The young flight instructor from Pensacola, Florida, who made a complex freeway landing in Florida look easy last month got a chance to show the pros how it’s done last week. Emily Tilton, 21, was invited for a ride along with a member of the Blue Angels last week in one of their F-18s and said it satisfied her need for speed. “I’m just excited to fly something fast honestly. My planes are really slow,” she told Fox 10 News as she strapped into the back seat of the fighter. The Blues had heard about her well-executed emergency landing and invited her for a flight. Tilton flies out of Pensacola, which is also home to the world famous air demonstration team.
Last Aug. 4, Tilton and a student were heading out for the student’s first lesson when she smelled burning oil and watched the gauges drop. She declared an emergency and decided on the I-10 as her best option. As she got close to landing, she had to fly around a transport truck and its dashcam shot a nifty piece of flying as she ducked the Cherokee under an overhead sign before a perfect centerline landing on the busy highway. Before heading off in the fighter, she told the television station she was thinking about keeping everyone safe as she headed for the highway. “Honestly just that I wanted to get me and my student back on the ground safely but also where is the best place I can go to not hurt anybody on the ground was my main concern in those last 30 seconds,” Shelton said.
Great story!
It speaks to the comradeship of aviators when an exceptional bit of airmanship is recognized. Kudos to both Ms.Tilton and the Blue Angels.
Completely agree! Well done for both Emily and the Blues!
Nit picking here.
The Blues fly out of Navy Pensacola KNPA Forrest Sherman field. She likely flies out of KPNS Pensacola International airport about 10 miles between them. Landing at the wrong one will get you welcomed with a whole lot of paperwork regardless and maybe guns too. I have 0 landings at one and 1000’s at the other (NPA).
I somewhat doubt they gave her the stick of an F-18, but “a chance to show the pros how it’s done” seems to imply that.
The big question is: “Did her student continue with his flight instruction?”
I know I would have, but some people are squeamish about surprises. But he couldn’t have asked for a better demonstration of her skills.
A job well done. Good flying, Emily!
Very cool! Onward and upward Emily!
Truly Inspiring
Game Knows Game : Congratulations Emily for her skill and the Blue Angels for recognizing it. Well done!