My older brother, Vincent, flying the big airplanes for TWA, had an easily remembered but profound saying: “check and doublecheck.” Basically, it meant to make sure all actions in the cockpit were given a second, or even a third, look, ensuring the proper actions had indeed been made. I vividly remember an occasion when that saying saved my life. I was flying an F-100 on a test mission out of Eglin Air Force Base, dropping some experimental high explosive bombs. One of the bombs did not drop, even though I had sent the release signal. The result was a very hazardous condition, called a “hung bomb.” The bomb might fall off at any time.
The article emphasizes the life-saving aviation safety principle of "check and doublecheck," introduced by the author's brother.
During a perilous emergency landing with a "hung bomb," the pilot's aircraft attitude felt wrong, but initial visual and instrument checks seemingly confirmed the landing flaps were down.
A critical tactile "doublecheck" revealed the flaps were actually in the "up" position, allowing the pilot to correct the error and land safely, highlighting the importance of thorough verification over potentially misleading perceptions.
My older brother, Vincent, flying the big airplanes for TWA, had an easily remembered but profound saying: “check and doublecheck.” Basically, it meant to make sure all actions in the cockpit were given a second, or even a third, look, ensuring the proper actions had indeed been made. I vividly remember an occasion when that saying saved my life.
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