Found this on Mathias Rust. Seems things take funny turns in life:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magaz...819972,00.html
What happened next?

Interview by Carl Wilkinson
Sunday October 27, 2002
The Observer

Name: Mathias Rust
Date: 28 May, 1987
Place: Red Square, Moscow
Facts: German-born Mathias Rust, 34, made headlines as a 19-year-old when he
landed a Cessna light aircraft in Red Square. He was sentenced to four years
in a Soviet labour camp and served 432 days. He returned to Hamburg in 1988,
where he now lives with his second wife, Athena
I got my private pilot's license in autumn 1986.

I was 19 and very political. I was interested in relations between East and
West, particularly the Reykjavik meeting between Gorbachev and Reagan. I
realised that the aircraft was the key to peace. I could use it to build an
imaginary bridge between East and West. I didn't tell anybody about my plan
because I was convinced my family or friends would stop me. I didn't think
much about what would happen afterwards. My main focus was on my mission to
get there and land. I believed that something would work out.

I hired a Cessna in Hamburg and flew to Moscow via Helsinki in May 1987. My
plan was to land in Red Square, but there were too many people and I thought
I'd cause casualties. I had thought about landing in the Kremlin, but there
wasn't enough space. I wanted to choose somewhere public, because I was
scared of the KGB. I approached Red Square three times, trying to find
somewhere to land, before discovering a wide bridge nearby. I landed there
and taxied into Red Square. As it turned out, the day I chose - 28 May - was
the holiday of the border patrol. I suspect that's how I got away with it.

My landing caused plenty of confusion. People came up and surrounded the
plane and soon the police arrived to take me away. The defence and air
defence ministers were both replaced and more than 2,000 officers lost their
jobs. I was sentenced to four years in a labour camp, but spent my time in
the interrogation prison because the KGB couldn't guarantee my safety.

I was locked up for 22 hours a day in a 10sq-metre cell, but at least nobody
could harm me.

My parents came to visit every two months and brought plenty of books. I had
one companion. He was a teacher from the Ukraine who spoke English so we
could communicate a bit. I learnt a few Russian words, but it was hard to
concentrate. Imprisonment hit me so hard - much harder than I had thought.

After my trial, my flying club got permission to bring the plane back to
Germany. It was originally worth about 75,000DM [£24,000], and I think they
sold it for 160,000DM [£51,000]. It's owned by a Japanese businessman who's
stored it waiting for the value to go up. He compared it to Charles
Lindbergh's aircraft!

Arriving home in Germany was difficult, as I faced a lot of negative media
attention. It affected me badly: I lost 10Kg and had stomach problems. It
took the legs out from under me. I couldn't go out for weeks because there
was always someone shouting at me in the street, and I received many death
threats. My parents were angry, but they were relieved that I was in good
condition. They had been afraid the Russians would torture me. They told me
not to do it again! You have to be young to be able to do things like that.
Now I'm more cautious. I'm proud that I was able to do what I did -
psychologically it was a great wall to climb - but sometimes I regret it.

My problems came to a head in 1989. Everyone in Germany does a period of
obligatory service in the community, and I was doing mine in a local
hospital. I met a young nurse and wanted to invite her for coffee. We were
in the changing room and I think she was scared. I asked whether she wanted
to go out with me, but she started to curse and offend me. It caused a
blackout.
I ended up injuring her with a knife I had on me. I can't really remember
what happened.

I later worked out with the psychologists that my encounter with her must
have triggered off something. I'm a peaceful person, but all the anger and
aggression that was stored up came pouring out. She got a flesh wound - but
she was in the hospital, which was good luck. I'm very sorry.

I was sentenced to two years, but I was released after five months. After
that I couldn't show my face outside. I lost my identity and balance. I was
still living with my parents, and they were my only friends. For so many
people, this thing with the nurse was confirmation that I must be mad or
mentally ill. I moved away for three years and went to Trinidad where I met
my wife, Athena.

I now work for a finance company in Luxembourg with projects in South
America and the Caribbean. I don't have my pilot's licence anymore, but I'm
still very political. My newest idea is Orion and Isis
(www.mathiasrust.com) - a kind of think-tank. We're currently working on a
plan to find peace for the Middle East. I'm going to Israel at the end of
October to get in touch with some key people. All Orion and Isis members are
anonymous - it works better that way. It allows everyone to work together
without jealousy or personal issues. Currently I have about 25 people
involved - scientists, former Nobel Peace Prize winners. Top people capable
of finding solutions.

Once this key conflict is eased, it will have a huge impact on the world. It
will take time to find a solution. It's similar to the situation between
East and the West at the time of my flight. Then the Cold War finished and
then Germany reunified. I think the flight triggered it, because it gave
Gorbachev the chance to get rid of those military hardliners. I'm still
convinced that my idea was the right one. It showed anything is possible.

"Richard Russell" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 18:39:22 GMT, "ShawnD2112"
wrote:

It's amazing you remember Mathias Rust's name. I was in high school when
he
did his thing and I've never forgotten his name. I so admired the balls
of
the whole thing that it made an indelible mark on my mind. I thought I
was
the only one!

Shawn
"lance smith" wrote in message
. com...
wrote in message
...
On 25 Aug 2004 17:52:21 -0700, (Darkstar) wrote:

Don't ask me why I need
this. I do! It's a principle! :-)


Well, I'm askin'!

Me too! You can't post something like that without giving a good
reason : )

Maybe you're planning a world circumnavigate in a C152? Or perhaps a
Mathias Rust in Tiananmen Square? Or even another EP-3 incident? The
possibilies...now I've gotten all curious....

-lance smith

I remember Mathias Rust well enough to know that it was Red Square.
Rich Russell