[fugazi]

I imagine pulling Ocean Station duties (we maintained several weather boats during the Cold War) had to be incredibly boring duty. You're literally 1,000 miles from anywhere.

[mosesdapoet]

If you can get a pix of the Pan Am sea plane it would really add to your posting.

[AndyJackson]

Very interesting story. There is a point that I would like to underscore from this about reliability engineering. You are not safer with 4 low reliability engines when the plane can barely fly on 3 engines - the probability of a disaster is the probability of a failure of less reliable engine - not divided by 4 but multiplied by 4. That is why passengers are much better off on a 787 where a lot of engineering and quality control have gone into ensuring that the two engines that are there are extremely reliable.

Bottom line - there is no safety in numbers when you are only as strong as your weakest link.

[Founding Father]

Stupendous...

[BobL]

Those were the days. We had a HUGE MILITARY (far bigger than today’s) and used them only when needed, as opposed to satisfying John McCain’s desires. Back then if the Kurds wanted to wage jihad against Turkey, about all the support they’d get from us would be a note saying something like “have at it, boys”.

[fruser1]

I would say the last flight I actually found enjoyable was on Pan Am. That was due as much to the absence of TSA as it was due to the in-cabin experience.

[Clutch Martin]

“I imagine pulling Ocean Station duties (we maintained several weather boats during the Cold War) had to be incredibly boring duty. You’re literally 1,000 miles from anywhere.”

They probably played a lot of Cribbage, but I did hear a story about an ocean station relief ship that was coming up to relieve the ship on Ocean station and they noticed when they got close there was a crewman pushing a lawn mower on one of the weather decks. The initial thought was probably “these guys are crazy from being out here so long...”

Well it turns out this particular crewman would bring lawn mowers on board the ship so when he was out on Ocean station he could repair the lawn mowers in then he would sell them once he got back to shore.

[gcparent]

Amazing story. In the middle of the ocean. Think of all the publicity Capt. Schilly got for landing in the Hudson.

[wetgundog]

The History Guy on Facebook has a complete episode on this rescue. Semper Paratus! USCG

[Blogatron]

I think I'll watch one of my favorite movies tonight.

[oldbill]

A similar story happening at the same Ocean Station November with the military version of the Stratocruiser, the C-97, can be found here:

https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/above-amp-beyond-mission-unaccomplished-27032965/?all

Not to ruin your vacation plans, but the mid-point of the route between California and Hawaii where Ocean Station November used to park is the most remote from land airway segment in the world. There you are farther from land, and any divert base, than anywhere else in the world, 1100 miles.
(Yes, there is a more remote spot in the sub-Antarctic South Pacific, but no one flies there.)

[marktwain]

This looks as if a crewman was on guard against sharks with a Thompson. Anyone have any knowledge?

Shark watch was mentioned in the film.

[moovova]

Outstanding video.

[tophat9000]

Funny in the movie “Sully” they had the question

” when’s the last time you ever heard of an airliner ditching and everybody survived?”

Well before the “Miracle on the Hudson” this is the last time and airliner ditched and everybody survived

[yldstrk]

My God, that is a riveting video! What a bunch of amazing people!