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Narrator: IT'S AVIATION'S FINAL FRONTIER.
Man: WOO-HOO! [LAUGHS]
Narrator: COWBOY PILOTS WHO DELIVER SMALL, USED AIRCRAFT...
Woman: YOU SEE HOW IT'S LEAKING THROUGH THE FUSELAGE?
Narrator: ...ACROSS DISTANCES THEY WERE NEVER MEANT TO FLY.
Man: IF IT HAD HAPPENED OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN,
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UGLY.
Man: THAT'S NOT GOOD.
Man: THERE'S A RIGHT WAY TO FLY AN AIRPLANE,
AND THERE'S A WRONG WAY.
Narrator: AND AS LONG AS THERE'S MONEY AND FUEL TO BURN...
Man: WE DON'T CARE IF YOU SPILL A LITTLE BIT.
Narrator: THEY WILL FLY ANYTHING...
Woman: TO THIS DAY, WHEN I SEE SOME OF THESE AIRPLANES,
IT'S LIKE WOW.
Narrator: ANYWHERE...
Man: WHOA!
Man: I TOOK THAT PLANE WHERE IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO GO.
Narrator: ANYTIME.
[YELLING]
Man: HOLY CRAP, WE MADE IT!
[LAUGHS]
Narrator: AT A SMALL AIRPORT IN RHODE ISLAND,
PILOTS BOB RASKEY AND YASMINA PLATT
HAVE RUN INTO BIG TROUBLE.
Bob Raskey: AN OIL CHANGE IS A NORMAL THING.
WE WERE LOW ON OIL ANYWAY.
Narrator: THEY WERE HIRED TO JOCKEY
A 36-YEAR-OLD SINGLE-ENGINE CESSNA
FROM CALIFORNIA TO POLAND,
A FLIGHT OVER 6,000 MILES LONG THAT WILL TAKE THEM ACROSS
THE FRIGID WATERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC.
BUT THE JOB IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A SUICIDE MISSION.
FIRST, IT WAS THE AILERON TRIM.
Bob: OH!
Yasmina Platt: LOOK AT THAT THING!
OH, IT'S NOT WORKING? Bob: NOPE.
Yasmina: UH-OH.
Narrator: THEN A FUEL LEAK...
Yasmina: OH, MY GOD!
Bob: OK, SO IT IS LEAKING PRETTY GOOD BACK THERE.
Yasmina: YEAH, JUST CONCERNED ABOUT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.
Bob: WE'RE GONNA NEED TO DIVERT
TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: NOW, METAL FILINGS IN THE OIL FILTER
INDICATE THE ENGINE IS FALLING APART.
Yasmina: OH, MY GOD.
Bob: WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE FLYING THIS
ACROSS THE NORTH ATLANTIC?
Mechanic: NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Yasmina: SO WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?
Mechanic: IT'S UNAIRWORTHY.
Narrator: FOR BOB, THIS IS THE THIRD AND LAST STRIKE.
HE REFUSES TO FLY THIS PLANE AGAIN
WITHOUT A THOROUGH MAINTENANCE JOB.
Bob: IT'S ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED BY ANYBODY
FERRYING ACROSS THE NORTH ATLANTIC
TO DO THAT AT LEAST TWO OR THREE TIMES BEFORE YOU GO,
INCLUDING DOING SOAP ANALYSIS, THAT'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
Narrator: HIS BOSS, CORY BENGTZEN, DISAGREES.
Cory Bengtzen: THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
WE CANNOT AUTHORIZE WORK ON SOMEONE ELSE'S AIRPLANE.
LET'S SAY THEY FIND SOMETHING.
ARE YOU GONNA PAY TO FIX IT?
BECAUSE THE OWNER COULD JUST AS EASILY SAY,
"WELL, YOU GUYS AUTHORIZED THE INSPECTION,
I'M NOT PAYING FOR IT, YOU PAY FOR IT."
AND I KNOW SURE AS HELL I'M NOT GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
Narrator: CORY'S IN THE BUSINESS OF DELIVERING PLANES,
NOT FIXING THEM.
BUT WITH HIS HIRED GUNS READY TO BAIL,
HE'S GOT NO CHOICE BUT TO TALK TO THE MECHANIC.
Bob: YEAH, HOLD ON A SECOND.
Narrator: THE VERDICT-- THE ENGINE NEEDS AN OVERHAUL.
THIS PLANE DELIVERY HAS ALREADY BEEN DELAYED BY A WEEK,
AND IN POLAND, THE CLIENT IS RUNNING OUT OF PATIENCE.
Margaret Grabowska: WE ARE PAYING FOR THE CESSNA
AND WE HAVE TO PAY ALSO THE RENTAL AIRCRAFT.
SO WE'RE PAYING DOUBLE.
THAT'S WHY WE DESPERATELY NEEDED THAT PLANE.
Narrator: SHE'LL KEEP LOSING MONEY
UNTIL CORY DELIVERS THE PLANE.
BUT NOW HIS PILOTS HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS
ABOUT FINISHING THE JOB.
Bob: IT'S EASY ENOUGH TO ACQUIESCE
TO THE FACT THAT WE GOT IT HERE.
WE GOT IT TO A CERTAIN POINT.
IT MIGHT BE TIME TO HAND IT OFF TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
HEADING HOME.
Narrator: CORY'S PILOTS ARE THROWING IN THE TOWEL.
Yasmina: BOB AND I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN
AND WE'VE BROUGHT IT AS FAR AS IT WOULD LET US.
IT NEEDS ANOTHER DOCTOR TO LOOK AT HER.
Narrator: THEY'RE CALLING IT QUITS.
AND CORY IS FINDING OUT
THAT RUNNING A PLANE DELIVERY BUSINESS
CAN BE MORE STRESSFUL THAN FLYING.
Cory: I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
FIRST THING IS IT'S MORE DELAYS, PERIOD.
I MEAN, IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS JUST A NEW CYLINDER
THEY NEED TO PUT ON IT,
BUT IF IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE, IT'S AT LEAST TWO, THREE WEEKS.
Narrator: WORSE, THE GROUNDED CESSNA
IS JUST HALF OF CORY'S NIGHTMARE.
NOW HE'S GOT ANOTHER JOB TO GET OFF THE GROUND,
AND ANOTHER CLIENT WHO WANTS THE PLANE DELIVERED YESTERDAY.
Cory: WHEN THE PLANE'S READY,
THE CLIENT EXPECTS YOU TO BE READY AND TO LEAVE RIGHT THEN.
I CANNOT TELL THEM THAT THEY HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER WEEK
OR TWO WEEKS, BECAUSE I'M DOING ANOTHER FLIGHT.
THEY WANT THEIR PLANE NOW,
AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE OTHER PILOTS READY TO GO
THAT ARE TRAINED IN THE AIRPLANE THAT CAN FERRY IT, IF I'M BUSY.
Narrator: CORY THINKS HE'S GOT THE RIGHT GUY
TO TAKE ON THIS NEW JOB.
KERRY McCAULEY OWNS A SKYDIVING SCHOOL IN WISCONSIN.
OVER A DECADE AGO, KERRY MADE HIS LIVING
DELIVERING PLANES ACROSS THE GLOBE.
AND HE'S SIGNED ON WITH CORY
TO FIND OUT IF HE'S STILL GOT THE NERVE
TO DO HIS OLD JOB ONCE AGAIN.
Kerry McCauley: I'VE CROSSED THE OCEAN MANY TIMES.
FLOWN OVER AFRICA, EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST.
