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QF32
On 4 November 2010, a flight from Singapore to Sydney came within a knife edge of being one of the world's worst air disasters. Shortly after leaving Changi Airport, an explosion shattered Engine 2 of Qantas flight QF32 – an Airbus A380, the largest and most advanced passenger plane ever built. Hundreds of pieces of shrapnel ripped through the wing and fuselage, creating chaos as vital flight systems and back-ups were destroyed or degraded.
In other hands, the plane might have been lost with all 469 people on board, but a supremely experienced flight crew, led by Captain Richard Champion de Crespigny, managed to land the crippled aircraft and safely disembark the passengers after hours of nerve-racking effort.
Tracing Richard's life and career up until that fateful flight, QF32 shows exactly what goes into the making of a top-level airline pilot, and the extraordinary skills and training needed to keep us safe in the air. Fascinating in its detail and vividly compelling in its narrative, QF32 is the riveting, blow-by-blow story of just what happens when things go badly wrong in the air, told by the captain himself.
In other hands, the plane might have been lost with all 469 people on board, but a supremely experienced flight crew, led by Captain Richard Champion de Crespigny, managed to land the crippled aircraft and safely disembark the passengers after hours of nerve-racking effort.
Tracing Richard's life and career up until that fateful flight, QF32 shows exactly what goes into the making of a top-level airline pilot, and the extraordinary skills and training needed to keep us safe in the air. Fascinating in its detail and vividly compelling in its narrative, QF32 is the riveting, blow-by-blow story of just what happens when things go badly wrong in the air, told by the captain himself.
368 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2012
111 people are currently reading
689 people want to read
About the author
Richard de Crespigny
3 books13 followersMelbourne born and educated Richard Champion de Crespigny got his first taste of a future flying career as a fourteen year old when his father took him on a tour of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Academy at Point Cook in Victoria.
In 1975 aged seventeen, he joined the RAAF. One year later he started flying, joining Qantas Airlines several years later as a commercial pilot.
In 2010 Richard piloted an Airbus 380 that came perilously close to crashing. He has told the story of this amazing escape in his first book QF32.
In 1975 aged seventeen, he joined the RAAF. One year later he started flying, joining Qantas Airlines several years later as a commercial pilot.
In 2010 Richard piloted an Airbus 380 that came perilously close to crashing. He has told the story of this amazing escape in his first book QF32.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
October 23, 2018
At 7400 feet there was an uncontained engine explosion. Everyone heard two big 'bangs'. Shrapnel hit the left wing, the fuselage, the underbelly, and 2 fuel tanks. Of the 22 systems on the plane, 21 were compromised! The flight deck crew was Captain Richard de Crespigny, First Officer Co-Pilot Matt Hicks, and Second Officer Mark Johnson. In the passenger sections, Customer Service Manager Michael von Reth, was in control. All of the above men performed with exceptional professionalism, courage, and intelligence, on that day. I won't go into details about their crisis, that's what the book is for! ... lol
I will give you an example of what an outstanding Captain does. Despite having just spent over 4 hours in a total crisis situation, when the crew, and passengers, finally exited the plane, he spent the next two hours talking to the passengers. He answered a multitude of questions, in several passenger lounges, and stayed there until there were no more questions! He explained what had happened and why it happened, what would be happening next, and disclosed everything he knew. "When you fly Qantas you’re flying with a premium airline, and you have every right to expect more. An army of Qantas staff are right now finding you hotel rooms, and working out how to get you to Sydney as soon as possible. But right now I want you to write down this number – it’s my personal mobile phone and I want you to call me if you think Qantas is not looking after you, or if you think that Qantas does not care." Now, that's what I call customer service!
Another tidbit about this amazing man, on long haul flights he walks the cabin, and talks with passengers. He believes a good leader has to be seen, and nothing typifies 'friendly service' more than exposing himself to the customers. When was the last time you saw a Captain strolling the aisles of your plane? On my flights ... never.
The only downside about the book (to some folks) is the fact that he doesn't get to the engine explosion until Chapter 14 on page 155. The preceding chapters are about his life leading up to that moment.
