A Pilot’s Blog
A blog about aviation, aviation news, and space.

By now, no doubt everyone has heard of the miraculous water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 after multiple birdstrikes on takeoff disabled both of her engines. All 155 souls on board survived the landing thanks to the impeccable skills of Captain Chesley Sullenberger, First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, the entire cabin crew, and all of the rescuers who quickly came to their aid.

A US Coast Guard surveillance video has been released that shows the splashdown of the aircraft as well as the initial rescue operations. The splashdown happens in the far left frame at around 2:00 in. Within seconds, once the video operator zooms in on the aircraft, passengers are already filing out onto the wings. And not more than three minutes after landing, the first boat arrives. Absolutely amazing response. Way to go NYC!

According to an article on Flight Global, the Air Force is considering their options for replacement of the two VC-25 Presidential aircraft (known as Air Force One when the President is on board), with three new aircraft in 2017, 2019, and 2021. The obvious choice would be the 747-8I, Boeing’s latest model of the 747 line. However, the Air Force is also considering other alternatives, including the Airbus A380. I sincerely hope that the Air Force stays with Boeing. It would be a shame for the President of the United States of America to be riding around on a foreign aircraft. The Air Force may end up with a foreign replacement for their tankers, and I can live with that, but for the sheer image that it presents, the primary “Air Force One” should only be American.

I’m sure by now most of you have seen those fascinating photos modified by the “tilt-shift” method that makes the subject of the photo look miniature. Someone has created a clever online tool to easily modify your own photos with this method: TiltShiftMaker.com.

I tested it out with this picture I took in 2002 at Wendover Air Field in Wendover, NV. The result is here. Pretty slick.

On this day in 2004, the first of two Mars rovers, Spirit, successfully landed on the red planet. Originally only a 90-day mission, the rovers’ longevity has surprised everyone. Three cheers for all of the scientific discoveries made thus far by the rovers, and for those to come! Way to go NASA!