WE ARE NEVER FLYING AT NIGHT AGAIN | Cordova to Sitka Part 2

[@felsenpanzer]

Your cool confident demeanor would be welcome in any cockpit. I learn so much watching these. Great job team!

[@FLY8MA]

The team keeps getting stronger! Thanks for watching!

[@slm5292]

This guy is a master. Amazing how he calmed and directed what was destined to be a crisis situation.

[@watchfordpilot]

Awesome guys, good job. Got caught in a similar way in the UK a few years back. Didn't want to collide with rising ground, did a 180 (I'm only VFR) went back. Got the plane in the hangar and by the time we closed the doors vis was 20yds. That why i was feeling it with you. Cheers.

[@FLY8MA]

That's awesome, sometimes it sneaks up on you. At this point it was more dangerous to turn back than keep going. Good on you for making the right decision.

[@floatplanebox]

This reminds me a lot of back when I operated floats out of Juneau. We often dealt with the same kind of weather (although never at night)

[@todossantosmusic9070]

Never a quiver in your voice, nice easy professional and confident directions to Steff. Great video.

[@stephdachef]

Hey! What about the one flying the plane?! hahaha!

[@ryandorn7831]

Great Pilotage Jon! A+ decision making w/ the Pop Up IFR call and not going to 6000 for icing conditions. I have a lot to learn!

[@airstation2030]

Excellent demonstration of the critical role of a two pilot crew in conducting contact flight under the shadow of a high threat environment....the preflight route briefing would be great to see as well...true, .not for beginners yet a great display for all to see a flightcrew at work.....the cold water immersion suit is a mixed blessing as egress underwater or post impact with terrain unless well practiced is time consuming.....well done

[@redleader]

it never became dangerous because you kept it safe! Pretty simple really. Good coaching and coaxing.

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks Damon, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@davidpatterson5617]

I was white-knuckled just watching the video. Nice job.

[@FLY8MA]

Haha! It was interesting for sure!

[@danielblanchard5768]

Glad you arrive well

[@infotechsailor]

@7:45 -- what about talking to controller makes it so relieving? They get to hear you screaming right before you slam into a mountain!! Hahha this dude is hilarious. Please be my CFI

[@FLY8MA]

Would hate to sugar coat things!

[@hamrite]

Yep, in France, controllers are so arrogant and despizing, pilots are shy to ask for help, and this results in people getting killed. Asking help from someone who can help you get over disorientation, a process many pilots can get into without knowing ... ask for detail about Kennedy's crash with his wife ... controllers can be a huge help.

[@bentleyemory6821]

I know it is quite off topic but does anybody know a good website to watch newly released tv shows online?

[@deshawniker9359]

@Bentley Emory I use flixzone. Just google for it =)

[@dakarimerrick5697]

@Deshawn Iker Yup, been using Flixzone for months myself =)

[@billroberts9182]

Really enjoyed the video- but I don't like that feeling! Distances in Alaska are great, and often there are very few alternatives! I once lost an oil return line, and entirely by luck I landed before my engine seized (still had 1 and 1/2 qts of oil in the sump. Because of my personal experience, I don't fly over water unless I can glide to land! A dry suit will keep you alive for an extra hour before you then die. I have carried a small 4 man life raft but I'm not sure that would do any good but prolong things. Fair winds and VFR!

[@FLY8MA]

That's a crazy story... Glad it turned out alright!

[@jeefflanyt]

WOW, I had this strong urge to go outside and kiss the ground after this one. I am a low time VFR pilot and watching this I got those butterflies in the pit of your stomach feeling, that feeling when you are looking over the edge of the Hoover dam (went there when it was still open to look over) the tingling feeling like you just took a slap to the, well you know. I like how you both kept your calm in a very tense situation. Thanks for the informative and enjoyable posts. I love them, keep em coming. P.S. However, thanks to you, I will no longer being flying within 4 hours of sunrise or sunset, any visible precipitation, any wind, nothing less than full tanks, forever in a survival suit, a CAPs system and the Coast Guard in tow both in the air and on the sea.

