boofhead
21st Dec 2003, 08:49
Imagine celebrating the anniversary of the Wright Brothers at the site of the first flight by bringing a no-flying bubble of a 30 mile TFR with you, as the ruler of the free (sic) world just did. Fuelled by a fear of his subjects, especially those subjects who might be in a small airplane, the idea of a TFR must seem good to him, thinking that a terrorist will observe the laws, as they do, of course, all other laws.
Then imagine a group of people who build a replica of the Wright Flyer, with no electrical system, no radio, transponder, and probably no registration number painted on its side, or EXPERIMENTAL sticker. They decide to actually fly this machine right in the middle of the TFR, no flight plan even, and surrounded by F-16s and Blackhawks. What bravery, what gall!
Luckily for the heroes, the airplane did not get off the ground, so they escaped retribution. Maybe they can be charged with attempting to put the supreme commander at risk, but one would hope not.
I don’t know what saddens me more; the idea that such restrictions as Presidential TFRs are necessary, or the dumb acceptance.
Then imagine a group of people who build a replica of the Wright Flyer, with no electrical system, no radio, transponder, and probably no registration number painted on its side, or EXPERIMENTAL sticker. They decide to actually fly this machine right in the middle of the TFR, no flight plan even, and surrounded by F-16s and Blackhawks. What bravery, what gall!
Luckily for the heroes, the airplane did not get off the ground, so they escaped retribution. Maybe they can be charged with attempting to put the supreme commander at risk, but one would hope not.
I don’t know what saddens me more; the idea that such restrictions as Presidential TFRs are necessary, or the dumb acceptance.