Mr. Cool: Chief 787 Test Pilot
12-15-2009 | 06:12 PM
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Mr. Cool: Chief 787 Test Pilot
I found this article about Mike Carriker quite interesting. He reminds me of my old friend, calcapt.
From Seattle PI:
In Boeing test pilot Mike Carriker's military and commercial flying career, what he calls "the funnest moments" came when he turned a fighter jet upside down and spun it like a top as it descended.
The worst moment was ditching into Elliott Bay in a Boeing Stratoliner.
"Spinning an airplane upside down at 35,000 feet, going around madly, gets your thoughts squared away," Carriker said.
In the next nine months, as Carriker leads Boeing's newest airplane through a rigorous series of flight tests, he'll frequently draw upon an ability developed through all that spinning: to keep cool, gather data and maneuver with precision during heart-racing moments of tension.
Boeing news | Chief 787 test pilot ready to put Boeing's new Dreamliner through its paces | Seattle Times Newspaper
In Boeing test pilot Mike Carriker's military and commercial flying career, what he calls "the funnest moments" came when he turned a fighter jet upside down and spun it like a top as it descended.
The worst moment was ditching into Elliott Bay in a Boeing Stratoliner.
"Spinning an airplane upside down at 35,000 feet, going around madly, gets your thoughts squared away," Carriker said.
In the next nine months, as Carriker leads Boeing's newest airplane through a rigorous series of flight tests, he'll frequently draw upon an ability developed through all that spinning: to keep cool, gather data and maneuver with precision during heart-racing moments of tension.
Boeing news | Chief 787 test pilot ready to put Boeing's new Dreamliner through its paces | Seattle Times Newspaper
12-15-2009 | 06:24 PM
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From: Spares Pusher
I don't know how much of the post-flight news conference was broadcast, but one of Capt. Mike Carriker's opening comments (if I remember correctly) was something along the lines of "Hey, how about that landing?" 
12-15-2009 | 06:34 PM
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12-16-2009 | 10:01 AM
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Interesting tidbit from the article:
They'll also have two parachutes.
In the worst-case scenario, they can flip a switch behind them that will blow out eight windows to depressurize the airplane. Another switch will detonate a charge to blow off an exit door behind the right wing. Then they can jump.
They'll also have two parachutes.
In the worst-case scenario, they can flip a switch behind them that will blow out eight windows to depressurize the airplane. Another switch will detonate a charge to blow off an exit door behind the right wing. Then they can jump.
12-16-2009 | 01:04 PM
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Interesting tidbit from the article:
They'll also have two parachutes.
In the worst-case scenario, they can flip a switch behind them that will blow out eight windows to depressurize the airplane. Another switch will detonate a charge to blow off an exit door behind the right wing. Then they can jump.
They'll also have two parachutes.
In the worst-case scenario, they can flip a switch behind them that will blow out eight windows to depressurize the airplane. Another switch will detonate a charge to blow off an exit door behind the right wing. Then they can jump.
12-16-2009 | 01:45 PM
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From: The Beginnings
Interesting tidbit from the article:
They'll also have two parachutes.
In the worst-case scenario, they can flip a switch behind them that will blow out eight windows to depressurize the airplane. Another switch will detonate a charge to blow off an exit door behind the right wing. Then they can jump.
They'll also have two parachutes.
In the worst-case scenario, they can flip a switch behind them that will blow out eight windows to depressurize the airplane. Another switch will detonate a charge to blow off an exit door behind the right wing. Then they can jump.
Neat.
The only other thing they'd need would be a button to press on the way out that would "short-sell" as much Boeing stock as possible . . .
12-16-2009 | 04:02 PM
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Awesome! But can anyone verify if he has the Mustachio that every real pilot must grow???
12-16-2009 | 04:04 PM
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From: 767A (Ret)
Back in the day
12-16-2009 | 04:24 PM
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From: 767er Captain
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