As a side note, the Qantas A380, Nancy-Bird Walton, is back in the air after what was reportedly the longest and most expensive aircraft repair in aviation history.
4 Stars = It gave me much food for thought.
I will give you an example of what an outstanding Captain does. Despite having just spent over 4 hours in a total crisis situation, when the crew, and passengers, finally exited the plane, he spent the next two hours talking to the passengers. He answered a multitude of questions, in several passenger lounges, and stayed there until there were no more questions! He explained what had happened and why it happened, what would be happening next, and disclosed everything he knew. "When you fly Qantas you’re flying with a premium airline, and you have every right to expect more. An army of Qantas staff are right now finding you hotel rooms, and working out how to get you to Sydney as soon as possible. But right now I want you to write down this number – it’s my personal mobile phone and I want you to call me if you think Qantas is not looking after you, or if you think that Qantas does not care." Now, that's what I call customer service!
Another tidbit about this amazing man, on long haul flights he walks the cabin, and talks with passengers. He believes a good leader has to be seen, and nothing typifies 'friendly service' more than exposing himself to the customers. When was the last time you saw a Captain strolling the aisles of your plane? On my flights ... never.
The only downside about the book (to some folks) is the fact that he doesn't get to the engine explosion until Chapter 14 on page 155. The preceding chapters are about his life leading up to that moment.
As a side note, the Qantas A380, Nancy-Bird Walton, is back in the air after what was reportedly the longest and most expensive aircraft repair in aviation history.
4 Stars = It gave me much food for thought.
August 23, 2012
Having flown quite a lot, I wouldn't consider myself a nervous flyer. However I must also admit that I don't like to dwell too much on how a plane actually stays up in the air when I'm in one! This book is all about a plane passenger's worst nightmare - an ominous loud "bang" and looking out the window to see a large part of the aircraft missing as well as leaking fuel and shrapnel holes in the wing.
Qantas Flight 32 (QF32) from Singapore to Sydney (part of the Kangaroo Route many of us have travelled on), had just taken off in November 2010 when the unthinkable happened. Passengers and crew alike heard a loud explosion followed by numerous alarms and warnings in the cockpit. It shouldn't have happened, after all this was one of the newest, most technically advanced aircraft in the world, the Airbus A380. But this was no nightmare, it was a genuine emergency almost unprecendented in aviation. In fact QF32 had the potential to be one of the worst air disasters in history. The fact that the plane did in fact make a safe landing without any injuries to passengers or crew can attributed to the remarkable teamwork of an experienced crew, captained by veteran Qantas pilot Richard de Crespigny. QF32 is his story.
I enjoyed reading about Richard's early life, including his childhood fascination with taking things apart and seeing how they worked. It really gave an insight into the kind of person he is and what led him to becoming a pilot. Trained in the RAAF, Richard later joined Qantas, as well as maintaining a continuing interest in computers and related technology. Luckily for Qantas and all the passengers on board QF32 that day, Richard is the kind of pilot who goes beyond knowing just what he “has” to know to do his job. Meticulous and thorough, throughout his career he has always gone the extra mile in gaining a complete understanding of how each particular aircraft works as well as completing extensive flight training.
Although there is a lot of technical information in this book, it is explained in simple terms to help a layman understand what makes a plane fly and just how dire an emergency QF32 was. Richard tells the story step by step, from the first bang until the plane was safely on the ground (and afterwards). I was amazed at how the crew managed to maintain cool heads throughout the emergency, pooling their knowledge to work out a plan that got everybody back on the ground in one piece. An unprecedented event on so many levels, the crew had to come up with new solutions as they faced issues that had never occurred in flight before. Sometimes they just worked on instinct, rejecting what the aircrafts own automated systems suggested they do – and by doing so averted a disaster too scary to think about. Although under enormous stress, nobody panicked, channelling their energy instead towards the massive problems at hand. I found it really interesting that the emergency didn’t end once they landed (an amazing feat in itself), as the combination of leaking fuel and hot brakes was an extremely volatile mix. But, once again, amazing luck and the actions of the crew averted that potential disaster as well.