IF I SCREW THIS ONE UP, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME
AND HAVE HEARD ALL MY GLORIOUS STORIES OVER THE YEARS
ARE GONNA BE SNICKERING BEHIND MY BACK, OR TO MY FACE.
THAT WAS A BLAST. I NEEDED THAT!
Narrator: KERRY MIGHT BE A LITTLE RUSTY,
BUT HE'S NO ROOKIE.
Kerry: SOME PILOTS, THEY CALL THE OFFICE
AND CALL THE BOSS EVERY TEN MINUTES.
THEY WANT EVERY DECISION MADE FOR THEM.
THEY WANT HELP.
THEY WANT THEIR HAND HELD ALL THE WAY ACROSS.
THERE SHE IS.
IF I DON'T BOTHER CORY,
IF I JUST GET THE JOB DONE
WITH THE MINIMAL AMOUNT OF INTERFERENCE
AND WITH THE MINIMAL AMOUNT OF MONEY, HE'LL BE IMPRESSED.
George Johnson: GOOD MORNING, GUYS. GEORGE JOHNSON.
Kerry: HEY, GEORGE, KERRY McCAULEY.
George: KERRY. Stu Sprung: STU SPRUNG.
George: STU, NICE TO MEET YOU. Stu: NICE TO MEET YOU.
Narrator: STU SPRUNG WILL BE KERRY'S COPILOT.
AND THIS MORNING, HE'S MEETING THE PLANE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Stu: FOR ME IT'LL BE DEFINITELY UNCHARTED WATERS.
FLYING OVER THE AMAZON,
I'M NOT QUIT SURE HOW THAT'S GONNA MAKE ME FEEL.
George: IT'S A VERY LOW-TIME AIRPLANE.
IT'S GOT ABOUT 2,000 HOURS TOTAL TIME.
Stu: WHAT YEAR IS IT?
George: IT'S 1989.
Narrator: THIS IS A BEECHCRAFT BONANZA.
BASED ON WORLD WAR II FIGHTER PLANE TECHNOLOGY,
THE BONANZA HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION
FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY.
IT'S A CLOSE COUSIN OF THE FIRST BONANZA,
WHICH KILLED MUSICIANS BUDDY HOLLY AND RITCHIE VALENS
IN 1959.
Kerry: YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SEE PROBLEMS
IN SOME OF THESE PLANES
WHEN THEY'VE WASHED THEM AND WAXED THEM
AND DETAILED THEM LIKE THAT.
Narrator: FLYING A PLANE FOR SOMEONE ELSE
IS A LOT LIKE A HIGH-ALTITUDE BLIND DATE.
THE PILOTS NEVER REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO.
Kerry: PEOPLE HAVE TOLD US THIS IS A GREAT PLANE,
IT'S IN GREAT CONDITION, FRESH OUT OF ITS ANNUAL INSPECTION.
BUT I NEED TO SEE FOR MYSELF.
Narrator: AND SOMETIMES EVEN THE BEST AIRPLANES
HAVE A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET.
Kerry: YOU HEAR THAT?
IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING'S RUBBING.
YEAH, IT'S LOUDEST RIGHT HERE.
Stu: LAST THING IS WE NEED IS FOR ONE OF THOSE RODS
TO WEAR ALL THE WAY THROUGH WHEN WE'RE HALFWAY OVER BRAZIL.
Narrator: THEY'LL NEED TO GET THIS FIXED
BEFORE THEY CAN TAKE OFF.
THEY'VE GOT A LONG FLIGHT AHEAD--
ALMOST 5,000 MILES FROM GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA,
TO PORTO ALEGRE IN BRAZIL.
Stu: SO YOU'RE SAYING FROM ST. BARTS TO GRENADA
TO GEORGETOWN, AND YOU WANT TO MAKE MACAPA IN THE SAME DAY?
Kerry: THAT'S GONNA BE TOUGH.
Stu: THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A PERFECT DAY.
THAT'S ABOUT 1,400 MILES.
Narrator: AND ACCORDING TO THE LATEST FORECASTS,
THE ONLY THING PERFECT ABOUT THE UPCOMING WEATHER
IS A PERFECT STORM.
A MONSTER HURRICANE LURKING ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF KERRY AND STU'S FLIGHT PATH.
Kerry: WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THE WHOLE CONVERSATION
ABOUT BEING PESSIMISTIC.
WE'RE OPTIMISTIC. WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT.
Stu: I'M GONNA DO A PARALLEL PLAN,
I'M GONNA CALL IT THE REALISTIC PLAN.
Narrator: STU KNOWS THAT FLIGHT PLANS ALMOST ALWAYS CHANGE.
BUT WHAT'S REALLY BUGGING HIM IS A PROBLEM THAT HE CAN'T FIX.
Stu: IT JUST IRRITATES ME TO EVEN TALK,
HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.
Kerry: I MEAN, AIN'T THAT THE WAY IT GOES?
THE ONE BIG COMMITMENT YOU HAVE.
Narrator: STU IS A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER.
EVERY YEAR SINCE THE 9/11 TERROR ATTACKS
HE'S JOINED HIS FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS FOR A MEMORIAL.
AND HE TOOK THIS JOB ON ONE CONDITION--
THAT HE COULD BE IN NEW YORK CITY FOR THE 10th ANNIVERSARY.
Stu: THAT WAS A VERY DEVASTATING TIME.
I WORKED THERE WITH THE NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHTERS.
SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS WERE NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHTERS
THAT PASSED AWAY THAT DAY.
WE MADE A PLEDGE NEVER TO FORGET.
AND SO IF I'M NOT THERE
BECAUSE I'M FLYING AN AIRCRAFT TO BRAZIL,
IT'LL TEAR AWAY AT ME.
I JUST DON'T EVEN WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
Kerry: WE'RE A TEAM. WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
AND YOUR WELL-BEING IS MY WELL-BEING.
Stu: THAT'S TRUE.
Kerry: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT BOTH OUR WELL-BEINGS
AND THIS FREAKIN' HURRICANE THAT'S BEARING DOWN ON US.
Narrator: A HURRICANE OF THIS SIZE COULD SHATTER A SMALL PLANE
IN A FEW SECONDS.
SO THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE IT IS TO FIND A WAY AROUND IT.
Kerry: WE BETTER BOOGIE.
Stu: NICE.
Kerry: YEAH, YEAH.
Narrator: IF STU HAS ANY CHANCE
TO MAKE IT BACK TO NEW YORK IN TIME,
THEY HAVE TO GET TO THE FIRST STOP BEFORE THE HURRICANE.
Stu: GAME PLAN IS JUST TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF IT.
THE IRONY IS TO BEAT THE HURRICANE
WE HAVE TO FLY RIGHT AT IT.
Kerry: GEAR UP.
AND WE'RE OFF!
Narrator: IN RHODE ISLAND,
THE DELIVERY OF A 36-YEAR-OLD CESSNA 206 IS IN JEOPARDY.
AND CORY BENGTZEN IS HERE BECAUSE HIS PILOTS WALKED OUT.
NOW THE BOSS HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO FINISH THE JOB HIMSELF.
Cory: I HAD TO DROP EVERYTHING TO GET OUT HERE
AND FINISH THE FLIGHT.
SO IT'S FRUSTRATING,
BUT MY COMPANY'S REPUTATION IS RIDING ON THIS FLIGHT.
I GOT TO GET THE AIRCRAFT THERE.
HEY, JOE! CORY BENGTZEN.
Joe: NICE TO MEET YOU. Cory: NICE TO MEET YOU.
Randy: RANDY McGEHEE.
Joe: WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND. Randy: NICE TO MEET YOU.
