What are the rule of engagement for this type of activity? Can you imagine what would have happened to the already fragile economy if the plane was full of explosives and performed a suicide run? Or if it was a joint effort? Personally, I am from the shoot first, ask questions later school of fighter pilots…
**CNN) ** – The chase began with a stolen plane from a Canadian flight school, meandered through three states with U.S. fighter jets hot on the trail and forced the evacuation of the state Capitol in Wisconsin.
It ended about seven hours later in a Midwestern town of 360 people inside a general store off a narrow, dirt road – with the suspect sipping on a Gatorade, waiting to be cuffed."
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) — A man suspected of stealing a plane in Canada and flying erratically across three states was trying to commit suicide, hoping he would be shot down by military fighter planes, a state trooper said Tuesday.
Adam Dylan Leon, 31, was arrested at a convenience store in Ellsinore, Mo., shortly after landing the single-engine, four-seat Cessna on a rural Missouri road Monday night, ending a six-hour flight, police said.
The plane was tracked as a “flight safety issue” and was not believed to be a terrorist threat, Mike Kucharek, spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said in a telephone interview from Colorado Springs.
The Missouri state trooper who arrested Leon said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that the pilot told him he had hoped to be shot down.
“He made a statement that he was trying to commit suicide and he didn’t have the courage to do it himself. And his idea was to fly the aircraft into the United States, where he would be shot down,” Trooper Justin Watson said on ABC.
I didn’t know a fighter could fly that slow without stalling. I seriously doubt a plane that size posed any great threat to much of anything. I suppose if the plane was going near something more “Critical” say a nuke plant, which I think can take a direct hit from a small plane, they would have taken it down.
I’m also guessing they wouldn’t need to fire a missile, a mach speed fly by would probably rip the wings off the thing.
You’re just bitter 'cause a Canadian flight student in a Cessna successfully evaded a bunch of Air Force guys in their F-16s…
You noticed that too? What do you think Bin Laden and his ilk are thinking right about now?
Canadian Forces Snowbirds Announce 2009 Show Schedule
January 13, 2009
Capt Jennifer Jones 15 WING MOOSE JAW, SASK. - The Canadian Forces Snowbirds have officially released their 2009 show schedule.
“2009 promises to be a memorable year with the incorporation of the Golden Hawk F-86 Sabre and the Golden Centennaire Tutor into our show season,” said Major Chris Bard, Commanding Officer, 431 Air Demonstration Squadron and Snowbirds Team Lead. “We are looking forward to performing across North America and celebrating 100 years of powered flight in Canada.”
During the 2009 season, the Snowbirds are scheduled to participate in over 65 air shows in 43 locations, proudly telling the Canadian Forces story through their inspirational flying. As ambassadors of the Canadian Forces and Canada, the team will travel as far North as Fort St-John, B.C., as far South as the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., as far West as San Diego, Calif. and as far East as St-John’s, N.L. The team is performing in their hometown of Moose Jaw, Sask. 2 May and looking forward to performing in Baddeck, N.S the birthplace of aviation in Canada, 14 and 15 June. In addition, to commemorate the Centennial of Flight, the Snowbirds will be conducting 100 fly pasts of 100 Canadian towns or cities during the course of their show season.
During the team’s 39-year history, the Snowbirds have performed in about 2,150 air shows, before almost 130 million spectators.
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds’ mission is to represent the skill professionalism and teamwork of the Canadian Forces and to inspire Canadians to consider an exciting career in Canada’s military.
Jesus Christ, I can’t believe the over-reaction, and over-crack down on general aviation. If a car drove into the US from Canada, would we unleash a tank to track it down, and blow the fucker up?
I always love the “plane full of explosives” thought. Once you put a pilot, enough fuel to go anywhere, you’re only going to have enough useful load to maybe blow up the plane itself! The “terror in the skies” is just of bunch of crap in an attempt (successful) to grab more power from us by the politicians!
A Honda full of explosives would to a hell of a lot more damage than a Cessna.
Take a look at what the government has done to general aviation, and you’ll see what’s coming down the pike for the rest of us.
