Mayday über Saragossa by Flugkapitän Heinz-Dieter Kallbach

I am very glad I got this book recommended by Dieter Gerlach from the Bayreuth flying club when we met in Jo’burg. Reading about “big guys’” flying might not be the obvious choice for PPL holders, but here you get a great insight: into life at the former German Democratic Republic, its setup, political connections all over the world, Russian planes, pilot training and most of all Kallbach’s dedication which can best be described with “The impossible must be possible somehow.”

What I liked especially is the mix between the narrator’s story and notes in form of a diary from Kallbach himself. This makes  the book a very personal story and I promise you will smile a lot about his matter of fact statements. Flying back a 737-700 from Tenerife to Berlin in 2000, he handles a  suicide attacker over Saragossa:

“…I was very worried that the plane would get into uncontrolled flying. As I had to turn my upper body around to fight of the attacks, I was unable to read my instruments. A short glimpse on the artificial horizon at the co-pilot’s side ensured me that all was still ok….”

You never heard of Kallbach before? Enter “IL 62 landing Sölln” into youtube and watch how he lands that bird on a 900m field! I am sure, afterwards you are curious to read more about this extraordinary pilot.

ISBN 978-3-939611-21-9