X-Plane Adds Flight 1549 Program To iPhone Flight Simulator App

Much has been said in praise of US Airways Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's piloting skills since his picture-perfect ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River last January 15. And for those who would like to take a crack at the same scenario -- but perhaps without the element of danger -- a new app available for your iPhone or iPod touch gives you that opportunity.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog reports Laminar Research has come up with a new X-Plane iPhone app, appropriately titled, "Sully's Flight," guaranteed to be the closest that most of us will ever get to the real thing. The flight sim even includes the actual ATC audio, complete with Sully calmly announcing his intent to ditch in the Hudson River.

Taking off from LaGuardia's Runway 4 in accurately replicated weather conditions, a highway-in-the-sky series of rectangular hoops guides your flight along on Flight 1549's original flight path. And just like the real thing, there's a flock of birds you can't avoid, which, of course, causes you to lose your engines.

TUAW acknowledges that while some may find the app to be in questionable taste, the user is advised not only to bear in mind that no one was seriously hurt in the actual incident, but also that the app is more of a simulation than a game.

"No matter what you do, you will hit the birds, and your engine will fail, so don't plan on just flying around Manhattan," TUAW reports.

FMI: www.tuaw.com, www.x-plane.com