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crew member could go underneath the instrument panel to open a hatch on top of the nose. Pilots used this hatch to tend ropes or the anchor while floating. I’m sad that I didn’t get to crawl through and cleat her off just once.
I flew about 120 hours that season and enjoyed every minute. My years of hustling paid off – a few months later, I started flying a Falcon 50 and have been a jet pilot ever since. The Mallard continued to fly with lucky new FOs for several more summers. In 2003, the owner passed away, and shortly after that, the Mallard was sold. I am happy to report that this lovely lady still flies today, nearly 75 years old, getting her tailfeathers wet in the lakes of California and Arizona - just as Leroy Grumman had intended. I hope the pilots who earn the privilege of flying her will hold that experience in their hearts as I do.
Long live the Iron Works!
Peter Ruskay, CAM, is a second-generation corporate pilot who holds ATP and FE certifi- cates with five jet type-ratings. He has over 11,000 hours of flight experience and has spent the past 25 years flying long-range, large-cabin business jets in extensive inter- national operations. Pete holds NBAA Certi-
fied Aviation Manager and NBAA Certified Safety Manager qualifications. He can be reached at airpedro@aol.com.
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8 • TWIN & TURBINE / March 2024