The ultimate “against all odds” story, QF32 is a fascinating read that will give you a new appreciation for the amazing job pilots do, as well as make you proud of our national airline. I’m not sure I’d recommend it as one to read one a long haul flight though!
Qantas Flight 32 (QF32) from Singapore to Sydney (part of the Kangaroo Route many of us have travelled on), had just taken off in November 2010 when the unthinkable happened. Passengers and crew alike heard a loud explosion followed by numerous alarms and warnings in the cockpit. It shouldn't have happened, after all this was one of the newest, most technically advanced aircraft in the world, the Airbus A380. But this was no nightmare, it was a genuine emergency almost unprecendented in aviation. In fact QF32 had the potential to be one of the worst air disasters in history. The fact that the plane did in fact make a safe landing without any injuries to passengers or crew can attributed to the remarkable teamwork of an experienced crew, captained by veteran Qantas pilot Richard de Crespigny. QF32 is his story.
I enjoyed reading about Richard's early life, including his childhood fascination with taking things apart and seeing how they worked. It really gave an insight into the kind of person he is and what led him to becoming a pilot. Trained in the RAAF, Richard later joined Qantas, as well as maintaining a continuing interest in computers and related technology. Luckily for Qantas and all the passengers on board QF32 that day, Richard is the kind of pilot who goes beyond knowing just what he “has” to know to do his job. Meticulous and thorough, throughout his career he has always gone the extra mile in gaining a complete understanding of how each particular aircraft works as well as completing extensive flight training.
Although there is a lot of technical information in this book, it is explained in simple terms to help a layman understand what makes a plane fly and just how dire an emergency QF32 was. Richard tells the story step by step, from the first bang until the plane was safely on the ground (and afterwards). I was amazed at how the crew managed to maintain cool heads throughout the emergency, pooling their knowledge to work out a plan that got everybody back on the ground in one piece. An unprecedented event on so many levels, the crew had to come up with new solutions as they faced issues that had never occurred in flight before. Sometimes they just worked on instinct, rejecting what the aircrafts own automated systems suggested they do – and by doing so averted a disaster too scary to think about. Although under enormous stress, nobody panicked, channelling their energy instead towards the massive problems at hand. I found it really interesting that the emergency didn’t end once they landed (an amazing feat in itself), as the combination of leaking fuel and hot brakes was an extremely volatile mix. But, once again, amazing luck and the actions of the crew averted that potential disaster as well.
The ultimate “against all odds” story, QF32 is a fascinating read that will give you a new appreciation for the amazing job pilots do, as well as make you proud of our national airline. I’m not sure I’d recommend it as one to read one a long haul flight though!
April 2, 2013
Awesome. When it became clear that the first half of the book was going to be an autobiography I was a little disappointed, but persisted and discovered that his life story was actually quite fascinating. In fact, in my view, it turned out to be vital to the understanding of the book, that we knew the background of this wonderful pilot, so that we could understand the whole man as he fought to keep all those passengers safe. Richard has led a most extraordinary life and I found it thrilling. I couldn't put the book down after about the first 40 pages.
Once it got into the nitty gritty of the actual engine failure, I was actually feeling the adrenaline rush of the whole thing. I found myself totally drawn into the book and devoured each page with nervous anticipation. Even though I knew the final outcome, it was still an exciting ride through the pages.
It seems as though all his life experiences contributed to his making a remarkable landing that day. He managed to draw on a wealth of experience and wisdom to make crucial decisions that led to the safe landing.
All hail Richard and his awesome skills in navigating that defective aircraft. And I might add, he is an exciting story teller!
Once it got into the nitty gritty of the actual engine failure, I was actually feeling the adrenaline rush of the whole thing. I found myself totally drawn into the book and devoured each page with nervous anticipation. Even though I knew the final outcome, it was still an exciting ride through the pages.
It seems as though all his life experiences contributed to his making a remarkable landing that day. He managed to draw on a wealth of experience and wisdom to make crucial decisions that led to the safe landing.
All hail Richard and his awesome skills in navigating that defective aircraft. And I might add, he is an exciting story teller!