Narrator: CORY HAS CONVINCED HIS FRIEND AND EXPERT PILOT,
RANDY McGEHEE, TO LEND HIM A HAND.
THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME RANDY HAS BEEN A LIFESAVER.
HE PILOTED CORY'S FIRST DELIVERY,
A DANGEROUS FLIGHT FROM CALIFORNIA TO AUSTRALIA.
Randy: WHOA. SLOW IT DOWN HERE.
Cory: OK.
Randy: IN CASE WE RUN INTO ANY BAD BUMPS,
WE WON'T BREAK OUR AIRPLANE.
Narrator: THINGS GOT A LITTLE BUMPY OVER THE PACIFIC.
Randy: THAT LIGHT MEANS WE HAVE TEN MINUTES LEFT OF FUEL.
Cory: I DON'T WANT TO BE FREAKING SWIMMING
IN THE OCEAN, DUDE.
Narrator: THEY BOTH LIVED TO TELL THE TALE.
Randy: HOLY CRAP, WE MADE IT!
[LAUGHS]
Narrator: AND NOW RANDY'S BACK FOR MORE.
Randy: HOW DOES SHE LOOK?
Joe: SHE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD NOW.
I MEAN, WE CHANGED THE ENGINE IN IT.
AS FAR AS USED ENGINES GO, IT'S ABOUT THE BEST YOU'RE GONNA GET.
I DID EVERYTHING I COULD,
TEST FLYING IT, RUNNING HER ON THE GROUND.
IT'S ALL YOURS NOW.
Cory: ALRIGHT. Randy: THANKS A LOT.
Cory: HEY, THANKS, JOE, APPRECIATE IT.
Joe: YOU'RE WELCOME.
Narrator: THE REFURBISHED ENGINE
MIGHT GIVE THE PLANE A SECOND LIFE,
OR TURN THIS TRIP INTO THE LAST FATAL FLIGHT.
Randy: THE PLANE DEFINITELY HAD SOME MAJOR ISSUES,
AND THAT'S A BIG RED WARNING LIGHT
WALKING INTO THIS SITUATION.
BUT I CAN'T LET THAT CLOUD MY EVALUATION OF THE AIRPLANE
RIGHT NOW AS THE AIRPLANE SITS THERE.
Narrator: WHEN CORY AND RANDY LEAVE RHODE ISLAND,
THEY'LL BEGIN A DEADLY GAME OF HOPSCOTCH TO GET TO POLAND,
LANDING ON REMOTE AIRSTRIPS WHEN THEIR FUEL RUNS LOW
OVER THE COLD NORTH ATLANTIC,
WHERE EVEN A SMALL STORM CAN TURN THE LITTLE AIRPLANE
INTO A COCKTAIL SHAKER.
THAT'S WHY BOTH PILOTS SIGNED UP
FOR A TWO-DAY SURVIVAL COURSE BEFORE THE FLIGHT.
Trainer: ALRIGHT, ONCE YOU SIT DOWN, GRAB YOUR SEATBELT.
Randy: YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF EXCITEMENT
WITH SOME NERVOUSNESS MIXED IN THERE, YEAH, FOR SURE.
Trainer: YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ME SAY,
"DITCHING, DITCHING, DITCHING."
Narrator: DITCHING IS THE CONTROLLED LANDING
OF A PLANE ON WATER.
BUT FOR THE PILOTS, IT'S CODE FOR LIFE OR DEATH.
Trainer: WE'RE GOING TO LOWER DOWN UNDERWATER AND SUBMERGE.
A GREAT REFERENCE POINT FOR YOU TO USE
TO FIND THAT JETTISON HANDLE
IS TO REFERENCE RIGHT OFF OF YOUR KNEE.
Narrator: IT WON'T DO ANY GOOD TO SURVIVE THE IMPACT
IF THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF THE PLANE.
AND IF THEY DON'T FIND THAT JETTISON HANDLE,
THEY MIGHT NEVER GET OUT.
IF CORY AND RANDY GO DOWN AT SEA,
AFTER IMPACT,
ICY COLD WATER WILL FILL THE COCKPIT IN SECONDS.
Cory: IT WAS A VERY EERIE FEELING.
YOUR SINUSES FILL UP, YOU'RE DISORIENTED,
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU'RE AT,
YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.
YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR POSITION POINTS
TO LOCATE YOUR EMERGENCY EXIT AND TO GET OUT,
ALL WHILE HOLDING YOUR BREATH.
Randy: I COULD FEEL THAT LITTLE BIT OF FEAR, PANIC
START TO CREEP IN A LITTLE BIT.
AND IT'S NOT A GOOD FEELING AT ALL.
Narrator: WHILE THE GOING IS STILL GOOD,
CORY WANTS TO TAKE OFF.
Cory: IF WE WAIT A FEW MORE HOURS,
THERE WILL JUST BE EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE CLOUDS.
SO WE'VE GOT A WINDOW OF JUST A SHORT TIME
TO GET OFF THE GROUND
AND BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR DESTINATION,
OR WE'LL BE STUCK SOMEWHERE.
YOU READY, COWBOY?
Randy: I'M READY.
Narrator: TODAY'S FLIGHT TO GOOSE BAY, CANADA,
WILL BE OVER LAND.
FROM THERE ON, IT'S DO OR DIE.
BACK DOWN SOUTH, OVER THE CARIBBEAN SEA,
KERRY AND STU ARE PLAYING CHICKEN
WITH A MONSTER HURRICANE ALMOST 400 MILES WIDE.
Kerry: ONE HOUR TILL HURRICANE TIME.
Narrator: KERRY'S GAMBLING THE BEECHCRAFT BONANZA
CAN OUTRUN THE STORM, AND LEAVE DISASTER IN HIS REARVIEW MIRROR.
[THUNDER]
Kerry: GOT A COUPLE OF LIGHTNING STRIKES
ON THE STORM SCOPE, YEAH.
AND THERE IS A BIG THUNDERSTORM RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
THAT ONE RIGHT THERE, THAT'S HUGE, THAT ONE THERE IS HUGE.
Stu: I JUST SAW LIGHTNING.
Kerry: WE MIGHT BE SCREWED.
Narrator: IF THEY CAN BEAT THE STORM,
STU HAS A CHANCE TO MAKE IT BACK TO NEW YORK
FOR THE 9/11 MEMORIAL OF THE TERROR ATTACKS.
Stu: IF THIS HURRICANE DELAYS US BY A DAY,
THEN I'M GOING TO BE LEFT WITH HAVING TO MAKE
A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION ON WHETHER I CAN COMPLETE THE TRIP
OR POSSIBLY NOT GO TO NEW YORK.
Kerry: THERE'S SOME PRETTY SERIOUS AIRPLANES
THAT HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN THE AIR
JUST BY THUNDERSTORMS, THOUGH, NOT A CATEGORY 2 OR 3 HURRICANE.
Stu: WE GOT TO BE CAREFUL, TOO, THOUGH,
BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING DAYLIGHT.
Kerry: YEAH, YEAH.
Stu: IF WE GO OFF COURSE TOO FAR,
WE'RE GONNA GET THERE AFTER DARK.
Narrator: THE SIX-CYLINDER ENGINE POWERS THE BONANZA
TO A TOP SPEED OF OVER 180 MILES PER HOUR.
BUT THEIR FLIGHT PATH IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE
A KAMIKAZE MISSION.
THE AGING CESSNA HAS DELIVERED RANDY AND CORY
SAFELY TO THEIR FIRST FUEL STOP.
NOW THEY PREPARE TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD
WITH THE UNFORGIVING AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
NORTH ATLANTIC.
Cory: WELL, CAPITAN, HERE WE GO!
