I flew an L-1011 a couple of times years ago. . . massive plane. Hard to tell you were moving sometimes. It was very impressive.
Landed in one, January or February it was, many, many, many years ago.
I knew I had felt the gear go down.
But I kept watching the runway come up. For a sec I was afraid we were too low with no deployed gear because the runway was THERE.
Yes, he landed it that smoothly. My father (RIP) and I personally complimented the pilot and the co-pilot on their skill. Amazing.
It’s the only time I never actually felt contact with the runway. Impressive.
I flew an L-1011 out of Calgary when an engine strut came loose and was sucked into the turbine, breaking turbine blades as it went. It felt and sounded like a machine gun firing. We went back to Calgary and landed on a runway lined with emergency vehicles.
But, shiite happens, and my reaction to the thought of dying right away was, “Well, it’s been nice.”