Ah! Now that makes sense WIG, Wing In Ground effect

http://www.se-technology.com/wig/index.php

Wing In Ground effect aerodynamics
Ever since the beginning of manned flight pilots have experienced something strange when landing an aircraft. Just before touchdown it suddenly feels like the aircraft just does not want to go lower. It just wants to go on and on due to the air that is trapped between the wing and the runway, forming an air cushion. The air cushion is best felt in low wing aircraft with large wing areas. This phenomenon is called (aerodynamic) ground effect.

The seaplane Dornier DO-X could only cross the Atlantic when it was flying with its hull just above the wavecrests. In the second World War pilots knew that when they lost an engine or fuel on the way back from the enemy that they could reach home by flying just a few metres above the sea, thus needing less power and saving fuel.

Now that the crisis is over and everyone appears safe, I’ve go to ask: did anyone actually use their seat cushion as a flotation device?

Yes. I saw at least one survivor on TV talking about people using them.

Landing an airliner on a river without cartwheeling, burying a wing with only one engine working, or damaging the fuselage is incredibly difficult, and he saved 150 lives with his skill.

Neither engine was working…

My 17-year-old son is training to be a pilot–he could learn a lot from this incident, and this pilot.

Hats off also to all the Coast Guard personnel and ferryboat captains who picked up passengers. One passenger said that the air reeked of jet fuel–there was a huge danger of an explosion, and the ferryboats went TOWARD the danger (with others on board) to rescue passengers from the plane, which was sinking into frigid waters. They and the pilot and crew are America’s finest.

Memo to John Kerry: Forget about goose-hunting in Ohio–try it around LaGuardia Airport, you can save some lives.

Lot’s of excitement here – he’s from my hometown and graduated with my mother, my father-in-law, and many family friends.

What a credit to his profession and to America.

I dont think any lawsuits can fly after the plane didn’t, either. No ones fault.

johnnyU on January 15, 2009 at 11:37 PM

What country do you live in? Lawyers from NY to NC were salivating as the rest of us held our breath.

And this is why you DON’T want drunk pilots on the cockpit.

loudmouth883 on January 16, 2009 at 7:13 AM

Drunk pilots “On the cockpit”?…im ok with that, I dont want them IN the cockpit! HAHA

And this is why you DON’T want drunk pilots on the cockpit.

Even though I don’t work there anymore, BRAVO ZULU to the pilot, crew and New Yorkers who stepped in and made sure everybody made it out A-OK and took care of this situation promptly. Geesh, even the infant on board! :D

Yeah I was thinking of pets on USAir. I flew from SJU to PIT with my then Severe Macaw, with me under my seat or in front of it.

What I find shocking, is that NY US PORT Auth. kept that thing from sinking and dragged it to shore as if it was a ship… :O Now that is a big WOW. I wish I was there to see the whole thing unfold.

Now I wonder if it was a small boat or medium sized, if they would have let it sink or would’ve attempted to keep it afloat.

Trace Gallagher says he used to barefoot water ski. The cold water is apparently good news for an emergency landing.
And that is utterly stupid too…
firepilot on January 15, 2009 at 5:38 PM

OK, we are all quick to point out “stupid comments” and I think maybe a few of us cavalierly make our own. But it’s…ok, when WE do it! HAHA

anything with Air trapped inside of it floats
this is how boats work
jp on January 15, 2009 at 5:00 PM

NO! haha…thats how balloons work! Boats are all about displacement. But yes, IF a boat were sealed containing air, it would float, but thats not whats going on in boats.

That pilot is one bad-ass pilot. To bring that down in a narrow river without grabbing a wing and flipping is just amazing. Give this guy a medal.
rivlax on January 15, 2009 at 7:11 PM

“Narrow River”??? really? that ain’t Cripple Creek out there! HAHA

The Hudson won’t be freezing, trust me. Water temp is 41 degrees currently. I grew up a few blocks from the river. Never saw it frozen.
JammieWearingFool on January 15, 2009 at 5:15 PM
I grew up on the upper west side and remember seeing the river frozen a few times. Thought that perhaps it was because I was older than you, but then found this:
Hudson River taken from G.W. Bridge Jan., 2003
IrishEi on January 15, 2009 at 5:55 PM

I think you meant freezing enough to withstand the plane sliding across it, right?. simply having some ice on top isnt “The Hudson River Freezing”!!! It would be a cold day in Hell before the Hudson Froze!….Hang on a sec…its pretty cold out…New York does seem like Hell…hmmm…lets wait a few minutes.

You are reminded to keep a faucet dripping during extreme cold, because if the pipe does freeze, there will be an opening to relieve the pressure.
Pelayo on January 15, 2009 at 9:44 PM

I’m not buying that either. When it gets cold enough to freeze pipes…They gonna freeze baby!…I dont care if you’re dripping or not. I get the idea though, leave it running so its not stagnant, this will require it to be a little colder before it freezes. Like a running brook, ya know? but a drip? Pressure? Lets say your boiler quits on ya, and at the point where your radiant heat pipe runs under your bay window, gets too cold, having your faucet dripping will not stop that from freezing when the conditions are right… or would that be…wrong? haha

Shortly after Bush takes office – horrific plane disasters in NY (and elsewhere)

Shortly before Bush LEAVES office – what could have been another horrific plane disaster in NY turns into a miraculous turn of events.

Remember, the loss of the plane over Belle Harbor was a disaster. The World Trade Center collision and the Pentagon collision were attacks.

Yeah, that was awesome. It also makes me even more proud that the pilot was in the Air Force! Go Zoomies!

Shortly after Bush takes office – horrific plane disasters in NY (and elsewhere)

Shortly before Bush LEAVES office – what could have been another horrific plane disaster in NY turns into a miraculous turn of events.

Thanks to all the boat folks and a pilot/co-pilot team.

New York, New York!!!

*salutes*

I dont think any lawsuits can fly after the plane didn’t, either. No ones fault.