Randy: HERE WE GO!
Cory: DUDE, MY STOMACH'S TURNING A LITTLE BIT.
Randy: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? YOU FEELING ALL RIGHT?
Cory: JUST KIND OF NERVOUS, MAN.
Narrator: PUTTING ON THESE SURVIVAL SUITS
BRINGS HOME THE DANGER.
Cory: REALITY IS SETTING IN, THIS IS A BIG FLIGHT.
THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST DANGEROUS FLIGHT I'VE EVER DONE.
I JUST WANT TO STAY DRY.
Narrator: IF THE CRASH DOESN'T KILL THEM,
THE COLD WATER WILL IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES.
THESE HIGH-TECH SURVIVAL SUITS MIGHT KEEP THEIR BLOOD WARM
AND THEIR HEARTS PUMPING
LONG ENOUGH TO GET PICKED UP ALIVE BY A RESCUE TEAM.
Randy: IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO ZIP THESE UP
SITTING DOWN, YOU KNOW?
Narrator: IN THE TINY CESSNA THERE'S NO WAY AND NO TIME
TO PUT THESE SUITS ON IN AN EMERGENCY,
SO THEY HAVE TO FLY HALF ZIPPED IN.
Cory: THE SUIT IS A FULL DRY SUIT,
AND PLUS IT HAS A LINER IN THERE TO HELP KEEP YOUR BODY WARM.
AND SO THEY'RE VERY BULKY, THEY'RE HARD,
THEY'RE SWEATY ON THE INSIDE.
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T ALLOW ANY WATER TO GET IN AT ALL,
I MEAN, ALL THE WAY FROM YOUR TOES UP TO YOUR NECK,
YOU'RE TRAPPED IN THAT SUIT.
ALRIGHT, SHE'S CLIMBING NICELY.
Narrator: THIS IS NO DRESS REHEARSAL.
IT'S SHOWTIME.
Cory: NO MORE LAND, WE WILL NOT SEE LAND FOR MANY HOURS.
PROBABLY 99.9% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD CAN SAY
THEY'VE NEVER TAKEN A SINGLE-ENGINE PISTON
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, DO YOU KNOW THAT?
Randy: WHAT'S THAT SAY ABOUT US?
Cory: WE'RE BADASS MO-FOs.
Narrator: THE FIRST LEG GOES WITHOUT A HITCH.
Cory: JUST GET US THERE, OLD CESSNA.
Narrator: THEY DROPPED IN ON A GREENLAND AIRSTRIP AND REFUELED.
NOW THEY'RE BACK UP,
LOOKING AT MORE THAN 600 MILES OF WHITE-KNUCKLED FLYING
BEFORE THEIR NEXT STOP, REYKJAVIK, ICELAND.
Cory: HEADWINDS PICKING UP.
WE JUST LOST 5 KNOTS IN THE LAST 5 MINUTES.
DOWN TO 122 KNOTS GROUND SPEED.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN 20 HOURS SINCE THEY LEFT RHODE ISLAND,
AND THEY'LL BE RUBBING ELBOWS IN THIS CRAMPED COCKPIT
FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER FIVE HOURS BEFORE THE NEXT PIT STOP.
Cory: YOUR SPEED JUST KEEPS DECLINING.
Narrator: ON THIS FLIGHT,
IT SEEMS SOMETHING IS ALWAYS GOING WRONG.
AND THEY'RE STARTING TO FEEL LIKE
THEY'RE RIDING IN A FLYING COFFIN.
Randy: WHAT'S OUR GROUND SPEED?
Cory: 99 KNOTS.
Narrator: GROUND SPEED IS THE MEASURE OF THE CESSNA'S SPEED
RELATIVE TO THE EARTH.
AND RIGHT NOW, A HEADWIND IS SLOWING DOWN THE PLANE,
FORCING THE PILOTS TO BURN MORE FUEL THAN THEY ESTIMATED.
Randy: BUT WE CAN'T MAINTAIN 95, 96 KNOTS GROUND SPEED.
WE WON'T MAKE IT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME SERIOUSLY IMPROVING PERFORMANCE,
MAN, OR THIS IS GOING TO BE A SHORT TRIP.
Narrator: IF THE HEADWINDS KEEP UP AT THE CURRENT RATE,
THEIR TANKS COULD RUN DRY BEFORE THEY REACH THEIR DESTINATION.
SO CORY DOES THE MATH.
Cory: OKAY, RANDY, HERE'S BASICALLY WHAT I CAME UP WITH.
IT TOOK US 45 MINUTES TO GET TO CRUISING ALTITUDE.
WE'RE RIGHT AT THAT HOUR OF FUEL RESERVE
WITH EVERYTHING STAYING THE SAME.
I MEAN, IT'S RIGHT ON THAT, IT'S RIGHT ON THAT VERGE.
I MEAN, [BLEEP].
Narrator: BEFORE THIS TRIP CORY'S TEAM BUILT
AN EXTRA FUEL TANK TO EXTEND THE CESSNA'S RANGE.
THEY RIGGED THE HOMEMADE 58-GALLON TANK
INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT--
AN ADDITIONAL PIECE OF CARGO THAT GIVES THEM ENOUGH FUEL
TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC.
BUT IT'S LIKE RIDING IN A FLYING BOMB.
Cory: WE CAN ONLY GO THIS WAY
FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 20 OR 30 MINUTES
OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK.
Randy: WE'LL HAVE NO CHOICE.
Narrator: BUT NOW, EVEN WITH THE EXTRA TANK,
THE FUEL LEVELS ARE RUNNING DANGEROUSLY LOW.
AND RANDY IS GETTING WORRIED,
BECAUSE THEY'RE APPROACHING THE POINT OF NO RETURN.
Randy: I THINK WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO DO,
WE GOT TO DO IT NOW, FIGURE IT OUT NOW.
THE POINT OF NO RETURN IS THE "GO" OR "NO GO" DECISION
FOR A PILOT.
YOU ONLY HAVE THE FUEL TO GO FORWARD.
SO EVEN IF YOU WANT TO TURN AROUND, YOU CAN'T MAKE IT.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK IN THAT TANK AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE.
OR MAYBE I SHOULD DO IT, BECAUSE I KNOW,
I'VE BEEN LOOKING BACK THERE.
I'LL HAVE A BETTER GAUGE OF HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THERE.
Cory: OK.
Randy: I'M GOING TO TRANSFER CONTROL TO YOU, OK.
YOU HAVE THE AIRPLANE.
I AM GOING TO UNBUCKLE AND GO MESS WITH THIS FUEL TANK.
YOU HAVE THE AIRPLANE?
Cory: I GOT THE AIRPLANE.
Narrator: THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK DOESN'T HAVE A GAUGE,
SO RANDY HAS TO EYEBALL WHAT FUEL IS LEFT.
Randy: THIS IS REALLY DIFFICULT WITH THESE SUITS ON, MAN.
Cory: THEY'RE A PAIN IN THE ***.
[***]
[BLEEP] WHAT WAS THAT?
YOU OKAY?
Randy: I'M TAKING OFF THE CAP, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THAT THING JUST FLIES UP.
IT WAS LIKE AN EXPLOSION, MAN.
I TOOK A HUGE WHIFF OF FUMES, MAN, AND I DON'T FEEL TOO GOOD.
Narrator: FUEL UNDER HIGH PRESSURE
JUST BLEW OUT OF THE TANK INTO THE CABIN.
AND NOW IT WON'T TAKE MORE THAN A TINY SPARK TO EXPLODE.
Randy: IF I COULD CHOOSE ONE WAY NOT TO DIE,
IT'S I DON'T WANT TO BE BURNED TO DEATH.