January 1, 2013
During the 1989 pilots strike Bob Hawke called airline pilots a bunch of "glorified bus drivers"
QF32 by Richard de Crespigny takes the reader into the pilot seat as the #2 Engine on QANTAS A380 'Nancy Bird Walton' exploded soon after take off from Changi Airport in 2010. It gives a deeper appreciation for the professionalism and dedication given by the pilots, cabin crew and other staff who ensure our skies are safe. A great story for those with an interest in aviation or who fly regular and a example of professional leadership and team work.
QF32 by Richard de Crespigny takes the reader into the pilot seat as the #2 Engine on QANTAS A380 'Nancy Bird Walton' exploded soon after take off from Changi Airport in 2010. It gives a deeper appreciation for the professionalism and dedication given by the pilots, cabin crew and other staff who ensure our skies are safe. A great story for those with an interest in aviation or who fly regular and a example of professional leadership and team work.
August 14, 2017
A co-worker who knows that I want to fly to Australia recommended to me this book on the Quantas flight QF32 whose engine exploded mid-flight on 11/4/10. My initial reaction was "why would I want to read that?!" But, he was right. I read it because I knew that ultimately this incredible disaster did not occur. The story of how that came to be is one that intrigued me.
I enjoyed this book but I would alert potential readers that it gets very technical. While I personally know nothing about aircraft or piloting a plane, I feel that I understood much of the technical detail. Sometimes it does get a bit tedious, and I believe that will be more so if you are not a technical person. That said, the first half of the book is not at all related to the near-disaster Quantas QF32 flight. Rather it's all about the pilot, Richard de Crespigny, and his life, history and training prior to getting into the near crash situation. This is good background to know.
Pilot de Crespigny details every tiny step of the events of 11/4/10 methodically and in great detail. I can easily see how he is a terrific pilot to handle such a stressful situation. You can tell by the way he writes in a detailed linear manner that his thought process is perfect for logically handling unexpected event.
After reading this I want to experience flying on an Airbus A380 with Quantas airlines. Perhaps that's an unexpected reaction to reading about the same airplane & airline in a near fatal disaster, but it's really a testament to how well the situation was handled by all involved. If I had to be in any type of flight emergency, I would want this crew, this well-built plane, and this airline behind me.
I enjoyed this book but I would alert potential readers that it gets very technical. While I personally know nothing about aircraft or piloting a plane, I feel that I understood much of the technical detail. Sometimes it does get a bit tedious, and I believe that will be more so if you are not a technical person. That said, the first half of the book is not at all related to the near-disaster Quantas QF32 flight. Rather it's all about the pilot, Richard de Crespigny, and his life, history and training prior to getting into the near crash situation. This is good background to know.
Pilot de Crespigny details every tiny step of the events of 11/4/10 methodically and in great detail. I can easily see how he is a terrific pilot to handle such a stressful situation. You can tell by the way he writes in a detailed linear manner that his thought process is perfect for logically handling unexpected event.
After reading this I want to experience flying on an Airbus A380 with Quantas airlines. Perhaps that's an unexpected reaction to reading about the same airplane & airline in a near fatal disaster, but it's really a testament to how well the situation was handled by all involved. If I had to be in any type of flight emergency, I would want this crew, this well-built plane, and this airline behind me.
May 21, 2019
What a intense book! The cockpit crew of this QF 32 did great! This is a god and a quite faascinating book of what happened during on this famous A380 flight and what is the captain's thoughts on this flight. I reccomend this book to people who loves reading intense books.
January 18, 2023
Continuing my trend of reading rogue books to start the year!!! Well written and not dramatised like many books of a similar nature- has given me a far greater appreciation for the work pilots do! That being said, would I reread it? No. (Unless I randomly decide to pursue a career as a pilot)
June 2, 2023
i like how everyone survived in the end
January 2, 2017
Excellent book and a great insight into the level of expertise held by pilots of passenger flights - I really had no idea. The author writes about his previous experiences as a pilot and you can see how this wide knowledge was applied to bring about a safe outcome in circumstances that nobody had ever anticipated could come together in a modern aircraft. It made me hope that all airline pilots have such backgrounds.