[@stephdachef]

hahahaha! Well I'm glad at least we're making people out there safer pilots! Life is an adventure and gotta live it to the fullest. Always better to be safe than sorry, yet sometimes it can sneak up on you. Situations like this put you to the test for sure

[@revco696]

This is exactly why I'm still on the fence for renewing my expired PPL. I live in Alaska now and every bone in my body wants to be in the air again, but I read regular stories of thousand+ hour pilots that get in to trouble fast up here. I've never flown with glass, it makes everything look so much easier than it used to be, but nothing about rapidly changing conditions and terrain is easy. Great job working the challenge & really enjoying these Alaska series.

[@stephdachef]

Thanks for watching! Don't hesitate to get flying again if that's your passion! Life is too short! Just make sure you start slow and always leave yourself a way out..

[@pcfire0364]

I flew part 135 in 207s up there for many years. I’m alive..most of the guys I flew with that stayed up there aren’t. What’s that tell ya?

[@kevchilton908]

A brilliant 2nd edition that didn’t disappoint! You work great together and your adventures make great viewing. Being only a low hours private pilot, I wish I had an airline pilot in the right seat sometimes! It was fascinating seeing your experience and skill take over when it got a bit sketchy 👌👍

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks Kevin! It was great teamwork for sure.

[@Aero360Aviation]

Edge of my seat the whole time

[@FLY8MA]

Glad we could make you feel like we did in that situation! lol

[@deanmerculief6326]

Talk to the local pilots. They do this all the time. Scum running just below the clouds. Of course it helps if you are familiar with the area that you are flying in to pull it off. Great job on working together. Keep the blue skies above and many miles to come in your adventures.

[@MrJaree]

That was tense. I need a drink!

[@freeandeasy9795]

Kind of intense... Good Job

[@gvrose1]

Glad you made it safely and your in a very cool B&B! Enjoy your trip, day by day.

[@FLY8MA]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@reyesben]

Way to keep your cool and leverage all your tech. I would have been nervous feeling like I’m hanging on the prop. Epic journey! Thank you!

[@FLY8MA]

Hahaha...it was interesting....ipad makes it doable...without that we'd be spending a lot more time on the ground!

[@jayphilipwilliams]

Calm, cool, and collected. Good job. Also enjoying the outtakes at the end. Just binge watched every video on this channel in the past couple days.

[@stephdachef]

Thanks Jay! Hope you've been enjoying all the episodes!!

[@FLY8MA]

Glad to have you on board!

[@cmcer1995]

Well, that made me really anxious for you two. Luckily you had each other to deal with this situation and excellent navigation and flying. No night flying for me either. I need a drink after this.

[@Mike7478F]

Tricky flight. Now we get an idea of how things can go wrong quickly. Calm thinking and practical menuevers are vital.

[@FLY8MA]

Yep, learning more and more each time. Weather can be so sneaky

[@fahnestockjohn]

Another great video - and great flying. Thanks for sharing. BTW - a few years back I flew the Alaska highway (from Melbourne, FL - and back) in a C-172, but didn't have the balls to take this route along the water. Now, I think I know why! :^)

[@FLY8MA]

Probably the best route to take, just way way longer

[@luscombe8fan358]

Why not be on VFR flight following on the trip before the pop up was needed?

[@alexmccabe1948]

Great job staying calm and maintaining situational awareness👍🏼

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks Duke, glad you're enjoying the adventure!

[@HEXpertStaker]

Awesome job, guys! So appreciate the ride along. God Bless!

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks for watching!

[@bcabmac]

Good job...Cautious awareness makes for another day alive.....because stupid decisions can win you stupid prizes. Like a free trip to the morgue.

[@billjesstaylor]

Alaska Flying at its best!!!

[@flycatchful]

You made me feel that I was part of your experience. Not too many posting on KZbin can pull that off.

[@FLY8MA]

Awesome!! Glad to have you along for the ride!!!

