

[@dermick]

Really interesting - I fly over big lakes, and need to up my preparation for ditching.

[@deedsmillar6056]

or get a seaplane

[@danpolk]

Scott - you represent the best people in aviation. All of us, the world....benefit from the knowledge you deliver. I hope your KZbin channel helps you live well. All of us live better because of your effort.

[@FlyWirescottperdue]

Thanks Dan, I appreciate that.

[@skycop56]

Perhaps the best lesson here is to not stall, but to land the airplane on the water at slowest possible speed using full flaps. I think it was Bob Hoover who said “fly the plane into the crash as long as possible”.

[@leeadams5941]

Great Video, this is more about the ferry pilot...one thing I learned from many hours over water is always wear the essentials, of course we flew in flight suits so we had a lot more pockets to use...but I find hunting, hiking, flying and even auto trips in storms...wear the essentials always works...

[@healingvibrations7845]

@flywire - scott perdue thank you for your service 🙏

[@oldgeezer3324]

"Nice Steelhead"? ha ha excellent video

[@JRudd]

This channel is outstanding. I'm on the edge of my seat watching these experiences and cases studies. I appreciate what you do Scott.

[@billbarker1950]

Awesome video. I am a former P-3 Aircrewman. We did many SAR missions. Long range patrol aircraft, perfect for that job.

[@Gronicle1]

When the power shuts down it is tough over land or water. Twelve years ago a buddy of mine here in the Coastal Empire of Georgia lost power on take off on a single engine plane he had just done a total rebuild on. He didn't survive and there were no recorders, etc. but the airplane was found about half a mile from the runway, sticking up out of a lake. Looked like it was heading for the field when he stalled and went in vertical. I knew he was testing a new carburetor that week. He had been a big time A&P builder/restorer and flier since the Korean War. I think he just couldn't stand to lose the plane and tried to turn 180 back to the field when he lost power. I like to think he made the choice because there was a big subdivision of homes in front of him and no chance a clean landing with all the live oaks planted along the roads. Seems like in the day when I crewed for USAF over Pacific waters we wore "poopy suits" and life vests as even in the south off California the Japan Current was dang cold and water survival time was in minutes, not hours.

[@mikemaloney5830]

After flying the Rockies and western plains(deserted), I saw a video and was introduced to the idea “ if you ain’t wearing it you won’t have it.” I bought a hunters vest with 8 pockets. Loaded it with simple survival stuff and started wearing it. Good to have during snow storms in my truck or when flying. Paranoid.... I think not! ( I’ve crashed due to mechanical problems twice in 30 years).

[@FlyWirescottperdue]

Good idea Mike!

[@martinjrichter55]

One thing that comes through loud and clear is how little control you have over the situation. There are only a few choices, none good, but a wrong choice has serious consequences. What saved these people in the end is situational awareness.

[@RMR1]

Amazing stories. The only tales of crisis I have involve getting shot at by a crazy mugger in New York, and nearly drowning in an undertow off Nantucket when I was 10. Both of which pale in comparison to ditching into the sea. I'm almost jealous. Almost.

[@Kiteguy]

Mr Perdue Wow! Excellent! Learned a lot! Biggest takeaway. Going to reduce my overwater flights. Have flown overwater for decades. Had Skylane engine quit over Texas fuel starvation. Successful land out. Had engine trouble B737 return to SFO with it at idle. However, neither would compare to a Ditch or water landing. So I considered myself due for a Ditch due to all my time. So good time to substantially reduce my chances by not flying over water. I carry and do all the preparation but now realize it still is VERY risky business. Thank you for the education!! Mark

[@FlyWirescottperdue]

Thanks Mark, Heidi has a book coming out in the next few weeks. It’ll be a good one!

[@bendeleted9155]

These are golden. Minimize the surprise . Thanks very much! 👍

[@marlinweekley51]

Wanna practice ditching? Get a seaplane rating in aircraft type you most often fly if possible. I thought i knew how to fly but when i started flying floats i really learned how to fly. Hints: flying over water? Get that seaplane time. Wear co2 inflatable vest. Slow the plane with nose up and power power for the slowest touch down in water as possible. Engine out - same thing. Keep speed up until flair, try to ditch close to shore. Doors / window open. Wings level. Gravel bar if possible. If time keep trying to start. Good luck. Good video. Thanks great topic.

