A small caveat before we start. I have no idea how to fly a jet and don't know if the scenario I present here is at all possible, but it sure was fun to write…
Chapter 12
"Houston, We Have a Problem"
The flights in the T-38's continued and Judy went with Don almost exclusively. The pilots needed to fly in all types of weather and were ordered up on a rainy, foggy spring evening. Maureen's intuition had itched the entire day and she forbade Will and Penny from flying, much to Will's chagrin. John insisted that he needed the experience in the poor weather and asked to fly with Captain Bryce. Since Don was also flying, Judy, despite her mother's protests, volunteered to fly with him.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Robinson, I promise to get her back in one piece," Don assured her.
With no visibility, the pilots were flying by instruments alone, which Don hated. Most times, Don compared his own judgments with the computer data, and, more often than not, though not exact, was close enough that he trusted his gut instincts. Bryce, on the other hand, was a 'by the book' military man and preferred relying on computers in the cockpit. Bryce had gone up first with Don following. As was the routine, the pilots flew in a side by side formation, but the fog and rain made it especially difficult to see more than fifty feet around the plane.
"Don? I can barely see Captain Bryce's plane."
"I know. The fog is thicker than black cherry Jell-O."
Judy laughed. "Black cherry Jell-O?"
"My mother's favorite."
"I'd like to meet your mother someday."
"How about over the Fourth of Judy holiday?"
"Cut the chatter, West, this is a training flight, not a date," Bryce commanded over the radio.
Don rolled his eyes. "Roger, Captain."
They cruised for another ten minutes when Bryce ordered that they climb another four thousand feet. They both started their ascent when Bryce's voice broke through the silence. "My indicator lights went out. Peel away, West. I'm flying blind."
"Roger." Don followed orders and then looped around until he was behind Bryce's jet and had him in his sights.
"Mayday, mayday, computer instrument lights aren't responding. I need to be talked back to base. Over," Bryce announced.
"Don? What's happening?" Judy asked.
"His instrument panel might be dead. The tower will have to talk him down, but it'll be tough in this soup."
Judy's voice was panicked. "Dad is with him."
"Professor Robinson is working on the problem through the computer. We'll be fine. Just stay out of my way, West, and that's an order," Bryce commanded.
Judy prayed that her father could get the electronics back up.
"Professor? Can you get it back up?" Bryce asked.
"Negative, Captain. The panel is dead," Professor Robinson replied.
"Don? We've got to do something," Judy said.
"Bryce to tower. What's my location? Over."
"Twenty-five thousand feet and one hundred and twenty-eight miles from the base. We need you to drop down to seventeen thousand feet and turn… three degrees east. Over," the traffic controller stated.
"Roger."
"You came down too low, Captain. Come back up three thousand feet…" the controller stated.
Don interrupted, "Your not level, Captain. Bring your left wing up… stop. You turned two degrees too far to the east, bring it back… stop. Much better. Over."
"West! Where the hell are you. I said to stay out of my way," Bryce ordered.
"I'm right behind you, Captain. Got you in my sight." Don made a decision. "Tower? This is Lieutenant West. No offense, but it's going to be hell talking him in. Over."
"Understood, Lieutenant, but it's the only option he has," the tower replied. "Emergency personnel have been dispatched. Over"
"Which runway? Over." Bryce asked.
"Runway three-four-niner. Over."
"Tower, I have a proposition. Let me take him in. Over." Don suggested.
"Negative, Lieutenant West. You do not have permission to attempt rescue. You have a civilian in your jet. It's against regulations. Over." the tower instructed.
"Unless you want to risk the commander of the Jupiter program, I suggest you take me up on my offer. It's their only chance to come out of this without major damage. Over."
His proclamation was met with silence as calls were made to officials at Alpha Control, but then it finally came. "All right, Lieutenant, permission granted. Over."
Don grinned. "Copy that, Captain Bryce? I'm going to be your seeing eye dog."
"Lieutenant West, you have my daughter on board. I forbid you to put her in jeopardy," John proclaimed.
"Too late, Dad," Judy replied.
Don stated, "All right, Captain Bryce. This is what we're going to do. I'm going to loop around to your left and pull up in front of you. Stay close to my tail until we reach the base. Oh, and do me a favor. Don't make any sudden moves."
No reply.
"Copy that, Captain?"
"Roger, Lieutenant. No sudden moves. Proceed. Over."
Don performed his maneuver and called the controller. "Tower, how far apart are we? Over."
"Thirty feet. Over."
"Keep it that way. Let me know if it drops below twenty-five or goes over thirty-five. Over."
"Roger, Lieutenant."
"Do you see me, Bryce?" Don asked.
"You're in my sight, Lieutenant."
"I'll give you plenty of warning when I'm changing speed, altitude or banking."
"Roger, West. What happens when we hit the runway? Pray?"
"Hell, I don't know. I'm making this up as I go along, but praying won't hurt."
Bryce actually chuckled. "Then pray it is, Lieutenant."
