crash-proof
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2002
- Posts
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Hey any of you ag pilots had this happen to you?
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2005/07/23/1143990-sun.html
Crop-dusting rage irks pilot
WINNIPEG -- The man family and friends have dubbed the Red Baron vows he will fly again, because "no bullet is going to stop me."
Josh Hiebert's crop-dusting plane was sprayed with gunfire from a high-powered rifle last week in an apparent attack of, well, crop-dusting rage.
Hiebert, 24, of Niverville, Man., said he's never been to a war zone and hardly expected ground-to-air combat as he sprayed a fungicide on a canola crop in southwestern Manitoba on July 13.
He said as he flew over the field, he spotted a resident of a neighbouring property holding an object near his eyes.
"I thought he might have had a digital camera, but then I realized digital cameras don't have muzzle flashes," said Hiebert.
He heard two distinctive "pops" as he passed near the man's home.
"The first one wasn't too loud and I started to worry something might be wrong with the engine," said Hiebert. "But the second one jolted the plane violently."
Confused and concerned for his safety, Hiebert headed straight for nearby Killarney and safely landed the plane.
He was stunned as he surveyed the damage. A high-powered rifle slug had penetrated the hopper tank, which holds the chemicals. Another tore part of the engine mount.
"If it would have taken more of the mount off, the engine could have ripped right out," said Hiebert.
"If the slug had come through the window, it probably would have hit me. I would have been dead. I just started shaking. The guy I was flying for looked at that and said: 'I think you need a rum to relax.' "
RCMP believe the shooter was angered by the noise of the plane flying near his home.
A 46-year-old man faces numerous criminal charges. His name has not been released.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2005/07/23/1143990-sun.html
Crop-dusting rage irks pilot
WINNIPEG -- The man family and friends have dubbed the Red Baron vows he will fly again, because "no bullet is going to stop me."
Josh Hiebert's crop-dusting plane was sprayed with gunfire from a high-powered rifle last week in an apparent attack of, well, crop-dusting rage.
Hiebert, 24, of Niverville, Man., said he's never been to a war zone and hardly expected ground-to-air combat as he sprayed a fungicide on a canola crop in southwestern Manitoba on July 13.
He said as he flew over the field, he spotted a resident of a neighbouring property holding an object near his eyes.
"I thought he might have had a digital camera, but then I realized digital cameras don't have muzzle flashes," said Hiebert.
He heard two distinctive "pops" as he passed near the man's home.
"The first one wasn't too loud and I started to worry something might be wrong with the engine," said Hiebert. "But the second one jolted the plane violently."
Confused and concerned for his safety, Hiebert headed straight for nearby Killarney and safely landed the plane.
He was stunned as he surveyed the damage. A high-powered rifle slug had penetrated the hopper tank, which holds the chemicals. Another tore part of the engine mount.
"If it would have taken more of the mount off, the engine could have ripped right out," said Hiebert.
"If the slug had come through the window, it probably would have hit me. I would have been dead. I just started shaking. The guy I was flying for looked at that and said: 'I think you need a rum to relax.' "
RCMP believe the shooter was angered by the noise of the plane flying near his home.
A 46-year-old man faces numerous criminal charges. His name has not been released.
