By comparing when the sun set for both planes, they estimated the distance between them.
They used radio signal strength to narrow down Prochnow’s location. Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771
What would you do if you were flying a single-engine plane across the vast Pacific Ocean, only to realize your navigation equipment had failed and you were running out of fuel? This isn't just a Hollywood script—it’s the harrowing true story of pilot , immortalized in the film Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 . The Real-Life "Needle in a Haystack" By comparing when the sun set for both
Despite carrying 88 passengers and facing his own fuel limits, Vette refused to abandon the lost pilot. In a brilliant display of old-school navigation, the DC-10 crew used: the DC-10 crew used: