Dogs taught how to fly a plane — seriously

News.com.Australia ^ | April 8, 2016 | Matt Young

[Twotone]

IT MIGHT sound barking mad, but it turns out dogs can fly.

A New Zealand dog trainer who taught RSPCA dogs to drive has done the unthinkable and managed to train dogs how to pilot a plane in a bid to prove just how capable rescue dogs can be.

Last year, animal trainer and zoologist Mark Vette spent four months in the United Kingdom working with rescue dogs for the series, Dogs Might Fly, which is only just airing in Britain.

In a world first, Mr Vette was able to successfully train three rescue dogs, Reggie, Shadow and Alfie, to fly a plane, and even perform tricks, including a figure of eight manoeuvre.

[Twotone]

Seriously!

[Sacajaweau]

Now he wants to be an astronaut....

Hmmmm...He and Hillary could bark their way through space.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I didn’t click through to the whole article yet. Don’t keep me in suspense any longer. Is Mr. Vette’s first name “Cur”?

[BykrBayb]

This is nothing new.

[gorush]

[Twotone]

Nope. You just have to watch the video.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Compared to some of the drivers in Calgary, I’m almost certain that ANY dog could drive better than many Calgarians. At least they wouldn’t be distracted by their ‘smartphones’.

AFA flying? I don’t think I’d like a ticket on Barkair, though it might be safer than some internal Chinese airlines, or some Asian airlines!

[UCANSEE2]

Thanks for posting the video. Interesting, to say the least.

[Raycpa]

Squirrel!

[Twotone]

Doggie ping...

[Pontiac]

The process involved training the dogs on a flight simulator which used coloured signals to indicate which direction the dog should fly; blue to turn left, red to turn right and white to continue straight ahead.

I thought dogs were color blind.

[dfwgator]

[Larry Lucido]

So we might see dogs in an aerial dogfight.

[PeterPrinciple]

Pigeons have flown a guided bombs:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pigeon

[Larry Lucido]

That’s what they want you to think.

[jazusamo]

Nah...Wile E. could fly.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Bzzzt...fail!

[Larry Lucido]

[Larry Lucido]

Don’t know why that posted sideways.

[faithhopecharity]

the Muslims may begin to appreciate dogs now that our canine companions can be trained to pilot bombers to attack us infidels