Hauled off in handcuffs for an engine out....

[1600vw]

The day the police came when I was flying this little RC airplane I had just been released from the hospital, I am sitting on a sidewalk and flying this little rc airplane in a body cast. This " demeanour " you speak of... I have no idea, please in lighten me.

Tony

[Floatsflyer]

Hmmmm......RC airplane, body cast, sitting on a sidewalk. Looks and sounds very suspicious. Actually, I'm visualizing a great start to a very funny SNL skit.

[Blue Chips]

I'd be looking forward to some funny skit myself, unfortunately, the direction and mindset of today's local, State and Federal law enforcement personal and to a somewhat lesser degree, security, their growing willingness to do you bad, because they can, at least to me.......is anything but funny.

[1600vw]

People think its funny until it happens to them.

Tony

[Frank Giger]

Why the handcuffs? Because in our era of personal exceptionalism, people can't handle being handled as individuals.

So Joe Pilot engine outs his Cub on the back field and the security guys walk up cautious and then are amused at his situation pretty much immediately. They follow procedure and detain him for further screening, including a quick pat down and handcuffs "for everyone's safety." They probably apologized while they did it, explaining that it was a requirement for anyone that is caught on property without authorization.

The reason everyone gets handcuffed during detainment is so that nobody can say they were unfairly and roughly treated, or intentionally humiliated by the security force. It's part of the SOP, so when some protestor cuts the wire so that he can vandalize the place and starts swearing, spitting, and generally not cooperating he can't whine that he was singled out.

Everyone wants special treatment until it's not the kind they want; then they want no more or less than what everyone else gets and will scream bloody murder until the company settles out of court for a huge payday.

"You were acting like a jackhole so you were treated like one," isn't something a judge is likely to say nowadays.

[Greg Wilson]

Watching the news clip it sure looks like just "S.O.P." for the unauthorized entry, likely quite restrained given the surprise of an airplane gliding in silently to the area. The news report shows the pilot escorted back,sans cuffs, to retrieve items from the plane. If the pilot is prosecuted for the emergency landing then it would be a problem if escorted out and released when no threat is found it is a good ending. As to opinions of the Andy Griffith show era, if this happened in the sixties at a nuclear facility he likely would have been shot at the scene.

[rbarkerjr]

Ron, "Strange aircraft"? Who you calling strange? I've got one of those, a J3 Cub and they are great to learn in and to have fun. It's got everything you need in a plane, a wing, in this case a big high lift, low stall wing, a real stick to control it, and a propeller. The only problem I can see is the ugly metal prop out front where is should have a beautiful and light wood one.

Bill -
I didn't mean strange in a weird sense. I meant strange as in it doesn't belong there! Personally, I love the Cub. As you said, "It's got everything you need in a plane..."

[JimRice85]

This particular pilot likely had greater security clearances than the security forces. He is a freshly retired USAF U-2 pilot as well as Cub owner/pilot.