The author is then brave enough to write about the post traumatic stress he suffered as a result and how it affected him. There were a couple of unfinished threads for me - I would have liked to know why the pilots reviewing him on the day came to their conclusions. I would also like to know what was behind the paragraph where he talks about his conviction that everything that was discussed on the flight deck that day was done professionally, almost as though there were some suggestion from others that it wasn't.
I definitely recommend this book.
The author is then brave enough to write about the post traumatic stress he suffered as a result and how it affected him. There were a couple of unfinished threads for me - I would have liked to know why the pilots reviewing him on the day came to their conclusions. I would also like to know what was behind the paragraph where he talks about his conviction that everything that was discussed on the flight deck that day was done professionally, almost as though there were some suggestion from others that it wasn't.
I definitely recommend this book.
April 4, 2013
A well written, honest, and at times humorous account about the averted air disaster of QF32, an Airbus A380 that suffered an explosion shortly after take off from Changi airport in 2010, with 469 passengers on board. The book begins with an interesting account of the pilot's family history and upbringing, and takes the reader through various aspects of his successful career. Undoubtedly these life experiences would ultimately contribute to the way in which he led and controlled the safe landing of this aircraft and the evacuation of all passengers.
There was quite a bit of technical material in this book, which also felt a little repetitive at times, however it was an interesting read.
There was quite a bit of technical material in this book, which also felt a little repetitive at times, however it was an interesting read.
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March 23, 2015This books awesome. ive read it a number of times.
its an interesting first person perspective of the "incident" on qf32 combined with a mini biography. if you dont know the details behind the story you could either google it, or do yourself a favour and read this book.
its a reasonably complex topic, broken down into such a way you are able to comprehend what is happening and stay well and truly engaged with the details.
if you look at the damaged incurred, and not only the skill, and airmanship that was displayed in recovering the aircraft (right down to the final decision, emergency evacuate or not), these all combine to make a brilliant read.
its an interesting first person perspective of the "incident" on qf32 combined with a mini biography. if you dont know the details behind the story you could either google it, or do yourself a favour and read this book.
its a reasonably complex topic, broken down into such a way you are able to comprehend what is happening and stay well and truly engaged with the details.
if you look at the damaged incurred, and not only the skill, and airmanship that was displayed in recovering the aircraft (right down to the final decision, emergency evacuate or not), these all combine to make a brilliant read.
December 6, 2021
Interesting to a degree, but don't read it if you have a fear of flying.
At times there was too much technical detail for the average person. I'm not interested in the author's family history nor photos of his family skiing or on safari.
The most gripping and rivetting part of the book was the actual mid-air drama and immediately after landing. The rest is not very relevant.
I suspected the book was written for catharsis and possibly a self-justification/explanation. This was validated in the last part of the last chapter.
Richard de Crespigny is an amazing pilot and a truly intelligent man, but an author he is not.
At times there was too much technical detail for the average person. I'm not interested in the author's family history nor photos of his family skiing or on safari.
The most gripping and rivetting part of the book was the actual mid-air drama and immediately after landing. The rest is not very relevant.
I suspected the book was written for catharsis and possibly a self-justification/explanation. This was validated in the last part of the last chapter.
Richard de Crespigny is an amazing pilot and a truly intelligent man, but an author he is not.
February 3, 2013
A strangely compelling read, and almost enough to make me fly Qantas again. It's not the best written book in the literary sense, and there was a bit too much personal history ans so on in the first part, but the account of the actual incident is gripping, even though you know what happens in the end.
January 8, 2017
I read this book some time ago and enjoyed it very much. The writing was very understandable for the uninitiated or passenger only. A relative, a pilot himself, tells me he found it excellent from the point of view of a pilot also. Probably not the ideal book when actually on an aircraft however when back on terra firma it's great!
October 27, 2012
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book-not a subject that I would normally be interested in, but the author/pilot takes a very technical subject and is able to communicate to and keep the average reader engaged throughout the book.
December 10, 2013
Brilliant, fascinating account.