[@Thrust-Set-Simulations]

Really great idea there to get ATC involved. 👍🏻

[@stephdachef]

Yep, just made us breathe a little easier :)

[@acnorea123]

Awesome, thanks for the videos.

[@buckbuchanan5849]

Enjoyed! Thanks for posting

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks Buck! We appreciate the support!

[@imontime77]

Glad you two are still bee bopping along. btw, I love turning on the CC and see what it makes up from the radio talk. (gawd i'm a cheap date)

[@FLY8MA]

Hahaha....can't imagine what it thinks we're saying....that would be painful to go in and type the transcript, I already have to listen to my own voice way too much doing all this editing!

[@christiancormier7847]

Great job you two! Good CRM!

[@chrisross2916]

Ouch! I guess the takeaway was 'Don't try this at home, folks'? Glad you made it in one piece.

[@FLY8MA]

Pretty much! Thanks for watching :)

[@BangBangChicken]

That was super interesting! Great work and thanks for sharing.

[@FLY8MA]

Sure thing! Fly safe!

[@Pantherjonvideos]

Great pilotage there Stephanie! Certainly some real , ummm, pucker factor there!

[@stephdachef]

Lol @pucker factor... Thanks Jon! You really get to know yourself as a pilot when put in situations like these.. not the first and won't be the last even though I don't try to push weather! The key is in how you react to it. My friend who taught me how to fly always says don't be afraid of going IMC, and never stop flying the airplane!

[@GARYMANDIEVAN]

Great Job

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks for watching Gary

[@WendelltheSongwriter]

Very professionally handled, great instructional work, Jon.

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks!

[@stealhty1]

CRM at its best ,thx for share,have faith in your plane

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks for watching! We love our little delta!

[@JZainbear]

Really excellent job and video. ATC trying to send you to 6K and icing at night is a classic NTSB case. Good call as PIC. Every student should watch this video. BTW you have bigger stones than I do, I never would have left the ground.

[@stephdachef]

Yeah it was definitely one of those "unable" situations to follow atc directions... Had we known we wouldn't have left either, we flew over 5 hours that day and definitely got the unexpected wx and inaccurate forecasts

[@Chris-hq7nl]

So when you're doing this type of flying, how much does it help having the second pilot and how do you divide the workload?

[@stephdachef]

Usually I just fly the plane and Jon does everything else, it is definitely tricky to always be on the same page but the more we fly together the better it gets. Sketchy situations bring out some solid teamwork that would be very stressful as just a single pilot.

[@victoryismine2926]

This makes me want to fly all the more.

[@JodelFlyer]

Very good video and interesting stuff (especially the chat between the two of you) Well done, between you, on what turned out to be a difficult flight and what I expect was a tricky edit.

[@FLY8MA]

We're definitely learning to work together as a team! Thanks for watching!

[@johnnybumpous9108]

Glad you made it, lol...looking forward to more videos.

[@FLY8MA]

Cheers!

[@stephdachef]

Thanks for watching Johnny!

[@bjs2022]

I wish there was a fuel injected engine in the upgraded 170. No possibility of carburetor icing is one less issue to manage. A heated pito would be nice, too.

[@stephdachef]

I'm thinking about upgrading to fuel injected when I do the overhaul.. It does have pitot heat at least :)

[@KB4QAA]

bjs: Get a carb temp guage.

[@bjs2022]

Pelican1984 Yes, I think Stephanie may have one. And, she has pitot heat. I got my first license in a Cessna 172 in 1962 (several, actually, at the flight school where I trained in Minnesota) and those did not have a carburetor heat gauge or pitots with heaters.

[@MikeNaples]

Awesome vid, I was nervous even knowing you survived. Also, always wondered what language those flight controllers used. I can hear bits of English but the rest is incomprehensible.

[@everettmccoy1879]

In the famous words of Owen Wilson: "Wow".

[@stephdachef]

Hey! Those are my words too! lol

[@bushman907]

im glad you debriefed it at the end of the video...i was gonna say, alaska, marginal vfr at night in mountain terrain, cant be the smartest move. good on ya.