[@FlyWirescottperdue]

Thanks, I appreciate the input!

[@ThePinkPanth3r]

You may not be trying to shock us Scott, but that water WILL shock you. I spent my summers as a youth in sailing lessons, my only goal was to bot go in the water. The yearly swimming certification of swimming the length of the dock was bad enough.

[@NightOwlModeler]

Yeah, similar sailing exp with me. Once with a friend, not as good a sailor, on a cat we heeled over, lifting the windward hull out of the water, and I lost my grip and went half in the water, but hanging on to the aft starboard fittings of the boat. My friend who was at the helm got her settled back down, then hauled me back up onto the 'deck'. A couple years later I was in a summer activity class in an inner tube behind a speedboat. They decided it would be great fun to 'crack the whip' and send me across the wake. I got launched out of the inner tube, went airborne, ejected from the raft, flew about 10 feet in the air and hit the water. They say that water is like concrete at high speeds... I believe it, that hurt. The last experience with water and sailing was another friend in a cat 16, this time with two really green guys with us and the boat owner. Half way along, a flotation fell off the bow, and all the owner said was "Oh, can't loose that!" as he ran down the deck and jumped off the back! Oh, great, we can't loose the flotation pack, but we can loose the captain?! So I got the two new guys to heave to, and then we're getting ready to position for a man-overboard drill, but by the time I got the two new guys to do the right things, the owner swam back alongside and we helped him up onto the deck. Oh well, I'd still prefer to not be in either a ship or an airplane with as much excitement again, or the two folks in this video. I like having fun, but not that kind of "May you live in interesting times!" level of curse!

[@ncc74656m]

Heidi is my new favorite person, she's a riot.

[@nancychace8619]

Amazing stories. They were all lucky. Seems like she exceptionally so. All guardian angels full tilt boogie- only their halos askew! Amen. Thanks for sharing.

[@jamest6837]

wow those stories are unreal! they did everything right and also had some luck to survive...fantastic!

[@moondyne2034]

Absolutely riveting. Good job!

[@Saltlick11]

Incredible story from Heidi. Damn.

[@merlynmichael8376]

A truly amazing store. To bad the navy didn't have a PBY to send out.

[@tenpiloto]

Brilliant story. I think I would have enjoyed flying with Heidi. Retired after 44 years and 20K hours getting paid to fly, and fortunately never had a forced landing. But I do still do a lot of travel. I wear a travel vest (mine is Scott eVest--there are others available). Several pockets hold everything I need if we have an evac. I always have my passport and other ID, credit cards, cash, phone, a small USB battery pack/charger, a small flashlight, and a survival blanket packet on my person . Unfortunately can't include a knife. AND I do NOT wear flip flops!!

[@FlyWirescottperdue]

Excellent!

[@PaulAnthonyDuttonUk]

My grandfather along with 9 other blokes died in a raft. All drowned from the raft being swamped in heavy seas yet their story is really one of hyperthermia on a cold January in the North Sea. Cold water will take your senses away and put you to sleep in a jiffy. Think in the northern hemisphere survival suits is a kind of a must in this modern age.

[@12345fowler]

Estonia ?

[@b1lyb]

Heidi is a great story teller with a fantastic smile. Go Heidi Go.

[@PondXr]

Thanks Billy! Scott did a great job at editing!

[@GrumpyOldMan2]

Amazing stories. I congratulate Heidi on her cool headiness and logical thinking especially under her circumstances.

[@paulsautocm]

Fantastic, water will zap your energy. thanks for the research.

[@FloridaLightSport]

I used to do overwater surveys in my early career and spent a ton of time thinking through all the scenarios you discussed. To this day, l wear a survival vest and PLB (inReach now) on every flight. No matter where you go down, it’s what you have on you that matters.

[@boomerdog4996]

THAT IS ONE COOL STORY.

