Old_Chief_Scott: And an interesting story. That Beech 18 is a really nice old plane, too.

I know the local skydiving clubs are always on the lookout to buy another one, apparently they are about perfect for that sort of activity.

I told you I was hardcore

Treetop Flyer?

mysticcat: "To this day, Brothers doesn't hide his past. On his LinkedIn networking page, he describes himself as an expert smuggler from 1984 to 1987."

[i40.tinypic.com image 583x368]

That's golden

No he calls himself an exlpert smuggler. I always thought exlperts were homegrown.

Rev. Skarekroe: If he was such an expert, how come he got caught and spent 11 years in prison?

I'm guessing that "failed smuggler" just didn't quite seem to have that *it factor* he was looking to represent with his profile.

Something is fishy with his story. Why did he not just fly to an airport with fire facilities instead of a remote strip? My guess is he chose the remote strip because he had something to unload from the plane and did not want the attention. There is a reason he did not report this for days on end.

metamax: Something is fishy with his story. Why did he not just fly to an airport with fire facilities instead of a remote strip? My guess is he chose the remote strip because he had something to unload from the plane and did not want the attention. There is a reason he did not report this for days on end.

Metal aircraft fare far better on grass than they do sliding down a concrete or asphalt runway.

I can just imagine the first inerview:

"Yeah that's my plane. Landing gear went out on the sumbiatch so I set her down in the field.

(pauses, maybe spits)

I was gonna call y'all, but it was the weekend. Figured no one would be in t'office."


Yeah, I like this old guy.

He got the smugglers blues

Dad?

as Farks resident convicted drug trafficker and x-drug smuggler, I belive this guy. Once a eeasonable person gets caught, they dont want to return to that life and take any chance of losing again what theyve worked for. Having been through the legal sysytem, you dont call the cops- even when most people might-- You dont want to give them any reason to doubt you or suspect you of anything. Why would he call the police in this situation? His vehicle broke down. Its none of their business.

OldManDownDRoad: Old_Chief_Scott: And an interesting story. That Beech 18 is a really nice old plane, too.

I know the local skydiving clubs are always on the lookout to buy another one, apparently they are about perfect for that sort of activity.

We generally prefer them un-crashed, however.

metamax: Something is fishy with his story. Why did he not just fly to an airport with fire facilities instead of a remote strip? My guess is he chose the remote strip because he had something to unload from the plane and did not want the attention. There is a reason he did not report this for days on end.



/Loc-nar?

Rev. Skarekroe: If he was such an expert, how come he got caught and spent 11 years in prison?

Hey, even he gets boarded sometimes. Do you think he had a choice?

poe_zlaw: as Farks resident convicted drug trafficker and x-drug smuggler...

/Hops up on your lap

It's story time, Uncle Poe! Tell us about something from your smuggling days!

Rev. Skarekroe: If he was such an expert, how come he got caught and spent 11 years in prison?

If he is the cowboy I'm thinking about, he was caught dropping duffle bags of product all around the Knoxville area. The dude had a serious reputation as both a pilot and a smuggler and they finally caught up with him.

Harry Freakstorm: [upload.wikimedia.org image 313x240]

IIRC, The Army Air Corp used to call 'em "The Double Breasted Bomber". No way I'm gonna google that at work to see if I got the right plane.

GIS brings up leather flying jackets, actually.

I wonder if he was friends with Steve Lamb.

Steve Lamb's story is pretty entertaining. They did an episode of "I almost got away with it" on him.

After watching the show I would say he definitely got away with it. He did a few years of prison but made millions and always seemed to be one step ahead of the fuzz.

Gunny Walker: poe_zlaw: as Farks resident convicted drug trafficker and x-drug smuggler, I belive this guy. Once a eeasonable person gets caught, they dont want to return to that life and take any chance of losing again what theyve worked for. Having been through the legal sysytem, you dont call the cops- even when most people might-- You dont want to give them any reason to doubt you or suspect you of anything. Why would he call the police in this situation? His vehicle broke down. Its none of their business.

