For Maule Driver

Good story Maule Driver, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Let me tell you
another story, just so you can appreciate that your experience could
have been worse.

I fly a 1-26 out of Van Sant (9N1 in Eastern PA), painted to look like
a Japanese Zero (the big red meatballs are the major clue). I was told
that some years ago Ron Sutton (sp?) was flying this particular 1-26 in
a contest, and had to land out. Apparently the best place available was
a large field, in which some people were standing around. The landing
was uneventful, but when Ron climbed out of the cockpit he saw that
most of the people were dressed in orange jumpsuits. He also couldn't
help but notice a few other people there, who were aiming leveled
shotguns at him. The folks with the guns were suspicious of him, his
airplane, his paint job, and his parachute; and reportedly had definite
"attitudes". Ron had not only landed in a town with a prison, he had
actually landed inside the prison!

I'm told it all worked out well, after some discussions with the
warden. Ron was even given a "get out of jail free" card as a souvenir.

-John

That's pretty good! Definitely a 1-26 thing - I haven't seen a prison
yard yet large enough and more importantly, clear of obstructions enough
to take most glass ships. That's probably a good thing.

jcarlyle wrote:
Good story Maule Driver, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Let me tell you
another story, just so you can appreciate that your experience could
have been worse.

I fly a 1-26 out of Van Sant (9N1 in Eastern PA), painted to look like
a Japanese Zero (the big red meatballs are the major clue). I was told
that some years ago Ron Sutton (sp?) was flying this particular 1-26 in
a contest, and had to land out. Apparently the best place available was
a large field, in which some people were standing around. The landing
was uneventful, but when Ron climbed out of the cockpit he saw that
most of the people were dressed in orange jumpsuits. He also couldn't
help but notice a few other people there, who were aiming leveled
shotguns at him. The folks with the guns were suspicious of him, his
airplane, his paint job, and his parachute; and reportedly had definite
"attitudes". Ron had not only landed in a town with a prison, he had
actually landed inside the prison!

I'm told it all worked out well, after some discussions with the
warden. Ron was even given a "get out of jail free" card as a souvenir.

-John

I agree with you, Maule Driver, prison yards being obstructed and too
small for most aircraft is a good thing.

But don't be too sure that Ron's feat was definitely only for 1-26's.
The way the story was told to me, I got the impression that Ron had no
idea what he was getting into until he saw the guns. Had the field been
surrounded with a wall or barbed wire, he probably would have cottoned
on before he landed there. I suspect it was a prison farm, and we could
all get sucked into that if our luck went wrong.

Anyway, I wish you nothing but non-exciting landings!

-John