I THINK IT'S AWFUL, AND IN AN AIRPLANE IF YOU HAVE A FIRE,
IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN KILL YOU VERY QUICKLY
AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO.
THOSE FUMES WERE NASTY.
ALL THE ELECTRONICS WE GOT IN HERE,
FUEL WILL BURN, BUT VAPORS EXPLODE,
AND JEEZ, WE GOT TO BE CAREFUL, MAN.
WE GOT TO KEEP THIS THING WELL VENTILATED.
Narrator: RANDY CRACKS OPEN A WINDOW
TO CLEAR OUT THE GAS FUMES.
Randy: DO YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR PANTS, MAN?
Cory: DID YOU HEAR ME YELL?
I SCREAMED LIKE A LITTLE SCHOOLGIRL.
Randy: WHEN THE FUEL TANK BLEW IN MY FACE,
I WAS ABLE TO, FOR WHATEVER REASON,
KEEP MY COOL AND KEEP OPERATING THAT AIRPLANE.
IF YOU PANIC AND QUIT THINKING, YOU'RE DEAD. PERIOD.
Narrator: BUT IT'S STILL A LONG WAY TO THE NEXT PIT STOP.
BACK DOWN SOUTH IN THE CARIBBEAN,
PILOTS KERRY McCAULEY AND STU SPRUNG
ARE AVOIDING A FIGHT THEY WERE GUARANTEED TO LOSE,
BY STEERING THE BEECHCRAFT BONANZA
AROUND A DEADLY HURRICANE.
Kerry: IT'S GONNA ADD ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO ONTO OUR TRIP.
KIND OF STRETCH OUR FUEL A BIT.
BUT WE KIND OF GOT TO DO IT NOW, 'CAUSE THAT LOOKS PRETTY NASTY.
I DON'T WANT TO WAIT TILL WE'RE RIGHT IN IT.
LET'S RUN AWAY AND LIVE TO FLY ANOTHER DAY.
Narrator: THEY VEER OFF TO AVOID THE MONSTER WINDS
AND VIOLENT RAINS.
Kerry: BOY, I'M REALLY GLAD WE GOT THAT HURRICANE BEHIND US.
I MEAN, THAT WAS A REAL STRESS BUILDER.
Stu: IT SAYS ST. MAARTEN AT 6:00.
WHAT DID YOU SAY WHEN SUNSET WAS?
Kerry: 7:30.
Narrator: THE GOOD NEWS IS HURRICANE KATIA
WON'T WIN THIS FIGHT BY A KNOCKOUT.
THE BAD NEWS IS THE DETOUR PUTS THEM IN ST. MAARTEN AFTER DARK.
AND FLYING BLIND IS NEVER FUN.
Kerry: WHAT REALLY GETS SCREWY WITH THESE ISLANDS AT NIGHT,
IT'S COMPLETELY SURROUNDED WITH BLACKNESS,
AND JUST THIS LITTLE, TINY STRIP OF LIGHTS.
Stu: ST. MAARTEN FINALLY!
Kerry: HURRICANE MISSED YOU GUYS, HUH?
I KIND OF WANTED TO SEE IT, WANTED TO GET A LITTLE CLOSER.
BUT YEAH, IT'S NOT MY AIRPLANE,
SO I SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT.
THE OWNER MIGHT NOT APPRECIATE HURRICANE DAMAGE.
Man: THAT'S RIGHT. [LAUGHS]
Narrator: A SAFE LANDING MAKES ANY DAY A GOOD DAY.
BUT STU HAS OTHER THINGS AND PLACES ON HIS MIND.
Stu: SOMETHING WILL JAM US UP, I GUARANTEE IT.
FOR ME, WHEN YOU GET AS LUCKY AS WE HAVE ON THIS TRIP,
IT'S ALMOST A SIGN THAT
SOMETHING'S GOING TO COME DOWN THE CHUTE AND SCREW IT ALL UP.
EVERY CORNER I TURN I'M EXPECTING IT.
EVERY DAY TWO OR THREE THINGS COME UP
THAT CAN CAUSE POTENTIAL DELAYS.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE UNTIL THEY HIT US.
Narrator: BACK UP NORTH,
CORY AND RANDY ARE APPROACHING ICELAND
WITH 30 MINUTES OF FUEL TO SPARE
AND ENOUGH FUMES IN THEIR JURY-RIGGED TANK
TO BLOW THEM HALFWAY TO THE MOON.
Randy: WOW, CORY, YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY
ON YOUR FUEL CALCULATIONS SINCE AUSTRALIA.
Cory: GO [BLEEP] YOURSELF.
Narrator: IF RANDY IS UNIMPRESSED
BY HIS COPILOT'S FLIGHT SKILLS, HE'S NOT SAYING TOO MUCH.
BECAUSE THE COPILOT ON THIS FLIGHT IS ALSO THE BOSS,
AND HE'S SIGNING THE CHECKS.
Randy: LET'S GET OUT OF HERE, HUH?
THAT FLIGHT DID NOT DISAPPOINT.
THE WIND WAS TERRIBLE, FUEL PROBLEM.
Man: THAT JUST MAKES IT INTERESTING, MAN.
[LAUGHS] Randy: YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
IT MAKES FOR A GOOD STORY LATER, RIGHT?
Man: YEAH.
Randy: AS LONG AS YOU MAKE IT.
Man: YEAH.
Narrator: SMALL BUSINESSMEN LIKE CORY DON'T SURVIVE LONG
WITHOUT LEARNING HOW TO CUT A FEW CORNERS,
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT FLYING A SINGLE-ENGINE PLANE
ACROSS THE OCEAN
THAT CAN MAKE EVEN THE TOUGHEST MEN THINK TWICE.
Randy: THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ATTACHED.
THAT STARTS TO GIVE ME A CLUE TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS
WE MAY HAVE BEEN HAVING,
WHY WE WERE HAVING THE EXPLOSION.
SOMETHING NOT RIGHT WITH THAT.
WE GOT TO GET A MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK TO THAT.
Narrator: IF THE TANK OF EXTRA FUEL BLEW ITS TOP
BECAUSE IT WASN'T VENTING PROPERLY,
RANDY DOESN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
Mechanic: IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.
THIS TANK IS REALLY [BLEEP] UP.
Cory: SOMETHING YOU CAN FIX QUICKLY, YOU THINK?
Mechanic: WELL, NO, NOT QUICKLY.
Cory: WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET OUT OF HERE.
Mechanic: YEAH. I BELIEVE THAT. SO...
Narrator: RANDY AND THE MECHANIC BOTH KNOW
THEY'LL NEED AT LEAST A DAY OR MORE
TO MAKE THE FIX AND TO DO IT RIGHT.
BUT FOR CORY, IT'S ANOTHER CRIPPLING SETBACK.
HE'S OVER A MONTH BEHIND ON THE DELIVERY OF THIS PLANE.
HIS REPUTATION IS ON THE LINE.
Cory: WE'VE GOT TO GET THE PLANE TO THE CLIENT,
AND THERE'S A CHANCE WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE THREE OR FOUR DAYS.
Narrator: AS FOR RANDY, HE'S WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO DELIVER THE PLANE SAFELY,
EVEN IF IT MEANS PULLING RANK ON HIS COPILOT AND BOSS.
WAY DOWN SOUTH, IN THE TROPICS, CLOSE TO THE EQUATOR,
KERRY AND STU'S BEECHCRAFT BONANZA IS 24 HOURS AWAY
FROM REACHING THEIR FINAL DESTINATION.
AND THEIR SPIRITS ARE HIGH.