March 28, 2019
After getting past motor cycle riding of youth, the RAAF and air pilot part of Richard's life was very interesting. I enjoyed blow by blow account of disaster on airplane. It was fascinating and very relevant to current Boeing disasters in Africa and Indonesia re autopilot and fly-by-wire systems that all planes have now that pilots find hard to cope with or override. The ECAM (Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor) error messages flooded him and his crew to the breaking point. They needed to be better managed in the system software design. A380 was a very sophisticated aircraft with 250,000 sources of data capture so the overload when things were out of hand got very tricky to handle. The crew did a remarkable job of surviving in spite of system failure on plane.
January 2, 2020
Brilliant, compelling, nail-biting.
This is a book that you must read if you are worried about flying. Considering it's subject matter, it may seem like the last thing you'd want to do, but Richard expertly describes how much training a pilot has to go through to become a commercial flyer, and also goes into the details of the aircraft in such ways, you really start to appreciate what feats of technology they are.
Even more so, it shows how, when things go wrong, how much these pilots have prepared for these situations, and with this story, how against the odds, they made it home safely. It's a real tribute, not only to the talents of Richard and the QF32 crew, but also a story to triumph over adversity.
This is a book that you must read if you are worried about flying. Considering it's subject matter, it may seem like the last thing you'd want to do, but Richard expertly describes how much training a pilot has to go through to become a commercial flyer, and also goes into the details of the aircraft in such ways, you really start to appreciate what feats of technology they are.
Even more so, it shows how, when things go wrong, how much these pilots have prepared for these situations, and with this story, how against the odds, they made it home safely. It's a real tribute, not only to the talents of Richard and the QF32 crew, but also a story to triumph over adversity.
June 25, 2021
Very enjoyable from beginning to end. Building up via an account of his life and its contribution to his actions on flight QF32. An involving tale of the ups and downs and strategies of a career as a pilot in the Air Force and on an airline as well as being involved in a business. I got fully immersed in the activity on flight QF32 although at times it seemed a bit long. Also I kept thinking he was being over-cautious staying in the air doing checks and on the ground staying on the aircraft, but who am I to know. You can never take away that what Richard did was successful and took a lot of self belief, inner strength and skill and to become a Captain on an A380 must be the highest achievement in an airline. Excellent book, great life story.
June 24, 2022
Leaving aside the technical details, QF32 is Pilot In Command Captain Richard de Crespigny's personal recollection of the near-disaster Qantas Flight 32 in late 2010.
With multiple electrical, hydraulic and mechanical failures on board not only did Crespigny keep the flight in the air for two hours but also systematically guided his team through the swift decision making process with clear sighted alacrity to save the flight.
Guiding the plane swiftly to a safe landing and subsequent evacuation in rapidly deteriorating circumstances, Richard's heroic leadership saved the lives of 469 passengers and cabin crew.
How did he do it? This autobiographical reminisce provides the answer. An ex-RAAF combat pilot, de Crespigny's words immortalize the adage: coolness under fire.
With multiple electrical, hydraulic and mechanical failures on board not only did Crespigny keep the flight in the air for two hours but also systematically guided his team through the swift decision making process with clear sighted alacrity to save the flight.
Guiding the plane swiftly to a safe landing and subsequent evacuation in rapidly deteriorating circumstances, Richard's heroic leadership saved the lives of 469 passengers and cabin crew.
How did he do it? This autobiographical reminisce provides the answer. An ex-RAAF combat pilot, de Crespigny's words immortalize the adage: coolness under fire.
July 29, 2019
This is a well-written autobiography of one of the most skilful aversions of an air disaster in history. The book begins with explaining the life and background of the pilot, and how he came to fly with Qantas. It then continues with a detailed explanation of everything that went wrong on the flight, and the steps taken to combat it, as well as the atmosphere in the cockpit. This is also a far deeper explanation of the failure of the flight that is given in any other source I could procure, including the Air Crash Investigation.
May 30, 2024
The book brings a very interesting perspective into the inner workings of A380 and other machines the pilot used throughout his career. The technical aspect of the book is very enlightening for those interested in aviation. The more personal memorial from the pilot sounds at times a little bit over-confident and egocentric. But if you ignore that part and read the book with a focus on the events and plot surrounding the incident of QF32 you will learn a lot about aviation and be entertained by the thriller that led to the event.
