Ullswater Lake Maule pilot not guilty

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Cusco. The elephant in the room....

That (and as a result, the outcome) is what makes the tragedy and the non-event totally incomparable.

[PA28181]

Most dictionary's define a "landing" re flying, as

Landing is the last part of a flight, where a flying animal, aircraft, or spacecraft returns to the ground

Ground also refers to water in other dictionary's. A "T&G" is also a "landing" As both of these normally require the aircraft to cease flying albeit still moving, I presume that full or near full power would be needed with balloon tyres in the oggin to keep flying, so neither should be called a landing.

Possibly trespass occured? but not a criminal offence (unless covered by some act like railways) Assuming no breach of the ANO occured ie 500' closer etc,, Then whats the problem, skillful flying but a bit daft as anything there, like floating detritis could have made it more than a prank.

[9 lives]

That (and as a result, the outcome) is what makes the tragedy and the non-event totally incomparable.

Ah, the end justifies the means rationale...

I was thinking to myself, as we took off today, from an unattended grass strip, did Ullswater pilot "book out" to a water landing in a wheel plane? That must have raised eyebrows! But then, the emergency services would have been able to determine that the water landings were intended, and emergency response was not required

The combined age of the two taildraggers I guest flew today was 155 years. Yes, I know that an example of one of the types has been "waterskiied" (in South Africa), But I cannot imagine suggesting to my host that those would be a good thing to try "just for fun" - in any type! I want to honour the great opportunity afforded me, by demonstrating my professional attitude toward flying!

I was once flying a club 172, on business for the club. They had sent an instructor with me for the flight. He asked me if I would demonstrate a roll for him. Quite put aback by the request, I said "no". I'm quite able to safely roll a 172, but it was correct that I didn't, right?

[Jetblu]

Judging by some of the responses here, perhaps I am also considered to be reckless.

It was early eighties at a east Essex flying club when the water skiing conversation came up by a very experienced flying instructor whom was renowned for smoking as soon as he jumped in the aircraft.

The said instructor was sitting at the bar drinking a coffee with a few of us around him. He had a small Corgi model aircraft in his hands as he was demonstrating the pitch attitude on the bar surface of how to touch the water.
He then asked us......what do you think would happen? I recall him receiving many answers. Even my answer was that as soon as the wheels touched the game would be over. He kept shaking his head disagreeing. When we had all finished answering he took the last sip from his coffee and said who's up for it. As I said, this guy was very good and experienced. I immediately jumped up me me me. We went out in a 152 and headed out towards the Clacton.
Approaching the Blackwater he said I have control. In a descending cruise we levelled off at about 3 - 4ft above the water. The sense of speed was amazing in the old girl. Suddenly, the main wheels touched the water as I felt the contact and saw water spray. He explained that touching the water at
80MPH was no different to touching tarmac.

We came back 30 mins later and I told the others what I had just witnessed.
I think a few of the them also went out and did the same with him at a later date knowing that I had come back to tell the tale.

Happy days.

[9 lives]

Judging by some of the responses here, perhaps I am also considered to be reckless.

By my responses, I would be considered somewhat reckless in this regard. I've never said that I have not waterskiied a plane, I would just be very uneasy doing it without a very compelling reason - I just could not explain it to the owner of the plane if something went wrong. For the two planes I own, the owner I would be attempting to explain to would have suddenly become the insurance company. I would never be lent the planes I am, nor insured if people thought I was doing this with planes without a stellar reason.

One winter dusk, a not yet a pilot friend called me in a panic, asking if I had heard that we would be getting 90 to 110km winds over night and the next day. Yes, I had, and my plane was safely away. He told me that three other friend's planes were not, all just sitting on the ice of the frozen lake. The local area of the lake was irregularly flooded in 6" of water (which is why the planes had been left for a while, to wait that out). For the next 5 hours, I taught myself to waterski 180/185's - at night, to get them off the ice, and off a local airport for tiedown. Very reckless of me, I know, but the winds did come, and the planes would have been wrecked, left where they had been. This to me was a risk vs benefit, which was justified - it was not fun, it was scary. The owners all thanked me...

I think a few of the them also went out and did the same with him at a later date knowing that I had come back to tell the tale.

On the razor's edge of things going really badly - Lucky it was a 152, as earlier 150's have a nosewheel which sticks further down. It's a sad commentary on pilots, that some cannot simply appreciate the freedom to fly within limitations and good judgement, for its own pleasure, and instead have to go doing really dumb things in planes

[PA28181]

It's a sad commentary on pilots, that some cannot simply appreciate the freedom to fly within limitations and good judgement, for its own pleasure, and instead have to go doing really dumb things in planes

Well, same could be said about driving cars fast, skiing off piste, hang gliding, bungy jumping, base jumping, it's about the adrenalin rush that comes with taking calculated risks. You cannot be "your brothers keeper" all the time.

