October 12, 2005
I LIKE THIS GUY
Some knucklehead stole a $7 million private jet from the St. Augustine airport Sunday night, and flew it to Atlanta with friends on board, it being found at the Gwinnett County Airport Monday morning. The 22-year-old has a commercial pilot's license, but he's not qualified to fly that plane.
I hope they don't throw the book at him. He'd come in really handy for all those damned blogmeets I go to in north Georgia. And you just know those private jets have killer liquor cabinets.
Apparently he's fully qualified to fly that plane. He got it there in good condition didn't he?
I contend he's merely not "licensed" to fly that plane, not unqualified. Licensing has little enough to do with qualification.
There are millions of unqualified persons "licensed" to drive cars, after all.
Tens of thousands of unqualified quacks are "licensed" to practice medicine, and proof of unqualification is the fact that "Medical misadventure" is much deadlier than incidents involving unlicensed gun owners who vastly outnumber licensed medical persons.
I think the reason for this is obvious. Licensing requirements are devised by elected officials whose major qualification is the ability to get elected.
Posted by: Gerry N. at October 12, 2005 8:17 PMMethinks Gerry is trying to suggest that many, or even most, elected officials are licensed but unqualified.
Back to the point...yes, indeedy! Nothing like having your own plane. You can be a superhero - flying around smiting evil-doers with your lethal Punch. You'd make a fine Wonder Woman.
Posted by: zonker at October 12, 2005 9:22 PM22 years old? Man, I feel like a putz.
What was the kid's name who landed the plane in Red Square back around 1993?
Mathias Rust, Jack. Didn't even have to Google it. Thought everyone remembered that. He was officially charged with "hooliganism". I've always wanted to be charged with that, but I can't find a venue in the US that actually has it on the books.
Posted by: Velociman at October 12, 2005 10:01 PMProbably the best you can get here is Affray.
Posted by: Jack Straw at October 12, 2005 10:03 PMI need to meet this man, go to South America and bring back some coke.
Posted by: Catfish at October 12, 2005 10:11 PMThe best part is that his five buddies who rode with him pretty quicly finked him out to the FAA and local police when they realized it was a national story.
Can you imagine waking up, head pounding, 'what the hell did I do last night? Why am I in Buford instead of the condo at St. Augustine?' 'Woahh, dude, you took us in your jet.' Ooops.
Posted by: rankin' rob at October 12, 2005 10:32 PMDoes this mean you will drop by and pick me up on the way to North Georgia? Oh...and I prefer white whine if you please...nothing to sweet, nor to dry.
Posted by: Moogie at October 13, 2005 8:43 PMPick me up as well. I could use a vacation
Posted by: vw bug at October 14, 2005 7:08 PM