See Also:
Beginning of a FAMOUS Hero: The Wright Brothers Story.
Life Lesson #51 – Become an Expert.
It was January 23, 1951 when a little boy named Chesley was born in Denison, Texas. His father, Dr. Sullenberger was a dentist and his mother was an elementary school teacher. Even at a very young age, Chesley was interested in flying as he watched military airplanes from the nearby Air Force base fly over his house. He became an honor student in school, but in his spare time, he liked building model airplanes and model aircraft carriers.
All through school he participated in academic competitions, while continuing his interest in flying. He got his pilot’s license while he was still in high school. After college, he joined the United States Air Force where he became a fighter pilot. By this time, Chesley Sullenberger became known by his nickname, “Sully.”
In 1980, Captain Sully became an airline pilot. But it wasn’t until January 15, 2009 that Captain Sully’s name was world famous. It was on that day when he was piloting U.S. Airways Flight 1549, very shortly after take-off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport, that both engines quit from hitting a flock of birds. One engine was on fire, and there was no place to land. The airplane was not high enough yet to turn around and go back to the airport. There was only one choice…crash…but where? Nothing but buildings and narrow streets as far as he could see. “We’re gonna be in the Hudson,” Captain Sully told air traffic controllers on the radio in a calm voice. And indeed he did land that big Airbus 320 in the Hudson river…a VERY difficult thing to do. One slight miscalculation and the airplane would have disintegrated. But, on that day, in that moment, all of Chesley Sullenberger’s training…all of his precision, and all of his ability to think quickly came into play.
On that day, and in that moment, Captain Sully saved the lives of all 155 passengers on board. On that day, and in that moment, Chesley Sullenberger became a HERO!
– Jim Lord