Slow Flight

It seems that it was a very busy day and a "good ol' boy" American AF C-130 reserve pilot was in the instrument pattern for landing at Rhein-Main.

The conversation went something like this...

Tower: "AF1733, You're on an eight mile final for 27R. You have a UH-1 three miles ahead of you on final; reduce speed to 130 knots."

AF1733: "Rog-O, We're bringin' this big bird back to one-hundred and thirty knots for ya."

A few minutes later…

Tower: "AF33, helicopter traffic at 90 knots now one-and-a-half miles ahead of you; reduce speed further to 110 knots."

AF1733: "AF33 reinin' this here bird back further to 110 knots"

Tower: "AF33, you are three miles to touchdown, helicopter traffic now one mile ahead of you; reduce speed to 90 knots"

AF1733 (sounding a little miffed): "Sir, do you know what the stall speed of this here C-130 is?!"

Tower (without the slightest hesitation): "No, but if you ask your co-pilot, he can probably tell you."
 

Last updated: 19 August, 2004 13:06