[@karlb8481]

Nice work! Alaskamazing!

[@stevet8121]

Most excellent. New subscriber here. Thanks for the videos.

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks for watching! Hope you've been enjoying our previous episodes!

[@tomkelly3896]

Cute gal...wish her all the best

[@garygazman3827]

2000’ with limited VFR? Just curious , what was the MEA for the area you were in ?

[@FLY8MA]

There's some MOCAs around 2k, but it involved going out furth over water. That was sort of our last ditch option if the ipad failed... Always good to have some sort of a way out...

[@heelstothefloor3390]

Glad u guys made it in ok. You encountered my #1 fear of flying XC at night. Encouraging me to start my instrument training pronto.

[@stephdachef]

Even if you never have to use it, the IFR rating will make you a way better, more precise, pilot!

[@heelstothefloor3390]

I started my instrument ground school last week! Baby steps in right direction!

[@trekadvisor2865]

Awesome job guys.

[@stephdachef]

Thanks!

[@tailwheelpilot1234]

Great video. Thanks for sharing it.

[@stephdachef]

Thanks for watching!

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks for watching!

[@donjennings2975]

Nerves of steel. :)

[@stephdachef]

haha Thanks Don!

[@alaskanstoneguys]

Bad ass Great job

[@stephdachef]

Thanks!

[@shawnmccrary5526]

Yeah you’ve been rather bold flying that route. Topeka Ks to Glennallen Alaska took 30 flying hours going via Alcan Hwy. The roads great to land on for weather and breaks. Not many spots to land on the water route south. You’re learning Alaskan flying is so different from Florida flying. Great videos and editing. Lots of history to see flying the Alcan route. Nothings worth making history on the water route.

[@FLY8MA]

Haha...ya, we'll probably think about the Alcan going back north this summer!

[@shawnmccrary5526]

FLY8MA Your a Top Pilot and an incredibly skillful and intelligent guy. I caught some videos of yours a year or so before your Alaskan Adventures. You’re all about safety and procedures and we all learn and enjoy watching you both sharing the adventures of aviation. The water route bothers me just because I’ve been around and know as you do that so much of that route doesn’t allow for a safe emergency landing. Great videos. Thanks for sharing !

[@ginacalabrese3869]

That terrain map is pretty handy.

[@FLY8MA]

It's a must! Couldn't do that without it!

[@stephdachef]

Yeah I didn't know about it before this flight.. definitely a great tool

[@AV8R_1]

I stopped flying night because of a similar situation. Wasn’t in full IMC, but visibility went low enough and there was no terrestrial lighting to use as a ground reference. Flipped on the landing light to see I was going in and out of small clouds that were not supposed to be there. It was scary enough for me. I didn’t have the benefit of any type of glass. Best I had was a non-WAAS GNS 430. I was IFR rated, but was in a non IFR helicopter with no autopilot. Was not cool.

[@stephdachef]

Scary stuff. That's why I upgraded that panel, no use in being IFR rated if your machine is not...

[@AV8R_1]

@@stephdachef This was a unique situation. By Airplane standards the Helicopter was fully IFR capable. I even used it to get my IFR endorsement, so I had no trouble diverting to the VMC airport I had departed about 10 minutes prior, but by a purely legal standpoint the Helicopter has to be equipped with everything required in an airplane, as well as a three axis autopilot and stability augmentation with hover capability to be fully legal for IFR in a Helicopter. Because it wasn't equipped with the autopilots I couldn't legally get a popup clearance and continue IFR.

[@JuanFrank]

Sketchy approach to say the least .... nice job guys !!

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks Juan! Yep, kinda sketchy but with our powers combined we did just fine :)

[@jamesward6503]

Now try it with Paper Charts/Approach Plates, Steam Gauges and a red lens Flashlight...LOL

[@FLY8MA]

If that ipad had gone blank I would've declared an emergency. lol We rely pretty heavily on the terrain awareness from that thing at night!

