Encounters With Arrogant Celebrity Pilots

[John2375]

Elton John?

anyone ever fly or meet Elton John?
I know he commutes to all of his shows from his home in Atlanta and flies out of Peachtree/DeKalb airport

 

[erj-145mech]

. Sam later owned a Tripacer and for years flew a Navaho.

When Wal Mart opened its first store in Conroe, TX, Sam came down to sign the lease on the building (old Woolworth store), he was flying a Cessna 402. He came in the FBO wearing his bib overalls and had the cuff tucked into his boot.

 

[TankerPuke]

I have run in to Danny Zucko (Travolta) a couple of times. The first time was as a kid in Jackson Hole, Wy. I was about 8 and checking out a Citation on the ramp with my dad. Up walks Travolta (he was flying the Citation, not sure if it was his) and proceeds to give us the grand tour. I sat in the cockpit while he and my dad chatted it up. It was one of those times we all remember as kids when flying was everything, just like the first time a crew let you up front to check out the cockpit. He told me to watch his takeoff and after liftoff he rocked his wings to say goodbye. To this day it is one of my favorite memories...

PUKE

 

[BigPhil]

Christopher Reeves

Christopher Reeves once made a movie called "The Aviator" (not to be confused with recent pic about Howard Hughes) There's a crash scene in which an oil line breaks and he dead sticks a biplane into the woods. His reactions and movements were so realistic I can remember thinking: "this guy is a real pilot"; not knowing it at the time....He seemed to be a neat guy, taken way too soon.....

 

[BigPhil]

When Wal Mart opened its first store in Conroe, TX, Sam came down to sign the lease on the building (old Woolworth store), he was flying a Cessna 402. He came in the FBO wearing his bib overalls and had the cuff tucked into his boot.

Back in the eighties I built and installed the storefront signs on the first 55 Sam's Wholesale Club Stores. Sam had quit attending all the Wal-Mart grand openings by then because they were so numerous, but at that time made it to all of the Sam's openings. I saw him many times at these openings. He was a charismatic guy, but very friendly and approachable. I know at that time the Wal-Mart executives would stay in Motel 6s or Regal 8s and double up on the rooms. They would eat lunch at the Waffle House,etc. Sam didn't blow money. I know ever since those days when I encounter a "hundred-dollar-millionaire" I always think: "I met the biggest guy of all, and he wasn't a jerk like you"............Sam always credited the airplane for Wal-Mart's early success. The two lane curvy roads in the Arkansas and Missouri Ozarks were slow to navigate, and flying made his day much more productive. According to his book they were riding in the Tripacer one day when they came up with the name " Wal-Mart"

 

[avbug]

Navajo. Navajo. Navajo.

Navaho is a woman of ill moral repute who experiences difficulty finding her way from one place to another.

 

[kaj837]

I just remembered a story my brother told me from his Airforce days. He flew C-141's and Lear 35's (whatever the military calls a Lear 35). A Lear crew picked up Sen. Barry Goldwater at some military base once. The crew was ready to go and they noticed the senator doing a " walkaround" on the plane. They remembered he had been a ww2 pilot and thought maybe he was just sort of "preflighting " the airplane. When he got out to the wingtip he started taking a leak on the ramp in broad daylight in front of God and everybody.When he was climbing in the plane the crew rather sheepishly reminded the senator that the Lear was equipped with a head. Goldwater replied," Son, I don't get on my knees and piss in front of anyone!!"

Pretty sure that the Senator was a Major General in the Air Force Reserve for at least part of the time he was in the Senate

 

[BigPhil]

Navajo. Navajo. Navajo.

Navaho is a woman of ill moral repute who experiences difficulty finding her way from one place to another.

Navajo, Navajo, Navajo....got it. I thought that didn't look right after I pushed the button. I wonder if the p-c police are after Piper the way they are the colleges with the Indian..er..Native American teams? The feds might ground all the Apaches.....

 

[JimG]

Pretty sure that the Senator was a Major General in the Air Force Reserve for at least part of the time he was in the Senate

Barry Goldwater flew (or flew in) every military plane in the US arsenal at one time or another during his Senate career.

Pays to be a ranking member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee.

Interestingly enough though, he had this little short lady (who didn't weigh more than 100 lbs.) fly him in a Travelair whenever he traveled around the state.

 

[PacoPollo]

[quote

Conversely, I flew Lance Armstrong on a charter a few years ago . . . I thought he was an arrogant jerk completely lacking in people skills. .[/quote]

I would too If i only had 1 nad...

 

[hyper]

Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band drummer) one of the nicest and congenial humans around. Last I heard working on his private, should be completed by now.

Wouldn't piss on martha stewart if she were on fire.

Mit Romney (MA governor) nice guy, with friendly staff. Still wondering how a democratic state elects a republican governor.

Colin Ferrel, funny and heavy smoker.

