On 12 November 2011 07:28, RussellMc wrote: >> On 11/11/2011 4:05 AM, alan.b.pearce@stfc.ac.uk wrote: >>>> Now you've done it. >> When I was a kid there was a story telling radio program called "Can You >> Top This". >> In that spirit, I suggest this story is the winner. >> http://www.b-47.com/stories/lappo/lappo.html > > A bit flowery and long winded (and that's Russell saying that :-) ) > BUT a good story. > > I can't immediately think of one to top that, but ... > > __________ > > - As noted a few posts back, Captain Fred Ladd flew a Grumman Wigeon > (AFAIR) under the Auckland Harbour Bridge and got the usual treatment. > Not as exciting as Lappos' RB-47E underflight but probably more > dangerous (and then not very dangerous). > > __________ > > This minor story is true but nobody would ever confirm it. It has no > 'point' per s, but my camera would have liked to be there: > > My brother in law used to own =A0a farm which was about 1 square mile > and long and thin. It started on a road ridge, ran down a gentle slope > to a flat plain and then rose to a hill line at the far end. The > farmhouse was on the road ridge with a nice view down the farm. The > RNZAF operates Orion aircraft for maritime patrol and notional > antisubmarine response. Our crews have on occasion won against > international competition in antisubmarine events so they know their > atuff - and anyone with years in an Orion knows where the =A0extremes of > his craft are as well as a cat knows where it's whiskertips and paws > are. > > My brother in law's children had a school friend home to stay for the > weekend. Said friends dad was in the RNZAF. He was a navigator. In an > Orion. That weekend dad and friends came visiting. The Orion popped > over the hills at the far end of the farm, dropped to about fence > level and proceeded towards the farmhouse. Maybe he overflew first to > get their attention. Some time ago so memory dims, but i recall that > they saw him coming. Up the farm up the farm up the farm - wheeee.... > . Not quite wheel marks on the roof but that was because the wheels > were up. Bye dad ... . > > _____________ > > This is also true: > > Our capital city of wellington is known for its wind and its steep > hills and its not so nice to approach airport which at one stage got > nasty ratings from international pilots due as much to poor support > services as the actual airport, Sensible behaviour and good navigation > and all is well. Even at night in fog. As long as the navigation > beacons behave. Story had it that there was a complex echo situation > and that in some conditions the beacon system would misreport an > aircraft's position. Pilot's complained. Investigations happened > without finding any problems. Nothing changed. Back then a DC8 was a > respectable aircraft and Air NZ had a modest fleet of them. > > In Newmarket in Auckland there was a PCB shop named Circuit Graphics. > Good prices, good services, good response time. Hobbyist friendly. > Probably not the most leading edge facilities From memory, back then > they did not do PTH, but, back then many people didn't. Proprietor Don > was friendly, helpful, cheerful. Nice guy. > > 1975. Standard dark and stormy night as I recall. =A0DC8 inbound from > Fiji on final over hilly hillside suburb of Newlands. Nearby the > Newlands beacon decided this was the night for a spurious echo. Yee > ha. Residents reported a DC8 appearing out of the clouds and flying > down the valley below rooftop level in some cases. Probably made > buzzing a farm feel tame. Go around power please. Pilot managed to > respond fast enough and well enough to save the day. Only only only > just from various accounts. =A0Usual inquiry. Pilot suspended. Vilified. > Found responsible and cashiered. Loud yelling by all and yon. > Investigation. Beacon problems identified and remedied. Pilot > exonerated. By then he'd moved on. Never came back to the company. > Compensation payout etc. National hero of sorts. =A0He bought a small > PCB company in Newmarket. Nice guy. I never knew that he was the man > concerned till years after he'd sold the business and moved on to > other things. Last I knew he was running a graphic arts business in > Helensville. > > > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Russell > -- I believe Wellington is one of the safest airports around - because you can guarantee that both pilot and copilot are fully awake and paying attention to what's going on! RP --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .