Really interesting article, thanks for sharing with us. Speaking of interesting aircraft. Do you know the story behind N697SW? I'm sure most people aren't even aware but this aircraft was involved in a very remarkable event. If you trace this aircraft's history back you will find this particular 737-300, then registered N75356 flew for TACA Airlines of El Salvador. The airline accepted delivery of the aircraft on May 10, 1988. Just a few weeks later on May 24th the aircraft operating TACA Flight 110 from Belize City to New Orleans ran into severe weather over the Gulf of Mexico and suffered a dual engine flame out. The pilots were unable to get the engines restarted and the aircraft was not within gliding distance of an airfield due to the weather conditions. The flight crew prepared to ditch the aircraft in a canal outside of New Orleans when at the last minute they spotted a grass levee along the bank of the canal. What happened next was one of the most remarkable feats of airmanship in the history of commercial aviation. The captain successfully executed a perfect deadstick landing bringing the unpowered aircraft down on the rain soaked, muddy grass levee, where it rolled to a stop undamaged. The aircraft after an engine change was subsequently flown off the levee to New Orleans Int'l Airport and returned to service a month later. Captain Carlos Dardano is the original Sully Sullenberger and the remarkable N697SW flies on thanks to his exceptional piloting skills.
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