Stu: IS THIS AN OLD FERRY TRICK, FERRY PILOT TRICK
THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE GPS?
Kerry: IF WE GOT TO DITCH IN THE OCEAN,
I WOULD LIKE TO DITCH IN FRONT OF A CRUISE SHIP,
BECAUSE WE'D BE IN A HOT TUB WITH A MARGARITA
WITHIN THE HOUR.
Stu: WHERE DO I SHUT OFF THE GAS?
[LAUGHTER]
Narrator: THESE PILOTS ONLY MET A FEW DAYS AGO,
BUT THE ADVENTURE HAS ALREADY TURNED THEM INTO OLD FRIENDS.
IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT THAT WAY.
Kerry: IF TWO PILOTS ARE FLYING TOGETHER
AND THEIR PERSONALITIES DON'T CLICK,
IT'S REALLY GONNA BE A PROBLEM.
36 HOURS SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH ANOTHER GUY
WILL NOT BE A LOT OF FUN IF YOU DON'T GET ALONG.
IF YOU HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, SHRUG OFF THE PROBLEMS,
AND JUST KEEP FLYING,
YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT TRIP AND YOU'LL MAKE A GREAT FERRY PILOT.
WELL, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NOW IS WE'RE GONNA GET SOME GAS,
FILE A FLIGHT PLAN,
AND HOPEFULLY MAKE THIS STOP LESS THAN AN HOUR.
Narrator: THEY'RE HALFWAY THROUGH TODAY'S FLIGHT PLAN.
IF THINGS KEEP GOING ALONG, THEY'LL REACH BRAZIL BY SUNDOWN.
Kerry: ALRIGHT, FUELED UP, READY TO GO.
FLIGHT PLAN IS FILED.
Stu: NOT SO FAST.
THEY'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE REGISTRATION FOR THIS PLANE,
AND THEY CAN'T GET PERMISSION FOR US TO LAND IN BRAZIL.
SO WE CAN'T TAKE OFF.
[CHUCKLES]
Narrator: ON ANY OTHER FLIGHT,
A DELAY LIKE THIS WOULD BE NO BIG DEAL,
BUT STU HAS MADE IT CLEAR FROM THE START,
HE PROMISED HIS FIREFIGHTER BROTHERS
HE WOULD BE IN NEW YORK FOR THE 9/11 MEMORIAL,
EVEN IF IT MEANS ABANDONING HIS CAPTAIN TODAY.
Stu: HEY, CORY, IT'S STU. HOW YOU DOING?
SO NOTHING FROM EVEN THE FAA, RIGHT?
Kerry: THIS SHOULD'VE BEEN DONE TWO WEEKS AGO.
WHY DO THEY WAIT UNTIL WE'RE MOMENTS FROM ENTERING BRAZIL
TO SAY, "OH, WAIT, WAIT, BY THE WAY, WE..."
Stu: LITERALLY ABOUT TO TAKE OFF.
Narrator: WHY BOSS CORY DIDN'T GET THE BRAZILIAN PAPERWORK DONE
IS A MYSTERY.
BUT IF STU BAILS OUT NOW,
CORY WILL NEED A LOT MORE THAN PAPERWORK,
HE'LL NEED A NEW PILOT.
Stu: THIS IS THE DELAY THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.
THIS IS NOT A SMALL LEG,
IT'S NOT A LEG THAT WE CAN MAKE UP THE NEXT DAY.
THIS IS A WHOLE DAY RIGHT HERE DOWN THE TUBES.
WE DID MAKE IT THROUGH A HURRICANE.
BUT WE CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH BRAZILIAN PAPERWORK!
Narrator: NO PILOT LANDS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY
WITHOUT PERMISSION, UNLESS HE'S LOOKING FOR FREE ROOM AND BOARD.
Kerry: YEAH, I DON'T FEEL LIKE GOING TO THE BRAZILIAN JAIL.
Stu: THE ONLY THING ABOUT THAT
IS THEY'LL PROBABLY ONLY TAKE ONE OF US TO JAIL.
Kerry: YEAH, BUT THEY ALWAYS TAKE THE PRETTY ONE.
[LAUGHS]
Stu: I'LL MAKE SURE, I'LL BRING YOU SOME SMOKES IN PRISON.
Kerry: THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU, MAN.
YOU'RE ALWAYS THINKING OF ME, MY WELL-BEING.
HOW CAN YOU MAKE ME COMFORTABLE IN A BRAZILIAN PRISON?
I'M TOUCHED.
I'M SO TOUCHED THAT YOU WERE THINKING OF ME.
HOW'S IT GOING?
Narrator: ALL THAT'S LEFT TO DO IS KILL TIME IN TOWN
AND HOPE FOR NEWS FROM THE OFFICE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
Stu: OH, HO, HO, HO.
KERRY, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS.
Kerry: WHAT?
Stu: IT'S CURRENTLY INDEPENDENCE DAY IN BRAZIL.
SO I'M HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING IN TOUCH WITH ANYBODY.
Kerry: NO WAY!
Narrator: BUT STU DOESN'T HAVE TO SAY WHAT THEY BOTH KNOW
ALL TOO WELL-- TIME IS RUNNING OUT FAST.
CORY AND RANDY HAVE FLOWN MORE THAN HALFWAY ACROSS
THE FROZEN NORTH ATLANTIC SEAS,
AND AFTER BEING GROUNDED FOR 48 HOURS IN ICELAND FOR REPAIRS,
THE TWO OF THEM ARE JUST DYING TO FLY.
Randy: ALRIGHT, BUDDY, IT'S GAME TIME.
LET'S GET FUELED UP AND LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
Cory: OK.
Randy: GOT TO TRY AND MAKE UP SOME OF THIS TIME.
Narrator: AND CORY'S GOT A LOT TO MAKE UP.
Cory: IT'S GAME DAY.
WE NEED TO GET THIS PLANE DOWN TO POLAND.
WE HAVE A JOB TO DO. THE CLIENTS ARE WAITING FOR US.
ASSUMING THAT THE WEATHER IS COOPERATING,
WE'LL BE IN THE AIR EARLY AND WE'LL GET GOING.
Narrator: THE NEXT LEG WILL STRETCH THE RANGE
OF THE OLD CESSNA 206.
ONCE AGAIN, THEY'LL BE RELYING ON THAT HOMEMADE FUEL TANK.
AND RANDY WANTS TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T EXPLODE AGAIN.
Randy: THIS FLIGHT IS NO JOKE.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 600 MILES OF OPEN OCEAN.
WE CAN'T LET DOWN OUR GUARD NOW,
'CAUSE IF THIS FLIGHT'S TAUGHT YOU ANYTHING,
THE UNEXPECTED IS GONNA HAPPEN.
Narrator: THE NEXT LEG IS A SIX-HOUR JOURNEY TO SCOTLAND
ACROSS THE UNFORGIVING NORTH ATLANTIC.
IT'S A LOT OF TIME IN A SINGLE-ENGINE PLANE
WITH NO PLACE TO LAND IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG.
Cory: WE SHOULD ALREADY BE THERE BY NOW.
Narrator: CORY'S FLYING THE SAME PLANE,
BUT HE'S BEING DRIVEN BY A DIFFERENT KIND OF ENGINE--
THE MONEY MACHINE.
Cory: WE GOT TO MOVE QUICK. THE WIND'S GETTING STRONGER!
LET'S GO, LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: TO RANDY, CORY SOUNDS LESS AND LESS LIKE A COPILOT,
AND MORE AND MORE LIKE A NERVOUS BUSINESSMAN.
Randy: HE'S GOT TO REALIZE THAT FLYING, THERE'S NO MISTAKES.