[150 Driver]

Reading some of these posts, maybe Frank Spencer was wrong. Maybe it isn't exclusive that there are old pilots and there are bold pilots.

[Crash one]

It's becoming a pretty miserable state of affairs that no one is allowed to deviate from the straight and narrow line of utter compliance, risk free, don't for gods sake be different way of life. Perhaps if the observer had been a little more observant rather than run off half cocked.
It seems people can see danger in every corner these days and then have need to advise everyone else to avoid it.
I miss the days when we were allowed to think for ourselves, or perhaps it is the technology that puts everything we do into the public world wide view.
What a piece of nonsense.

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Ah, the end justifies the means rationale...

Step turn; I suggest you go back to what I posted and read what I wrote. Without blinkers.

[Proteus9]

did Ullswater pilot "book out" to a water landing in a wheel plane?

Do you always book out to exactly where you're going? One of the simple joys of strip flying can be taking and just dropping in to friend's fields without having a set plan in mind.

[Flyingmac]

I once landed in a friends stubble field, at his invitation. Some well meaning soul saw me disappear behind some trees and called 999. The response was impressive.


The number of calls that turn out to be gliders landing out should be sufficient grounds to ban the sport.

[sapperkenno]

I wonder what anybody watching the event live must have thought?! Must have been harrowing thinking of that, as they drove back home on those winding Lake District A roads, at the national speed limit, passing cars going the opposite way at 120mph closing speed and only a couple of feet apart. That's hardly dangerous though is it?! Doesn't raise any eyebrows.

And people will get pulled behind boats to water ski at 30-40mph, but you don't see anyone getting pulled behind a vehicle on a road at the same speeds as a common pastime do you?

I don't see what all the fuss is about! Probably just a bit of jealousy that it wasn't them doing it, as they don't own a nice Maule or have any skill.

The bloke is only risking himself and his airplane, and obviously doesn't have a problem with it, so why should anyone else?

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

This 'ban anyone from having fun', 'stick with the heard and don't be a free-thinker' attitude seems to be growing in UK. It's one of the reasons for the decline in GA 'Fun Flying', and probably why GA today seems more a training ground for the airline industry than folk seeking 3-dimensional freedom. The fun seekers have gone elsewhere - probably to microlights.

At one time 'fun flying' attracted individuals.... characters, if you like. Many unconventional, but all interesting and few of them 'don't do anything unusual' flat-earthers. They weren't cowboys, but skilled careful pilots who knew what they were about.

Seems not to be the case now.

And of course if you do do anything 'unusual' (as we did frequently in the 70s, 80s, and 90s) there's countless bozos out there with a camera smarter than they are who'll record it, complete with inane remarks, and stick it on youTube.

[Jetblu]

I've heard about a few people flying through Tower Bridge on the eve of their
medical expiry but I wonder if anyone has actually gone skiing under it.

[thing]

I've heard about a few people flying through Tower Bridge

If you're really old like me you'll remember Al Pollock doing it in a Hunter...

[Heliport]

fastjet45

apparently someone had reported a helicopter crashing by the road side and reported it to 999

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/255...w-updated.html

[Jetblu]

Thing

I had not heard about the Hunter fly-by as well.

The flying club bar stories that I have heard was that a Piper Commanche
and a Beech Bonanza had done the honoury deeds.

[Flying Lawyer]

http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...er-bridge.html. (Hunter)


Jetblu

I've heard about a few people flying through Tower Bridge ....

Major Christopher Draper - a pilot whom I would have regarded it as a privilege to represent FOC - but I was under two at the time.

Images from his autobiography - originally posted by Wunper










Result: Conditional Discharge & 10 guineas costs.

A very sensible decision by the Stipendiary Magistrate Mr Frank Milton who, by the time I appeared before him as a very young barrister about 20 years later, was Sir Frank Milton, Chief Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate. Tough when required and merciful when appropriate; a good combination.


Press reports: Images originally posted by Warmtoast


..........


This small picture is a scan of a postcard showing him flying a Puss Moth under Tower Bridge in September 1931.



The writing on the picture says 'C. Draper 30th September 1931'.
Written on the back is 'Given to E. T. Cherry on 17th June 1933 by Major C. Draper (Himself)'.


There doesn't seem to be much room for 'characters' in our modern, obsessively risk averse, world.

Opinions clearly differ about whether that is good or bad.

[Jetblu]

Flying Lawyer

Many thanks for posting that very interesting information. I had not done any specific searches.

One could say flying through the bridge was reckless. Bridges were not designed to be flown through, were they.

Clearly, the way to go is by skiing under the bridge for which it was designed
to take traffic, innit.

And I also noted your comments about FOC representation.

[Maoraigh1]

Later, when someone allowed the Major to rent an aircraft, he disappeared. After the search had given up, he was found in Belgium. The trusting FBO had to pay the cost of bringing the aircraft back.