Flying mag used to run a article called, "I learned about flying from that" and it always made an interesting read. This is my article concerning that.
In 69, flying for a cargo outfit, which will remain nameless, we were flying auto parts from Kanas City to Willow Run in Detroit. After we lurched from side to side on taxi way at KC, Captain sort of lined up on runway, pushed his seat back and said, "you got it"! I had a whole 17 hours in the Commando then, but felt like I could handle it OK, so pushed up the throttles and away we went! Warm front laying just South of Detroit, about a 150 miles or so, knew I was in for an interesting trip! After working my way around a few "boomers", seat all the way down, instrument lights as bright as they would go, slow up to 140KIAS and had to plow right through one small cell. By now, I am thinking that this guy ought to be awake, but no, chin on chest, head rolling around in turbulence, but no sign of waking up.
Tuned up ATIS, got the info, called approach and proceeded to shoot the approach to 27, wind, 300 degrees at 15, with gusts to 20-25, so should be interesting but no big deal. (Young, stupid mind, now fully engaged). Opps, blowing snow now has lowered weather to 1600RVR, with indefinite ceiling, some icing on runway! Should I ask for 32(I think that was the number), be more into the wind and etc! Naw, just have to be on my toes! (Now young stupid mind in over drive).
Began to see the rabbit quarter mile out, now runway lights, carrying about a 20degree crab, best I can remember, still no sign of life from captain, did this guy die on me? A lot of aileron and left rudder, keeping it straight, down right side of runway, nice touch down on right gear, then left, gotta get the tail on the ground, uh, oh, forgot to lock the tail wheel and as Columbo says,"quicker than snot", me, the Ford right front fenders, drunk Captain and airplane are headed for the "tullu berries"! Oh, crap, what did they say about this in school? "Our Father, who are in heaven"! Uh, Oh, now sliding sideways, this aren't good Earl! Right gear now in mud, we do a slow right turn, tail starts coming up, but thankfully, settle back down. No problem, just a few "skid" marks in my underwear and the Captain finally wakes up and wants to know what is happening? Oh, nothing I said, just learned to always use the "dang" check list and not fly with drunk Captains!