WE GOT ONE SHOT AT IT.
HEY, LISTEN, I'M GONNA FLY THIS LEG.
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TAKING THIS FLIGHT SERIOUSLY ENOUGH.
AND I WANT TO DRIVE THAT POINT HOME WITH YOU, OK?
SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA FLY THIS LEG, I'M GONNA FLY IT
UNTIL YOU START TAKING IT A LITTLE MORE SERIOUSLY.
Cory: WHATEVER YOU WANT.
Narrator: CORY MIGHT BE THE BOSS,
BUT RANDY PUTS HIS FOOT DOWN.
THIS IS ONE BUSINESS WHERE A SHORTCUT CAN LEAD TO DISASTER.
Randy: GOT OUR CHECKLIST?
Cory: SEATBELT STORES AND LOCKS.
Narrator: IN THE TROPICAL HEAT OF GUYANA,
KERRY AND STU HAVE FINALLY RECEIVED AUTHORIZATION
TO LAND ON BRAZILIAN SOIL.
Stu: WE'VE GOTTEN THE PROPER PAPERWORK,
CB WAS ABLE TO PULL A RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT.
Narrator: THEY'RE A FULL DAY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
AND STU'S APPOINTMENT WITH THE NEW YORK 9/11 MEMORIAL
IS COMING UP FAST.
Stu: ALRIGHT, LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD.
Kerry: TODAY DOESN'T GO PERFECT,
HE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO FINISH THE TRIP
AND GET TO NEW YORK ON TIME.
GEAR UP?
Stu: GEAR UP.
Narrator: KERRY IS DETERMINED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO MAKE STU FINISH THE JOB.
THAT'S WHY HE'S DECIDED TO FLY 1,700 MILES
FROM GEORGETOWN, GUYANA, TO GOIANIA, BRAZIL,
WITH JUST ONE FUEL STOP.
Kerry: WOW, WHAT IS THAT?
LOOKS LIKE A HUGE...
HUGE CLIFF AND SOME-- AH, THIS IS COOL!
Narrator: THIS IS THE KIND OF FLIGHT THAT CAN REMIND
EVEN THE MOST JADED PILOT WHY HE FELL IN LOVE WITH FLYING.
Stu: LOOK AT THIS, HOLY COW!
IT'S HUGE!
THE WHOLE THING JUST LOOKS LIKE
IT'S OUT OF THE LOST WORLD OR SOMETHING.
LOOK AT THAT.
UNBELIEVABLE.
Stu: PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
Kerry: OH, MY GOD, AWESOME!
YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHY I FERRY FLY.
WHO ELSE GETS A CHANCE TO DO THIS?
I GOT A NEW HIGH POINT IN MY LIFE.
THAT WAS...
WOO, THAT WAS COOL.
Narrator: OVER 600 MILES LATER,
THEY DROP INTO MACAPA FOR REFUELING AND CUSTOMS CLEARANCE.
BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
Stu: CUSTOMS APPARENTLY IS CLOSED FOR THE DAY.
SO THAT CAN'T BE DONE.
THE RUNWAY IS CLOSED FROM 8:00 TO NOON FOR...
THEY'RE WORKING ON THE RUNWAY 8:00 TILL NOON TOMORROW.
Kerry: IT'S LIKE, REALLY? I MEAN...
Narrator: IT'S THE BAD NEWS STU HAD FEARED ALL ALONG.
Stu: I HAVE TO SAY, I'M A LITTLE SPEECHLESS RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S NO EFFING WAY I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE IT FROM HERE
TO ANYWHERE ELSE AND MAKE IT TO NEW YORK.
THIS IS MY LAST STOP. I'M DONE.
Narrator: FOR STU, THIS FLIGHT IS OVER.
BUT HE STILL HAS TO BREAK THE NEWS TO HIS BOSS, CORY,
WHO'S NOW FLYING AS COPILOT ON THE FLIGHT TO POLAND.
Stu: IT'S THE BIG BLOW THAT WE WERE HOPING WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
Narrator: UP NORTH, CORY AND RANDY
REACH THE GREEN HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND.
AFTER FLYING THE SHAKY CESSNA OVER THOUSANDS OF MILES
OF TREACHEROUS OCEAN, THE ROLLING HILLS BELOW THEIR WINGS
HAVE LET THEM FORGET ABOUT THEIR DIFFERENCES...
Cory: WELL DONE, CAPITAN!
Randy: BY THE TIME WE LANDED, I WAS REALLY EXCITED,
AND LIKE, WOW, THAT WAS GREAT.
BY THE TIME WE PARKED THAT AIRPLANE, I HAD TANKED.
I WAS REALLY TIRED, JUST REALLY,
ALMOST NOT EVEN THINKING QUITE STRAIGHT ANYMORE.
Narrator: THEY MIGHT BE EXHAUSTED,
BUT CORY ISN'T WASTING ANY TIME.
HE'S DETERMINED TO KEEP MOVING.
Cory: YOU HAVE TO HAVE INCREDIBLE STAMINA
TO DO THIS TYPE OF FLYING.
WE PUT IN A LOT OF HOURS IN THE COCKPIT EVERY DAY,
WE DON'T GET A TON OF SLEEP,
AND WE'RE EXPECTED TO GET UP AND DO IT THE NEXT DAY.
Narrator: SOMETIMES, A PILOT HAS NOTHING LEFT TO RUN ON
BUT SHEER WILLPOWER.
Randy: IT'S VERY PHYSICALLY CHALLENGING.
JUMPING TIME ZONES, BEING AT ALTITUDE WHERE THE AIR IS LESS,
AND SO THAT TAKES A PHYSICAL TOLL ON YOU.
IT KNOCKS YOU ON YOUR *** SOMETIMES.
[LAUGHS]
Cory: THAT WAS A GOOD ONE, DUDE.
Randy: [BLEEP] YOU, MAN, I'M LIKE FIGHTING IT HARD OVER HERE.
Narrator: CORY WANTS TO BE IN POLAND BEFORE SUNSET.
Cory: NEXT IS THE FINAL DESTINATION INTO POLAND.
IT'S A LITTLE GRASS STRIP
THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DELIVERING THE AIRPLANE TO,
SO WE GOT TO HURRY AND TURN AND BURN AND GET IT THERE.
ALMOST DONE, ONE MORE LEG LEFT.
Narrator: THAT GIVES HIM JUST TWO HOURS
TO GET THE CESSNA READY FOR TAKEOFF.
BUT RANDY HAS JUST DISCOVERED
THEY MIGHT NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME.
Randy: WE HAVE A STRUT PROBLEM.
OUR STRUT IS STARTING TO GIVE US SOME ISSUES,
SO I NEED A FEW MINUTES TO THINK IT OVER
AND DO A LITTLE FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE AIRPLANE
AND A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK AT THE WEATHER,
AND THEN I'LL MAKE A DECISION
WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO GO OR NOT.
Narrator: THE STRUT CONNECTING TO THE FRONT LANDING GEAR
IS LEAKING OIL.
IT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH TO GROUND THE CESSNA,
BUT IF LANDING CONDITIONS AREN'T PERFECT,
ON TOUCHDOWN, IT COULD MAKE THE PLANE HARD TO HANDLE.
AND RANDY ISN'T GOING TO CHANCE IT.
Randy: AT OUR DESTINATION,
WHICH I JUST FOUND OUT IS A GRASS FIELD,
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE RAIN SHOWERS
AND WINDS GUSTING 20 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS.
THAT MAY KEEP US HERE FOR ANOTHER DAY.