They traveled in silence until they were within range of the base.
"Judy, I'm going to need your help on this. Do you see the altimeter?" Don asked.
"Yes, Don," she answered.
"Keep your eye on it, and call out the readings every thousand feet as we approach the runway."
"Got it."
"Bryce, I'm going to line you up with the runway. Let me know when your wheels are down. Let's hope they still work. I'll skim the runway and lift off to get out of your way while you break. With any luck, you'll be on the ground safe and sound, and I'll be back in the air. Copy that?"
"Copy, Lieutenant," Bryce replied.
"Tower, can I have my own runway? Over." Don asked.
"Sure, Lieutenant, you can have anything you want," the air controller responded. "Take runway three-six-two. All traffic has been cleared. You are in command. Over."
"Roger, tower, and remember… you did say anything. Over."
Maureen and the children had been alerted and were at the landing strip with the emergency personnel. They were told to wait in the vehicle, but Maureen and the children couldn't sit. They left the car to scan the skies for the two jets, but the murky night cloaked everything in darkness. Red Miles had joined them and Maureen asked him what the probability was that Captain Bryce would land safely. "I wouldn't want to give you any odds, Mrs. Robinson, but if anyone can pull this off, it's those two men up there."
The base was finally in sight and Don and Bryce had dropped down to twelve thousand feet. Now came the tricky part.
"On approach to runway three-four-niner. Banking four degrees west. Instruments have me lined up perfectly. Confirm, tower. Over," Don radioed.
"Confirmed. Over."
"Judy, start calling our altitude."
"Twelve thousand."
"Slowing speed to three hundred eighteen. You first Bryce. Let me know how far back he is, tower. Over."
"Forty feet… fifty two feet… sixty…" the tower reported.
Don started to slow.
"Fifty eight feet… fifty three feet… forty seven feet… forty one feet… thirty five feet… thirty," the tower continued.
Don steadied his speed.
"Holding at thirty," the tower stated.
"Eleven thousand feet," Judy called.
"Slowing to two hundred twenty eight. Bryce?" Don asked.
"Roger."
The tower reported, "Thirty-eight… forty two…"
Don slowed as Judy continued calling out the altitude, "Ten thousand… nine thousand… eight thousand… seven thousand."
"Thirty-three… thirty… holding at thirty," the tower stated.
"We're getting good at this, Captain. I'm slowing to one hundred thirty five. Over," Don asked.
"Six thousand… Five thousand…" Judy continued.
"Slowing to one hundred fifteen," Don announced.
"Distance is twenty eight feet. Over," the tower reported
"Four thousand… Three thousand," Judy called.
"Slowing to landing speed of eight-five, and then I'm hitting the gas, Captain. Got that?" Don asked.
"Copy, Lieutenant. You hit the gas and I hit the breaks."
"Distance is twenty four feet. Over," the tower reported.
"Roger." Two voices responded.
"Two thousand… One thousand… Seven hundred… Six hundred…" Judy called.
"Wheels down, Lieutenant," Bryce announced.
The tower interjected, "Visuals confirm wheels in position, Bryce. Over."
Don continued at eighty-five while they descended the last few hundred feet.
"Don?" Judy sounded panicked.
"Call it, Judy!" he ordered.
"Three hundred… two hundred… one hundred…"
Don started to pick-up speed.
Will spotted the jets coming towards the runway. "There they are!"
Maureen's hands flew to her mouth to hold in a scream, while Penny hugged her and turned away. The belly of Don's jet almost skimmed the runway in front of them, and then Don pulled the jet up and banked to the left while Bryce's wheels touched down.
Don leveled off and called the tower. "Did they make it? Over."
"Perfect landing, Lieutenant," the tower reported. "You probably earned yourself a promotion."
Both planes were safely on the ground. John was embraced by Maureen and the children when he and Captain Bryce left the plane. John was shaking. He needed the support of his wife to find his land legs. "I have no doubt that you could have landed on your own, Captain Bryce. Thank you for a safe landing."
Don and Judy arrived arm in arm and Bryce shook Don's hand as Judy hugged her father.
"I guess I owe you an apology, Lieutenant West," Bryce said.
"Just say 'thank you,' Captain," Don replied.
John turned towards Don with an angry, stern expression. "Lieutenant West, don't you ever pull a stunt like that again when you have my daughter's life in your hands. Do you understand me?"
Don and everyone else was speechless. John strode away.
Maureen took Don's hand in both of hers. "Lieutenant, thank you for helping them down."
Don nodded and Maureen hurried after her husband. He turned to Judy and said,
"There's just no pleasing him is there?"
Judy wrapped her arm around Don's and they walked away. Red walked up to Bryce and said, "Nice show you two put on up there."
Bryce turned to Red and said, "I guess things aren't as easy for him as I thought."
Red replied, "Nope… he just makes it look easy."
"He's going to be the pilot, isn't he?" Bryce asked.
"I think so. And he'll have the love of his life with him."
"Lucky man," Bryce replied.