Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell

 

TGIF

Another week into the history books. I guess we all had our share of triumphs and defeats. I’m not sure we can expect an easy ride but let’s say the bumps in the road make you aware you are going somewhere. I’m sure you have been on an auto trip where you had a long stretch of highway. Isn’t it amazing that you can travel on that road and totally not remember what you have passed? Hit a pothole, and you are instantly transported to the present.

I’m reminded of a flight I was taking from a small town in Indiana to Chicago O’Hare airport. This was a regional carrier and small turboprop aircraft. Where I was seated on the right side of the plane, I could see the pilots and instrument panel. We had just started to enter a holding pattern above the fuel tanks of Gary Indiana when the right engine disintegrated. Yes, chunks came into the cabin, but no one was hit. I was able to hear the pilot’s comment to the co-pilot just as all the lights on the right side of the panel went red and the and the emergency alarm began announcing “Fire.”

So what did the captain say as he was jolted into the here and now? I thought that his words would allow the NTSB to forever close the case with the explanation he shouted out to his co-pilot.

“What the hell was that?” was all he offered.

Long story short we landed safely, we all applauded the pilot and since I was the last to leave I heard him say to the co-pilot, “Some days we do earn our pay.”

Today’s JohnKu talks about those bumps in the road. I hope you have a wonderful Weekend.

Bumps by John W. Howell © 2018

Those who expect it smooth,

Are the most disorganized. . .

After the first bump.

 

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

65 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF”

  1. Sounds scarey, John! Good job the pilot was on the ball (mind you, I always believe that the pilots have as much interest in getting down safely as their passengers do, which leads me to invest my trust in them).

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    1. These guys were terrific. We were in a 30 degree bank with the right engine lowered. There is no more dangerous time to lose an engine than that. The only thing that caused me concern was the stall warning klaxon which indicated we were no longer flying but were now the physical equivalent of a rock. At 3000 feet that is not a good thing. Thanks, Keith.

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  3. Holy Hannah! And right over all those fuel tanks too? I guess there times when having a good view of everything is not good… Nobody on the plane was likely to forget that! I’m so glad you lived to tell the tale.
    Love that meme, John. That’s my emotion for this Friday, even if I don’t have enough bounce to jump for a high five. 😉 Hugs to you and yours. Have a fabulous Friday.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Whoa, that had to have been scary. I’ve not experienced anything like that and hope I never do. Have a great weekend – no bumps.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Funny thing is I never thought to be scared. I was totally involved in what the pilots were doing to deal with the emergency. In fact, I mentally recorded the episode and used some features in Our Justice when Stephanie was dealing with her engine out emergency. Wishing you a happy day, Gwen. 😀

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  15. Yikes, that must have been frightening! Glad everything went well though. Perhaps it’s best that we NOT know how often we’ve been in dangerous situations!

    Liked by 1 person

  16. I’m so lucky that I’ve never had a scary experience on a plane. We’ve flown Southwest Airlines several times so that story recently about the left engine coming apart and killing a woman in a window seat was unnerving. Happy weekend, good sir!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. We once landed — thank goodness — in a blizzard in Baltimore. The right wing dipped and almost scraped the ground. The flight attendants had turned green. Not at all reassuring. We rented a car and drove the last leg home, not because of the scare, but because the planes were grounded.(Thank goodness!) I cannot imagine having pieces of the engine flying through the plane and am happy you survived to tell the tale!!

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  20. That was a terrifying moment on your flight and I am very glad there were no injuries in that bump. You make a great point how we move down the road of life not paying any attention until we hit that bump then life has our full attention. Very true that never expecting a bump will disorganize a person at the very least.
    “What the hell was that?” does seem to sum up a lot of those moments perfectly:) Insightful post John. Have a great weekend.

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  22. John,

    How scary is THAT? But I guess on the other side of such a frightening experience, you gain a hell of a perspective on what matters most.

    And that is the perfect Haiku for your hair raising experience . . .

    Liked by 1 person

      1. John,

        Just so long as you weren’t pulling a William Shatner from Twilight Zone!

        And no, take it from me, don’t listen to the voices in your head. Unless they have something that’s been signed by a notary.

        Have a great weekend, Bossman

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  24. Have you heard the full ten-minute audio between the SW pilot and the tower after that engine exploded and shrapnel opened up the passenger compartment? If you haven’t, it’s on Soundcloud, and it’s absolutely riveting. In truth, it proves your point about a “pothole” focusing attention, but it also points to the truth of your JohnKu. Training for the worst is the way to go. Your pilot, and the SW pilot, were well-trained.

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