[@humrv7]

Pure Gold Gunny - Thanks :-)

[@clearofcloud2038]

Thanks for putting this together; some really good learning there. Thanks to Gerry at Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) for sharing the video with us

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day, Yay Team !!! Excellent Video Scott, absolutely brilliant. I didn't know about the Trans-Pacific Cessna Brigade until getting a job with Sportair Aviation at Bankstown, Sydney, in 1979, whereinat one of the jobs I was on was to pull the Ferry Tanks out of a C-210 Stationair & modify it to meet Oz Safety Standards (Fireproofing all Fuel & Oil Lines forward of the Firewall was the main one...), and retrofitting it's Seats - which were flat-stacked behind the rear Fuselage Tank. The pilot was a US Navy veteran, who said the smallest thing he'd crossed the Pacific in was a C-172, taking off from San Francisco planning on 24 hours to Hawaio with 30 Hours of Fuel - and landing with less than 3 Hours of Motion Lotion remaining... My Boss was gaming the System, buying new Aeroplanes from the Factory, having them ferried to the Coast, mod'ed with Tanks for the Duration, and flown out by Contract Pilots...; then he'd sell New Cessnas for about 20% less than Rex Aviation's Price, the Australian Agent who had to provide the Warranty & Spare-Parts Backup for everything Cessna (!). My Boss was a propper Scoundrel, if not a Cad & Bounder (?)...; he eventually faced charges of Fraudulent Conversion for selling an Aeroplane "on Consignment" and neglecting to inform the Vendor - who encountered the machine in the Buyers' Training School a couple of months after taking delivery...; and 20 years after that he made headlines trying to pull a Real Estate "Coup" which netted him the Council's old Toxic Tar-Pits (a relic of Coal-Gas production on-site, pre 1970s)..., all grassed over with a foot of Topsoil, he was indebted to buy it, under Contract to build a 2-Screen Movie Theatre on the Site, and his Bulldozer sank into the Tar-Pit on the first day of building the Foundations - and then he wore the entire Cleanup Bill under EPA Supervision, because "Caveat Emptor...!". A lot of people might suggest that Arseholes Always get their Just(ifiable ?) Deserts, in the Long Run...; and Warwick Pollard of Sportair Aviation was one such illuminating example. He had the Oz Agency for Pitts, & Bellanca at one time ; and as President of the Royal Australian Aerobatic Club he emptied their Treasury on a FactFinding Mission to the World Champ's. Ciao !

[@lenflier3826]

I hope this never happens to me. But if it does I hope I remember everything in this video. Thanks!

[@in2flying]

So i subscribe to all the GA channels, ( the good ones ) and this one was one of the better ones of all time. So much to ponder as a low time guy. First (and I'll get attacked for this by some), but to me it shows the incredible value in having a BRS. My fear flying a fixed gear plane is flipping (like this female legend pilot) over when ditching, and not having the ability to pull my kids or other passengers out of the backseat. Obviously you still need rafts, life vests and all the right equipment, but I would much rather float down in chute vs cartwheeling the plane or not stalling it just perfect, or high sees etc. . And yes I know the chute isn't going to do you a damn bit of good 700 feet or below. Another reason too to practice slow flight and energy management. An excellent video though Scott. BRS haters I see you lol.

[@justcommenting4981]

BRS has its place. I mainly think of it when hearing about various midair collisions, but I can see it being useful in ditching. I'm not sure how that would behave with waves hitting the chute but at least you shouldn't break your hand.

[@KLeVoyBarnes]

My cousin Rick Brickert elected to land off-field in Lemon Valley and died from the fire and burn him in half. He had a detonation cord in the canopy and elected to not bail out. I believe Reno Air Races and Stead Field need a lake that if, like Rick, the runways are occupied by other emergencies, and he needed someplace else to go. If you are on fire - then head to the water.

[@ccpperrett7522]

Great stories that ended well. Thank you. I would love to hear more of Heidi's story.

[@treylem3]

Awesome stories here, ditching and survival.!

[@nelsonmorales6831]

Wow! What a story. Thank You! Very inspiringy

[@edwardwerthner7717]

I used to fly freight in the Caribbean in a C208 with the cargo pod. The Cessna hand book never had a water ditching Procedure. The pt -6 is a great motor ,thank God. It did bother me at night . I knew if I had to ditch it would be the end.