[@chrisseyfarth2473]

@@FLY8MA does that concern you? Heavily relaying on one navigation meathod seems a bit risky. Not criticism, just curious about you thought process.

[@fly8ma.comflighttraining199]

@@chrisseyfarth2473 we still have lots of backups and ways out...but loosing the iPad would qualify as an emergency for me because of what it would entail in using back up navigation and having to fly a less preferred routing

[@stephdachef]

Really unbelievable to think about pilots flying IFR back in the day.. those guys that did it are amazing!

[@AkPacerPilot]

Stephanie Blanchard from what I can tell in my ifr studying, back in the day it was easier, as you didn’t have so many options to sift thru to figure it out. Ie only a few approaches vs dozens of different approaches for 1 place. :-)

[@edwardwilson8527]

Do I hear a little flight chops at 0:04? Haha, love your videos so much!

[@FLY8MA]

LOL thanks Edward!

[@chriscropley4852]

That orange Cessna in the back that’s my grandpas plane that I fly in

[@jessicataylor8536]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh lots of ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ... :(

[@chrisbjohannsen]

Does Steph have her instrument ticket? If not I bet that flight convinced her!

[@stephdachef]

I do have my IFR, also upgraded the panel on the 170 to get the rating but also for situations like this!

[@powderhog2]

@@stephdachef I just bought a 170B. What did you upgrade your panel with? Would love something like yours in mine.

[@rbsims6376]

That looked like HARD work....

[@FLY8MA]

It was interesting for sure!

[@vintagejake]

Whew!

[@FLY8MA]

I know right!

[@ttskfpr7583]

Wow, wow...take a look at these comments! Goes to show what the audience craves, “life and death moments”. If only you can repeat this similar scenario on all videos the subscribers rate would overflow...lol. However, rather you stick to your game-plan because I am enjoying flying with you both and wishing you always a safe trip....GREAT VIDEO!😎🇺🇸

[@FLY8MA]

Hahahaha....ya, I'll just almost kill myself more often and I'll be so popular!!! lol ....we're doing our best to play it safe! Thanks and Safe Flying!

[@stephdachef]

hahaha, what is fun is that we never know how a flight is going to go when we start it (and the cams). My favorite part of all these videos is that they are very real and raw. Thanks for watching!

[@AkPacerPilot]

Excellent way to handle that!

[@stephdachef]

Thanks Andy! Teamwork at its best.. was very happy to be on the ground after that!

[@AkPacerPilot]

Stephanie Blanchard, I bet! Kind of weird thing is, I was just studying pop up ifr requests literally the day before this video. :-)

[@stanspiper]

I like it! U2 an item? Ja Ja

[@billjesstaylor]

I busted your ballz some time ago in a video where you criticized the guy who stalled practicing for STOL and put his plane into the deck. You reviewed the incident with the “driving instructor” (CFI) mentality, even though these guys are flying “NASCAR” so to speak. Now you see what it’s like flying at the edge of the envelope. Sometimes you fall off. If you would have fallen off on this flight, I’m sure one of your CFI KZbin buddies would have detailed what went wrong when things got “dicey” or “sketchy.” Just keep that in mind when you offer your perspective/criticism for how someone is flying. Don’t take this wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed this vid and Welcome to Flying in Alaska!!!

[@conradmission729]

Amazing thanks for sharing 🤗😊

[@FLY8MA]

Thanks for watching!

[@garygazman3827]

Sorry , Meant MEF (Minimum Elevation Figure) for that area ?

[@MYCHANNELWITHMYSTUFF]

2,400 - 5,400 along the coast

[@donemory7459]

You guys did great! Really enjoyed the VID. Thanks for sharing. Don

[@FLY8MA]

Sure thing Don! Fly safe!

[@stephdachef]

Thanks for watching Don!

[@davidhendrix5171]

Great job? MVFR is tough. For me it usually gets worse before it gets better. I can't imagine life before Foreflight.