Wouldn't not calling them cause them to suspect you? It's a bit like getting into a car accident and not filling out a police report. Isn't this kinda like leaving the scene of an accident? I mean they guys got guts and he must be a great pilot, but calling the police should have been the first thig he did when he landed.

/Well, after making sure he wasn't on fire with broken bones of course.

see:

poe_zlaw: as Farks resident convicted drug trafficker and x-drug smuggler, I belive this guy. Once a eeasonable person gets caught, they dont want to return to that life and take any chance of losing again what theyve worked for. Having been through the legal sysytem, you dont call the cops- even when most people might-- You dont want to give them any reason to doubt you or suspect you of anything. Why would he call the police in this situation? His vehicle broke down. Its none of their business.

the administration has suspended his license at various times for reckless flights and for flying too close to the ground, records show.


It's time to buzz the tower, Goose.

Ashtrey: I can just imagine the first inerview:

"Yeah that's my plane. Landing gear went out on the sumbiatch so I set her down in the field.

(pauses, maybe spits)

I was gonna call y'all, but it was the weekend. Figured no one would be in t'office."


Yeah, I like this old guy.

"Crash? T'was aint no crash, son. I put that som-a-bich down softer than some yall boys do with wheels on cement. No crash here, no sir."

Slick old codger lands the plane on it's belly and doesn't make a peep doing it? Then he calls his wife and walks off into the night, with nobody noticing anything happened until daybreak?

This is the coolest guy ever. Talk about keeping a low profile! Free whisky for life!

metamax: Something is fishy with his story. Why did he not just fly to an airport with fire facilities instead of a remote strip? My guess is he chose the remote strip because he had something to unload from the plane and did not want the attention. There is a reason he did not report this for days on end.

He didn't report it because he didn't have too. The FAR's go to great lengths to establish what sort of accident must be reported, and equally great lengths to disqualify a gear-up landing from being reportable. Basically unless a) there was major structural damage, ie. a wing spar was cracked or b) the crankshaft in BOTH engines was bent, the event never happened as far as the FAA or NTSB are concerned. Now, flying without a valid medical? That's a huge no-no as it effectively invalidates your airmen certificate.

chopit: OldManDownDRoad: Old_Chief_Scott: And an interesting story. That Beech 18 is a really nice old plane, too.

I know the local skydiving clubs are always on the lookout to buy another one, apparently they are about perfect for that sort of activity.

We generally prefer them un-crashed, however.

Heh. I sent this link to a friend in a local club and his response was: "Hey, maybe we can get it cheap."

/no more jumping from a "perfectly good" aircraft, I guess

That'll buff out.

Also, I like this guy: "The police involved themselves". Nice.

Odds on his dad being a moonshiner during Prohibition.

This guy needs an award. Maybe a Heffy...

I've heard of the fun those guys had in the 70's. Rumors had
even off-duty AA and Pan Am pilots working as smugglers flying light aircraft in and out of South Florida.

/born too late

Actually, they used to call the Beech Model 18s either "Twin Beech"es if they were newer than World War II, or "Bug Smashers" if they were made during the war. Also, 18s were made during the war under the name C-45 "Expeditor".

joness0154: metamax: Something is fishy with his story. Why did he not just fly to an airport with fire facilities instead of a remote strip? My guess is he chose the remote strip because he had something to unload from the plane and did not want the attention. There is a reason he did not report this for days on end.

Metal aircraft fare far better on grass than they do sliding down a concrete or asphalt runway.

Yes, he also said he knew the airport and terrain well. Logical decision. Given his past experience, also logical not to call anyone, probably border-line or even technically legal in this case. Besides, after flying all the way from Miami and then doing a belly landing in the rain and dark who wants to spend the next several hours being put through the wringer by local cops looking for a reason to stay out of the rain? Smart old fox, he needs to write a book -- fiction of course.

Skills, baby, skills.

Heh, a few decades back when I was flying, a sky-blue DC3 showed up during the night at the field I used, south of Boston.

No tail numbers, and nobody saw anyone land it.

Feds showed up a few days later...apparently the thing was empty, by then.