[@LJDRVR]

Outstanding content, Scott! You are so rigt about how quickly things happen. I had an engine failure in a Stinson once after takeoff and ditched in a lake. You make a few quick decisions and it's over. And yes, the airplane flips and fills with water quicker than it takes to read this sentence.

[@uralbob1]

Way to go Heidi! What a story! This was a really great episode!

[@burnsloads]

My friend were really good at this.

[@76pilotpeters43]

About the only complaint I have about the Sully ditching is that I would have put it so close to the shore you could have walked off the wingtip to dry land. At least in my mind I would have. I wasn't there.

[@youngskyculler]

Anxious for the next video on this topic.

[@plane-fuzz]

Outstanding job and presentation from ALL!

[@bnewton239]

wow, very intense video. thanks for sharing.

[@richardaldom741]

Wow, what an adventure she had. Thx for sharing

[@warplanner8852]

Beautiful Steerman (?) behind you there, old son!

[@lyfandeth]

Speaking of "where is your phone", in any type of vehicle if you have a cell phone, do yourself a favor and get a phone holder that will grasp the phone even during an impact. If you need that phone in an emergency, the last thing you need is to play hide and seek, only to find the phone is smashed from being thrown like a hardball.

[@DARANGULAFILM]

Your restrained style of to-camera is honest presentation of substance. This is a welcome contrast to some of the more "driven" deliveries. Many emulate free-to-air commercial television complete with long headers, themes and hooks. Your intro is short and to the point. Some other hosts can sometimes verge on irritatingly strident.

[@FlyWirescottperdue]

Thanks for watching. I'm sure others would say I am irritating in other ways;)

[@chandlerhull5988]

Thanks so much for bringing us these stories Scott. Absolutely incredible, I can't believe I've never heard of Heidi before.

[@PARTner91]

Awesome guests with great stories, one of the better vids I’ve seen lately. Thanks Scott.

[@hamishkebb3550]

Another excellent safety video. Really shows how immediate and prepared you need to be . In person reports are great.

[@colinwallace5286]

In Heidi’s story, she mentioned how the P3 pilots shut an engine down to save fuel. They wilfully turned themselves into a single engine plane over open ocean because she asked them to. Makes you realize that whole “sheepdog” analogy is so true, and that you’re in good hands. Cold War or not, the Russians did what sailors have always done. Pretty amazing.

[@FlyWirescottperdue]

The P3 is a 4 engine turbo prop and they commonly shut one down and occasionally shut two down when hunting for subs.

[@colinwallace5286]

@@FlyWirescottperdue Well... I definitely learned something today Thanks. I take it it’s a fairly large plane then?

[@donc9751]

Super interesting topic and what a wild experience!!! The Columbia River is bad enough, the Ocean 500 plus miles from land would be a nightmare! I took flying lessons out of the Troutdale Airport in a V tail, same color as that one many years ago and flying up the Columbia River on a sunny day is like flying over the emerald Valley! But not near as pretty when you're standing on a wing knowing you're going to have to swim and that rivers current is quite a bit stronger than I ever thought it would be, found that out the 1st time I ever dumped a wave runner out in the middle, it's scary strong even with a life jacket on. Excellent video!!

[@williamtrusler1508]

Amazing stories. Looking forward to the next chapter!

[@clerkmaxwell7912]

More Please 👍

[@bradmarcum2927]

What a great video. Cannot wait for the follow-up.

[@TIO540S1]

I just have to say WOW!

[@scottwarner7264]

Great video Scott love the interviews, always powerful to hear first hand accounts.

[@alexagha-khan4538]

you sir are awesome! and reports and commentaries and advice is simply priceless! You face, your voice, and personality is made for teaching, you are a joy to listen to. Thank you for sharing Heidi's story. I am going to go and find the three hour version of it and listen to it. Keep up the good work. I/we learn so much from your videos. Keep up the good work. I hope you are actively making accident reports on current events (Dec 2021). Blessings!

[@davidconnolly7693]

One of your best videos Scott! This was fascinating!!

[@Coops777]

Thankyou so much Scott. Very helpful advice