And here's the pilot.
Posted on 11/10/2009 8:52:50 PM PST by MamaDearest
Bush pilots know that wildlife can be a hazard to your health. Aircraft have collided with giraffes and other large animals on various remote African airstrips, and there are numerous stories of downed pilots being hassled by predators after making forced landings out in the boonies. Lion and hyena are also know to be partial to certain aircraft components, tyres being a documented favourite of the big cats. My father was once left with the (hefty) bill after a gang of hyenas chewed his wingtip navigation lights and strobes (both wings) and then did a runner after dinner.
These pictures from an an un-named, hapless but entirely resourceful Alaskan bush pilot take aircraft gastronomy to new heights, however. It seems the owner of this 1958 Piper Cub – a wood-and-fabric taildragger popular with backcountry pilots – had been on a long fishing trip and after landing one day neglected to clean the aircraft properly.
The fishy aroma attracted a passing grizzly bear who, clearly frustrated at not being able to see the lovely “noms” it could smell, took the plane apart in an effort to find it. Aircraft fabric is no match for bear claws. The bear also chomped both tyres for good measure, then departed the scene.
Alaskans are a hardy bunch, however – as tough as the aircraft they fly. The pilot radioed for two new tyres, three cases of duct tape and a couple of rolls of cellophane to be flown in so he could repair his craft and get home.
The result: an ugly but utilitarian repair job. Like they say, the world really is held together with duct tape. So, campers, never leave home without it!
Aeroplanes taste like chicken.
And here's the pilot.
The girls may not consider ya handsome but they will find ya handy ?
Or sumpthin like that...:o).
Loved it ....you can buy the DVD’s for each season
Greatest party tapes ever IMO !
Me too. He's just a low maintenance type guy (and I like that in a guy - specifically my hubby who always thinks of the easiest ways to do things - eyes rolling). The duct tape on the plane was classic low maintenance (but very adept) workmanship.
In June 2005, we had a close encounter with the biggest black bear I have ever seen (approx 800 lbs) on a heli glacier landing adventure near Skagway. With permission, we had walked away from the group to explore another section of the ice field above the glacier.
My DH and I were the last ones on board as the bear approached the pair of choppers. The group didn’t notice the bear, but the other pilot did and ordered everyone to load up.
The bear was continuing to approach our chopper and was only 60 feet away when the pilot fired up the blades. That finally scared him away.
The other pilot radioed our pilot and told him about the approaching bear and that he thought that DH and I were going to end up as bear lunch. We have some great pictures. We were then known on our cruise ship as the people with the bear pictures.
Has to be if the guy is gonna fly that thing !
Side note: consider Gorilla Tape vs 3M’s Duct Tape.....more better imo.
Nite !
With my dad everything got fixed with Bondo...
That sounds like quite an adventure. Certainly it's one you'll never forget.
A friend of mine saw multiple grizzlies (close up) within the park about three weeks ago when she vacationed at Glacier.
That duct tape, good for what ails ya. Better start carrying a roll around in my purse.
.......or two or three...... :) :) :)
lulz..h/w etc
Now if the duct tape can kill those darn scorpions..........
Ewwwwwwwww............I forgot you’d have those things...
Guess that’s why the call it ONE HUNDRED MILE AN HOUR TAPE!
Some times called 200 or 300 mph tape.
Knock on wood, they leave me alone. I have cats, :)
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