Sully helps GMA co-anchor take flight

May 6, 2010 — You just have to believe that Robin Roberts’ father would be proud. The co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America said she always wanted to learn how to fly and follow in the footsteps of her late father, who was a Tuskegee Airman during World War II. Roberts got that opportunity recently after flying with one of the world’s most recognized pilots, Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, of US Airways flight 1549 fame. Sullenberger saved more than 100 lives on January 15, 2009 when he landed into New York’s Hudson River after a bird strike killed all the engines of the commercial plane he was flying. Sully said he still thinks about that day that changed his life. "Well, I get constant reminders, you know, in a good way about it," he told Good Morning America. "I mean, every time on the street or going to a store and someone comes up and says 'Hi' and 'Thanks' and it's a nice reminder of what I call the enduring power of this story." GMA’s “Living the Dream” segment aired on Tuesday morning featuring Roberts in the right seat of a Beechcraft King Air with Sully at the controls during a recent flight over San Francisco. As they took in the sights, Sully offered some words of wisdom — not just for flying, but for life, ABC News reported. "The best advice is to follow your dream, but be willing to do the hard work," he said. "Look for others who have been very successful at what you want to do and try to find a way to emulate them." Roberts told Sully she hopes to get her pilot’s license someday. But that someday is turning out to be someday soon. Immediately after the taped segment aired, she received a surprise phone call from Sully live on the air, who did some legwork to facilitate her dream of flight. “Through my friends at EAA, which is one of the world’s biggest groups of aviators and aviation enthusiasts, we have arranged for your first flying lesson,” Sully said. Roberts will start flight training in a Cirrus SR20 at Performance Flight, located at the Westchester County Airport, White Plains, NY.

Robin Roberts and Sully Sullenberger pictured with an AT-6 advanced trainer like the one Robert’s father trained as a Tuskegee Airman. Photo credit: Phil Bray/ABC Robin Roberts, the co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America, enjoys her flight with Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger as part of the “Living the Dream” segment. Photo credit: ABC News Chesley Sullenberger is at the controls during his recent flight with Robin Roberts. Photo credit: ABS News

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