Famous Name in Aviation Literature Addresses Hudson Ditching

In 1944, his father, Wolfgang, wrote the definitive text on seat-of-pants flying, Stick & Rudder. Now, William Langewiesche has published a book examining details of the Miracle on the Hudson ditching. In his new book, Fly By Wire: The Geese, the Glide and the “Miracle” on the Hudson, the younger Langewiesche (who is an accomplished aviation writer, himself) cedes some of the credit to the Airbus A320 fly-by-wire control system. When asked at this year’s EAA AirVenture if he thought fly-by-wire contributed to the successful outcome of Flight 1549, copilot Jeff Skiles merely shrugged his shoulder noncommittally.