December 26, 2020
Didžiausio pasaulyje keleivinio lėktuvo kapitono pasakojimas, kaip sėkmingai nutupdyti kritinę variklio avariją patyrusį A380. Tikras pasakojimas apie tikrą įvykį, su suprantamai papasakotomis techninėmis detalėmis. Skaičiau skrisdamas lėktuvu. Kai buvau įpusėjęs knygą, lėktuvą ėmė krėsti turbulencija ir kažkas netikėtai pokštelėjo už lango. Keleiviai ėmė klykti, o aš ramiai šypsojausi, nes A380 kapitono pasakojimas ramino.
December 31, 2022
A great mixture of background information on the flying career of the author through to the major event surrounding QF32.
Given the now many years since the incident, the book screams out for a new edition with a post script describing any lessons learned or changes made as a result of the engine failure. It would also be interesting to know how the career of the key crew members progressed in the years following.
Given the now many years since the incident, the book screams out for a new edition with a post script describing any lessons learned or changes made as a result of the engine failure. It would also be interesting to know how the career of the key crew members progressed in the years following.
February 3, 2025
Brilliant book for any aviation enthusiast. Fascinating recount of the incident sequence, entertaining, and accessible to those without a deep aviation knowledge. Those who are not passionate about flight may find it hard to remain engaged, but these individuals are likely not the target audience. For anyone with an interest in aviation, this book is an essential read. It was difficult to accept that the book had to end!
July 6, 2018
“Biography”
A bit technical at times but still very enjoyable. A very talented mix of technical (to keep the tech-heads intrigued) and human. Just when it was getting too tech he switched. It was brilliantly done. This book was recommended to me at a book sale when the tender saw I had “SULLY” in my pile. I do not regret my choice to pick this up as well!
A bit technical at times but still very enjoyable. A very talented mix of technical (to keep the tech-heads intrigued) and human. Just when it was getting too tech he switched. It was brilliantly done. This book was recommended to me at a book sale when the tender saw I had “SULLY” in my pile. I do not regret my choice to pick this up as well!
January 19, 2023
As an airline pilot myself i was keen on learning the lessons of Qanta's Flight 32 and Captain de Crespigny take on the events that transpired.
I've finished the book feeling that it could have been a lot shorter and more focused on the actual events. I mean, it's great to have a degree of knowledge about the captain's background and life, but the book meanders a lot about his family and upbringing, wasting a few pages even mentioning the origins of his family's name.
I think he tried to emulate what Sully did on his book, but it didn't work so well, sometimes coming across a bit "cocky".
On regards of the event itself, the crew did a amazing job and Captain de Crespigny deserves the praise, showing great CRM skills and airmanship. In this regard, every pilot that reads the book can take away a few valuable lessons.
I've finished the book feeling that it could have been a lot shorter and more focused on the actual events. I mean, it's great to have a degree of knowledge about the captain's background and life, but the book meanders a lot about his family and upbringing, wasting a few pages even mentioning the origins of his family's name.
I think he tried to emulate what Sully did on his book, but it didn't work so well, sometimes coming across a bit "cocky".
On regards of the event itself, the crew did a amazing job and Captain de Crespigny deserves the praise, showing great CRM skills and airmanship. In this regard, every pilot that reads the book can take away a few valuable lessons.
September 11, 2023
I'm most interested in getting more context about the accident but I see the author has to make accommodations to the vast majority of the readers who have no technical background. This book not only provides additional info on crew response but also the non technical aspect of impacts on crew psychology from such traumatic events.
November 13, 2017
I absolutely loved it, hence the five stars. For a aircraft/aviation nerd like me this really hit the spot. A warning for the non-nerds-you may find it repetitious in places, but the tension during the drama after the engine failure and the damage to the aircraft will keep you riveted to the page and may even cost you a few hours sleep as you'll ant to stay up until you finish it.
October 23, 2018
Not my usual choice of book but I sought it out after hearing Richard de Crespigny on the radio. A well written and easy read. He adds just enough technical stuff so as you understand the challenges he faced but not so much that your eyes roll backwards.
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