Most of the rich that are cool, are the ones that actually MADE their money. Appreciate what it's like to have to work hard for a living and haven't lost sight of reality.

 

[Avenger29]

I heard Chuck Yeager groundlooped a plane at an airshow or something... oh...about a year and a half ago or so? Anybody know about this?

 

[AD SUPT Hopeful]

Met Arnold Palmer in his Citation X (N1AP), real nice guy--flying from the left seat if memory serves me.

 

[A Squared]

I heard Chuck Yeager groundlooped a plane at an airshow or something... oh...about a year and a half ago or so? Anybody know about this?

Yeah, he goundlooped a T-6 in Georgia in October 2003

 

[vetrider]

Had Jamie Lee Curtiss on a flight to Arcata, Ca. sometime around 95. She was very nice and chatted a few minutes while she waited for her bags to be brought from the back.
I had a Larsons Van driver in Las Vegas a few years ago tell me that Clint Eastwood had a daughter that flew for one of the airlines, Delta I believe he said. Does anyone know if that is true or not?

 

[Hand Commander]

[quote

Conversely, I flew Lance Armstrong on a charter a few years ago . . . I thought he was an arrogant jerk completely lacking in people skills. .

I would too If i only had 1 nad...[/QUOTE]

Oh, snap. I wonder if he's checked this out http://www.neuticles.com. Cancer is nothin to joke about, but I'd definitely look into it.

 

[AC560]

Barry Goldwater flew (or flew in) every military plane in the US arsenal at one time or another during his Senate career.

Including the Sr-71, not many can claim Habu rights pretty cool in my book.

Saw Bob Hoover getting into a car at Osh Kosh once, Aero Commander for the win.

 

[flyinloki]

I met Richard Petty once in June of 2003 in Amarillo, TX. He flew in (not sure he was flying or not) in a Westwind with the last two letters of the N number being PR for Petty Racing. He walked into the FBO in his straw cowboy hat and boots with the signature mustache and drawled out in Southern talk "How ya'll doin today". Seemed nice as hell. He walked into the restroom when my student was still in there and like 30 seconds later my student comes out with his eyes wideopen and his mouth dropped and said "Richard Petty is in there"!

I met Chichi Rodriguez from the Senior Pro Golf tournement this summer up in Anoka Co. airport in Minnesota. He had his Jetstar sitting there for the week right next to Arnold Palmers Citation X. Missed Arnold but got a picture with the Citation X and got Chichi's autograph and picture with him right before he boarded his Jetstar. A guy from the control tower came down and wanted like 5 things autographed and Chichi was getting a little annoyed but did them all. He was pretty gracious with me. Pilots said that the Jetstar still hadn't been RVSM certified and they were stuck below FL290 with those 4 turbojets sucking and unbelievable amount of fuel. They told me the LBS per hour and it was alarming but can't remember the amount.

Flew on a Delta airlines flight out of Atlanta back in Feb. of 2003 going to New York. My student said that once he finished his private he would take me somewhere. At the time my student had actually held a Guiness book World Record for the most miles covered flying on an aircraft in one week. In just a week he went from Atlanta, to Japan (he was Japanes and a millionaire) to England, to Philly, to Nashville, to Atlanta, to Hawaii, back to Japan, to the Virgin Islands, and then back to here or something like that. He was a crazy man. He had made alot of money playing the stock market and his parents were involved in the Japanese government. He once got banned from flying on JAL for something. And he used to fly home from college in the U.S. for a day just to do his laundry. Anyway I was on this Delta flight and he got bumped to first class (Delta loved this guy) so he let me use the ticket and sit next to his dad in First class and he sat back in coach. Well the last person to get into the plane was the notorious Puff Daddy, P. Diddy or just Diddy whatever he is now. He noticed everyone staring but just sat down. When he got his salad in midflight he and his honey next to him were sleeping. Well he looked hung over and he about slumped over and fell asleep right in his salad before the flight attendant took it away. I didn't dare snap a photo in first class. But I got him walking away out in the terminal.

My buddy met Ron White in Carbondale, IL. Got a pic with him, Ron was already smokin' a big stogie out on the ramp.

I once drove Mayor Daley of Chicago from the ramp to the FBO after he flew in in a Premier for Paul Simons funeral. They were talkin in the back and I just wanted to ask him what the f he was thinking when he tore apart Meigs. I can't remember now but him and one of his aides (a woman) were talking in the back about something and he cracked a sex joke or made a comment that was overtly sexual. I about choked. Saw Ted Kennedy that day too but only from afar.

 

[flyinloki]

I think Kevin Costner may be a pilot as well.

 

[flyinlow67]

Sam Walton bought an old Ercoupe in the early 60s for under $2,000

I believe that is the same one that is now hanging in the lobby at ROG. Makes sense since Beaver Lake is owned by Wal-Mart and their flight dept is out of there.