Narrator: RANDY KNOWS THAT EVEN WITHOUT THE FAULTY STRUT,
A SOGGY RUNWAY AND A STRONG CROSSWIND
COULD SNAP THE CESSNA'S LANDING GEAR.
Randy: RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT SURE THE PLANE IS READY,
AND WE'RE NOT SURE THE WEATHER IS GOING TO BE GOOD ENOUGH.
Cory: WE NEED TO GET GOING, THOUGH.
WE HAVE TO GET IT THERE TONIGHT.
Randy: WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.
IF IT GETS TOO LATE, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO STAY.
Narrator: CORY MAY BE THE BOSS,
BUT RANDY'S WORD IS LAW, AND HE'S NOT BACKING DOWN.
A FEW HOURS LATER, CORY CATCHES A LUCKY BREAK.
Randy: CORY, I THINK WE CAN GO. Cory: REALLY?
Randy: YEAH, I THINK IT'S LOOKING GOOD.
Cory: LET'S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.
Randy: ALRIGHT.
Narrator: THE WEATHER CLEARED,
SO RANDY'S SAID OKAY TO SETTING OUT ON THE FINAL LEG TO POLAND.
Cory: RANDY, IT'S GONNA BE INTERESTING WHEN WE LAND HERE
IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
Randy: I KNOW, MAN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
I MEAN, SHE COULD BE REALLY UPSET WITH US.
SHE COULD BE REALLY HAPPY, WE DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: NOW THAT THEY'LL BE LANDING SOON,
THEIR THOUGHTS HAVE TURNED
TO THEIR LAST, AND POTENTIALLY BIGGEST PROBLEM--
ONE HARD-NOSED, NO-NONSENSE POLISH CUSTOMER.
Cory: I THINK SHE'S JUST EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED
WITH THE SITUATION, BECAUSE THIS PLANE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE
ALMOST A MONTH AGO.
Randy: HEY, CORY, WE ARE ALMOST THERE, LET'S DO IT RIGHT!
Cory: ALRIGHT, BOSS.
THERE IS A CONCRETE STRIP RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: THE CONCRETE RUNWAY SHOULD BE A LOT SAFER
THAN A DIRT STRIP.
Randy: YEAH, IT'S CONCRETE, BUT IT'S ALL BROKEN UP.
Cory: IT'S PRETTY CRACKED.
Narrator: BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT
IF THE LEAKY STRUT CAN ABSORB THE SHOCK OF A BUMPY LANDING.
AND NOW THAT THE NEW OWNER IS WATCHING THEIR FINAL APPROACH,
THEY'D BETTER PUT ON A GOOD SHOW.
Randy: ALRIGHT, CORY, THIS IS IT.
Cory: SPEED'S LOOKING GOOD, EVERYTHING'S LOOKING GOOD.
Randy: LET'S HOPE THIS RUNWAY SURFACE IS GOOD.
Cory: PRETTY [BLEEP] BUMPY.
Randy: YIKES.
Narrator: IT'S A GOOD THING THE CUSTOMER IS ONLY WATCHING
FROM A DISTANCE, BECAUSE IT'S ONE ROUGH LANDING.
BUT THE GEAR HOLDS UP.
Randy: NICE JOB, MAN! Cory: WELL DONE!
Randy: CONGRATULATIONS, WE FINALLY GOT IT HERE FOR YOU.
THERE'S THE KEYS.
Margaret: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Cory: HOW ARE YOU? I'M CORY BENGTZEN.
Margaret: I'M FINE. HELLO, NICE TO MEET YOU.
Cory: WE BROUGHT YOU A LITTLE PRESENT.
Margaret: THANK YOU.
Cory: AS WELL AS THE PLANE THAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOREVER.
Margaret: THIS IS MY PRESENT.
Narrator: HER SKYDIVING SCHOOL HAS BEEN HEMORRHAGING MONEY
ON THE RENTAL OF ANOTHER PLANE.
BUT NOW THAT SHE'S GOT HER CESSNA,
SHE'LL SOON BE OUT OF THE RED.
AND THAT MEANS CORY FINALLY HAS A HAPPY CUSTOMER.
Randy: WE DEFINITELY WENT THROUGH A LOT FOR THEM.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR JOB, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT.
Cory: WELL, IT'S BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
WE GOT HER HERE SAFELY.
WHEN WE FINALLY LAND
AND THEY'RE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE IT'S A FEW DAYS LATE,
IT'S LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE,
WE JUST, WE JUST PUT OUR LIVES IN OUR HAND,
WE JUST CROSSED THE OCEAN IN A SINGLE-ENGINE PISTON AND...
COME ON.
Narrator: WAY DOWN SOUTH IN THE TROPICS...
Stu: HEY, CORY, IT'S STU. HOW YOU DOING?
Narrator: KERRY AND STU'S MAD RACE AGAINST TIME
HAS COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP.
Stu: WE JUST LANDED IN MACAPA.
CUSTOMS WAS CLOSED EARLY.
SO WE CAN'T DO ANY CUSTOMS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 8:00.
AND THE RUNWAY IS CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE
FROM 8:00 UNTIL NOON TOMORROW.
Narrator: STU IS ON THE PHONE WITH BOSS CORY,
WHO HAS JUST LANDED IN POLAND,
AND HE'S GIVING CORY THE BAD NEWS.
HE'S BAILING OUT.
Stu: THAT BASICALLY KILLS IT.
SO YEAH, I'D BE COMMITTED TO LEAVING FROM HERE.
SO YOU'RE GONNA COME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE, TO TAKE MY SPOT?
Narrator: STU IS GOING TO NEW YORK TO THE 9/11 MEMORIAL,
AND CORY IS FLYING IN TO MACAPA, TO REPLACE HIM,
WHICH MEANS KERRY IS TEMPORARILY GROUNDED.
Kerry: YOU'RE KIDDING ME.
AM I FORBIDDEN TO CONTINUE ON? CAN I MEET HIM AT THE NEXT STOP?
I MEAN, FOR ME TO SIT HERE WITH A GOOD AIRPLANE...
GOD.
[MUMBLING]
Narrator: THE WAY STU TELLS IT,
HE HELD UP HIS PART OF THE BARGAIN,
BUT HE'S STILL SPLITTING UP THE TEAM
AND LEAVING A JOB UNFINISHED.
Stu: IT'S TOUGH FOR ME TO LEAVE YOU,
BECAUSE I'M WORRIED THAT'S LEAVING YOU STRANDED.
Kerry: DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME. I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
HELL, IT'LL PROBABLY BE EASIER.
I WON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOUR BORING STORIES.
ALRIGHT!
I'VE DONE TONS OF TRIPS LIKE THESE
FAR MORE DANGEROUS, FAR MORE DIFFICULT BY MYSELF.
TO HAVE SOMEONE COME DOWN HERE TO "HELP" ME
FOR THE LAST THIRD OF THE TRIP,
IS REALLY UNNECESSARY AND JUST DRIVES ME NUTS TO HAVE TO WAIT.
Narrator: NEXT TIME ON "DANGEROUS FLIGHTS,"
CORY STEPS IN TO FINISH THE JOB,
AND KERRY PUTS HIM TO THE TEST.
Cory: THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE JOB FOR A WIMPY PILOT.
Narrator: WHILE RANDY TAKES ON HIS TOUGHEST CHALLENGE YET--
FLYING INTO WAR-TORN AFRICA
IN A TYPE OF PLANE HE'S NEVER FLOWN BEFORE.
Man: COMPANY OPERATION MANUAL'S THERE...
Randy: THAT'S A LOT OF READING.
Man: YOU'RE AN AIRLINE PILOT, MAN, YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT.