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'NOVA' Explores Missing Malaysia Airliner

SDPB Radio | By Karl Gehrke

Published October 7, 2014 at 2:27 PM CDT

The search for the missing Malaylsia Airlines Flight 370 has resumed six months after its disappearance in what has been described as the greatest mystery in the history of commercial aviation. The Boeing 777, with 239 people aboard vanished without a trace on March 8. A search vessel arrived in the southern Indian Ocean west of Australia Monday morning in the search operation led by Australian authorities.

Wednesday at 8 pm, Central; 7 pm, Mountain on SDPB1 Television, the PBS series NOVA presents Why Planes Vanish. The episode tells the inside story of the search for Flight MH370, including how somebody could have taken control of the plane and what new technology might have prevented it from disappearing.

New York-based science writer Jeff Wise is one of the experts appearing in the program. He’s also covered the story of the missing airliner for CNN and Slate. He joined Dakota Midday and discussed the extensive search that has so far been unsuccessful.

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Karl Gehrke

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.

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