A B-52H aircraft lost all hydraulic power - no rudder or elevator control - while airborne over thirty years ago. The seven crewmembers onboard did everything they could to live through the incident. In the early morning hours of May 30, 1974, Charlie Brown, an evaluator pilot, managed to gain control and fly the 200+ ton craft, even though 65% of all flight control surfaces had been lost. The flight manual provided no documentation to assist the crew in handling the failure. The "impossible" situation had never occurred. Four separate systems covered the hydraulics on the big aircraft. The odds against total failure were exceedingly high, but the odds against landing the B-52 in that condition were higher. Yet Charlie attempted the impossible. The story begins by establishing Charlie's direct flying ancestry. The flashback begins with Orville and Wilbur Wright, ties directly with Henry "Hap" Arnold, relates further with James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, and links with the unit Doolittle flew on his famous Tokyo raid. The SPA 12 mission with Charlie Brown unites all of them. The reader discovers how the lives of great flyers intertwined with each other. The Wrights taught Hap, Hap sponsored Jimmy, and Jimmy passed his greatness to his unit. Finally it was passed on to Charlie Brown. The force of the landing was 13Gs. A man's eight-pound arm under that force would weigh over a hundred pounds. A 160-pound man would weigh over a ton. Over 1,000 tons of force met the landing gear at touchdown. Every crewman onboard should have been killed. No one should have walked away. Legacy is the story of how something that never should have happened, did; how a flyer took a contraption that shouldn't have flown and learned to fly it for the first time, did; how everyone onboard SPA 12 that fateful night should have died; and how it wasn't unique for a flyer to accomplish the impossible.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"... the events described in this book about my emergency and accident are factual." -- Charles B. Brown, Colonel, USAF (Ret) August 2008
From the Publisher
We are very proud to be able to sponsor R.G.'s fine work, Legacy and present it for every reader to enjoy. This nonfiction account builds suspense as would a novel; it gives the reader the satisfaction of a complex thriller, and will bring delight in its surprise ending.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Major R.G. Beavers is a Master Navigator and twenty-year veteran of the United States Air Force with over 5000 hours experience in the B-52D, F, G and H. He served two tours in Southeast Asia, flying out of U-Tapao RTN Air Force Base, and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. He was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Wing /34th Bomb Squadron at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio mentioned in the episodes. He also initially trained with Captain (now retired Colonel, Wing Commander and Command Pilot) Charlie Brown. Beavers amassed over 2000 hours as an Instructor Navigator, and was awarded the Masters and Doctorate of Flying Training Certificates by Air Training Command. In bombing competition, he won the coveted Russell Daugherty Trophy the first time it was presented. Beavers taught over 2,000 young lieutenant navigators their trade, including one author, Dale Brown, who wrote such books as Flight of the Old Dog, Day of the Cheetah, Warrior Class, Air Battle Force and Plan of Attack.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enlightening,
This review is from: Legacy: Genesis of Aviation Greatness (Hardcover)
From the magical origins of powered flight to the miracle surrounding a "fatal crash" landing, the reader is escorted on a fascinating odyssey made all the more captivating by it's authenticity and historical accuracy. Through a gripping narrative spanning seven decades and two World Wars, the heroic pioneers of aviation are brought to life in this epic tale of triumph and tragedy. Their names are legendary - Orville and Wilbur Wright, "Hap" Arnold, Billy Mitchell, Jimmy Doolittle. Each possessed singular courage, a mastery of aeronautics, extraordinary leadership skills and the heart of a teacher. Sharing his knowledge and experience, each in turn helped fashion an enduring legacy of tradition and accomplishment which ultimately determined the fate of seven desperate crewmen one foggy, terror-filled night.
As this previously untold story unfolds, the reader is immersed into a first-hand exploration of how these remarkable men realized their dreams and attained greatness through perseverance, resourcefulness, relentless testing and an undaunted spirit of adventure. The result of their collective achievements was the creation of an entirely new enterprise - a set of historic initiatives which proved instrumental in preserving freedom, securing peace and shrinking the world. Following a suspensefully climactic thrill ride - including a surprise twist - the author concludes with a thought-provoking commentary on greatness. The book was thoroughly appealing and at times poetic. I found it delightfully entertaining and would recommend it to those well-versed in aviation as well as anyone who simply enjoys a good read. The numerous photographs and illustrations serve as icing on the cake!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun for History Buffs,
By
This review is from: Legacy: Genesis of Aviation Greatness (Hardcover)
Being non-technical, I found the book's beginning slow. It soon began to read as great history, with a touch of suspense and drama, and even a little romance. Can't wait to see what "the Beav" comes up with next.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A New Look at Old Stories,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Legacy: Genesis of Aviation Greatness (Hardcover)
I am retired instructor pilot and lifetime fan of flying. I also did a tour with the Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. This book gave me an entirely new look at all airplane pilots since the Wright brothers first flew at Kitty Hawk. The title, "Legacy" refers to the unbroken chain of training that each pilot has inherited from his instructor all the way back to the Wrights, themselves. Since we have all heard flying stories, you would not expect to many surprises, but R G Beavers has incorporated enough surprises to keep your interest thoughout the book. I especially enjoyed the personal anecdotes, real or created, that the author has included to add color to his story.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