[@stephdachef]

Ya me either.. My friend that taught me how to fly didn't let me use even a gps for the first few months. Everything was done with VORs and paper charts

[@Pilot-Stefan]

And I thought landing on a slippery runway was stressful. At least I was quite sure the worst thing was that I would slide of the runway with a prop strike. This probably would make me throw up. 🤮And I had CAVOK and great visibility so I could always divert! 👍😃

[@stephdachef]

It could always be worse right?!

[@chrislewis5150]

Great communication between you guys 👍🏽

[@stephdachef]

Thanks, can be challenging sometimes to stay on the same page so lots of communication is key

[@JZainbear]

Look at the good side. You didn't start icing and have your tablet die with 200ft ceiling having to go missed.

[@stephdachef]

Arriving safely is always the good side!!

[@stefanpssp1]

Single engine piston (not fuel injected) over very cold water. you guys have guts. Just wish that Foreflite worked in Africa as well as it does in the US. Cant get any IF stuff loaded which would help with the unpredictable weather conditions in Tanzania

[@stephdachef]

I'm definitely considering upgrading to fuel injected when I do the overhaul.. wow can't imagine life with good garmin pilot. Would love to go fly in Africa though! Some real bush flying there!

[@stefanpssp1]

@@stephdachef You should definitely come visit for a flying trip. Its a different kind of experience to fly here.

[@a7i20ci7y]

I've landed in worse vis, with a cross wind. On my fourth try. With military grade avionics. In simulation. lol Good job guys!

[@timwynn6079]

well in real-world, you will almost most likely not associate cross/tail/headwind with the IMC/minimum condition due to the nature of the stable airmass, it's either +5 vis with a x-wind or calm imc day.

[@FLY8MA]

LOL that's a good way to learn too! (and probably smarter)

[@a7i20ci7y]

@@FLY8MA The Falcon BMS "Impossible landing" scenario is pretty intense. I've watched some other people do it and they used their HUD a lot. I kept my head down and mostly used the HSI until minima.

[@Mike-01234]

Is that what they call Scud running

[@FLY8MA]

Pretty much!

[@stuntmanhn]

7:48 hehehe

[@stephdachef]

LOL

[@rodeosound]

Was she a student???

[@FLY8MA]

Nope, she's a commercial pilot with instrument rating.

[@GrowinAlaska]

Having been a commercial pilot in Ak since 91, all I can say is flying imc in anything less than a twin turbine is a foolish endeavor.

[@LC-bp9ri]

My question is why didn’t you guys already have an IFR clearance when flying around terrain like that at night?

[@FLY8MA]

Can't fly close to shore under IFR and stay low enough to be out of the ice!

[@hpijeep]

I tried to find an email for you on your website, I have a heated/cooled hangar in central Missouri with enough free space for your plane, and truck/camper. I don't know how to contact you? hoping this reaches you.

[@FLY8MA]

Hey!!! Thanks for reaching out! Shoot me an email to [e-mail] and we can connect there.

[@hpijeep]

FLY8MA sent thanks!

[@stephdachef]

That sounds amazing! Thank you!

[@stanbearup9200]

I watched that with clinched butt cheeks. You both did a great job!

[@stephdachef]

Lmao, thanks Stan

[@leatherwoodjay]

You’re on a boat? Where’s your flippy floppies?

[@FLY8MA]

My toes get cold about 30 degrees latitude.... 😂

[@leatherwoodjay]

Lol..ok

[@stephdachef]

A cold cold boat

[@413Glass]

Love the video but consider removing background music when speaking. It's interfering with voice reception and recognition

[@bmorri2088]

Drop in rpm

[@carlhopkinson]

What VFR...you can't see crap.

[@stephdachef]

Ummmmm... yep

[@CaptSly]

Where was the scary part?

[@williamdavis9289]

Please tell me why you would even put yourself iñ that position . Hurry hurry hurry got get there . I use to like your videos after that No you had her life in your hands think about could have turned out bad Glad you guys are ok . Out

[@carlhopkinson]

Disorientation.

[@stephdachef]

That's what was great about having two pilots on board.. cross check