Man parks plane at pub in Australia

[webfact]

Man parks plane at pub in Australia

SYDNEY (AFP) - A man who taxied his light plane down a street in Australia and parked it at a pub while he went inside for a beer was being questioned Monday by police, who were not amused.

Locals in Newman, Western Australia, were stunned when they saw the wingless Beechcraft two-seater aircraft chugging down the main drag of the mining town in the Pilbara region, before pulling up at the local watering hole.

"On the way back through town... here’s a plane parked outside the Purple Pub," Newman resident Beau Woolcock told ABC radio.

"Even more special was seeing one of the local coppers poking his head in the door of the plane looking like he was asking for a licence."

While the incident quickly became the talk of the town, police did not see the funny side.

"It was a pretty stupid thing to do," Newman police sergeant Mark McKenzie told reporters, saying the propeller was running and it needed to be steered by foot pedals. It was not clear why it had no wings.

"Kids were coming home from school. It could have been very ugly. All he needed was one gust of wind ... because without the wings, it’s not stable.

"People think it was a bit of a laugh but it was very dangerous and we’re not very happy with it."

The West Australian newspaper said staff at the pub had dubbed the man a "legend" for his casual arrival.

Police said they were investigating whether he had committed an offence, given the plane did not leave the ground or cause any traffic accidents and the man passed a breath-test at the scene.

"I need to look at what the appropriate offence would be as it’s a bit of an unusual one," said police officer Mark Garner.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Man-parks-plane-at-pub-in-Australia-30246828.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-03

[o2eZy]

yep would be an offence of some description ...cops would make one up anyhow cause it is Australia ,most probably book him for not having a safety fixture around the prop or maybe steering wheel does not comply to australian standards for using on the roads...yep they will come up with some offence ,,over taxed,over charged ,over regulated ...use to be a great place but now is run by the cops...here's a good one ...you can be fined for parking your car with the windows down by more than 25mm......so that way you get to sit in a hot car when you come back

[RustBucket]

Lol..... what a character.

It's worth the fine just for the publicity.

[uel1968]

Yeah,he was probably (HIGH)when he left the pub.

[David48]

The story made me smile ... though it's not as uncommon as you think.

There is a famous Horse Race held in the middle of no-where ... literately.

The Birdsville Races.

Just how remote is Birdsville? Well, when the race is not on, the population is about 120.

Below is the racetrack.

Many just simply fly in ...

.

So, if we are prepared to do the above, the story about the guy with his plane and going to the Pub just makes me ...

.

[David48]

here's a good one ...you can be fined for parking your car with the windows down by more than 25mm......

You have tweaked my interest.

What state and the actual Law please?

Or is that just simply an urban myth?

[Jang Loi]

He was just waiting for a mate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0Ds05UnrA

[Seastallion]

Driving an unregistered vehicle on a public road.

The exposed prop was pretty stupid.

[culicine]

Australia...really? Is this news? And...WA...there's nobody there!

[David48]

Here is the image of the offending beast ...

[Robby nz]

There is a little place at the top of the East Coast in NZ called Te Araroa which has an air strip along the beach and its not unusual for a light plane to land there and taxi down the main street to fill up at the local garage which is only a couple of hundred meters from the air strip.

They had to pass the pub on the way so no problem to stop in for a beer.

[car720]

yep would be an offence of some description ...cops would make one up anyhow cause it is Australia ,most probably book him for not having a safety fixture around the prop or maybe steering wheel does not comply to australian standards for using on the roads...yep they will come up with some offence ,,over taxed,over charged ,over regulated ...use to be a great place but now is run by the cops...here's a good one ...you can be fined for parking your car with the windows down by more than 25mm......so that way you get to sit in a hot car when you come back

It's called "reckless endangerment".

[webfact]

Man who taxied plane to Newman pub faces charges

A man who taxied his light plane down a main street in Western Australia's Pilbara region and parked it outside a pub is expected to be charged.

Newman Police sergeant Mark McKenzie said the plane had its propeller running, its wings removed and was being steered by foot pedals on Friday.

The man parked the plane outside the Newman Hotel and was then interviewed by police.

"It was a pretty stupid thing to do," Sergeant McKenzie said.

"Kids were coming home from school. It could have been very ugly.

"All he needed was one gust of wind ... because without the wings, it's not stable.

Full story: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/man-who-taxied-plane-to-newman-pub-faces-charges-20141103-11g48l.html

-- WA today 2014-11-03

[masuk]

yep would be an offence of some description ...cops would make one up anyhow cause it is Australia ,most probably book him for not having a safety fixture around the prop or maybe steering wheel does not comply to australian standards for using on the roads...yep they will come up with some offence ,,over taxed,over charged ,over regulated ...use to be a great place but now is run by the cops...here's a good one ...you can be fined for parking your car with the windows down by more than 25mm......so that way you get to sit in a hot car when you come back

Reminds me of an event a few years ago in a rural town in Oz.

The guy was running a commercial lawn mower along the verges, and of course driving on the highway after a beer or two.

He got booked for being under the influence while in charge of a lawnmower. TRUE!

[coma]

Epic !

[David48]

Well, while we have that vein.

The wife of a good mate of mine, lived on acreage, didn't have a drivers licence and fancied a beer.

She saddled up the horse and proceeded to ride it through the drive-through (bottle shop) ... classic ... and a true story!

For those non-Aussies who have no idea what I'm on about.

Imagine a lady on a horse riding into this place and asking for a 6-Pack of beer ...

[Goanna]

He made a big mistake there. He should have gone through the drive through and got takeaways. A carton of xxxx, and some chips and coke for the kids.

[JacChang]

He just needs a license plate.

[Jang Loi]

The flaming gallah.

[expatoz]

"she said me or the aeroplane" he said "clear prop" 55555555555555555555

and who said pilot's keep it up longer

[cloudhopper]

LOL used to do this frequently in the Mojave desert with a Cub. AFAIK you can still fly anywhere outside of controlled or restricted airspace in the US without having to ask or tell anyone. Unlike the North Korean model in use here.

[JohnDodd]

<deleted> all on a big ship.

[Seastallion]

There is a little place at the top of the East Coast in NZ called Te Araroa which has an air strip along the beach and its not unusual for a light plane to land there and taxi down the main street to fill up at the local garage which is only a couple of hundred meters from the air strip.

They had to pass the pub on the way so no problem to stop in for a beer.

Although I like stories that emphasise the quaintness of NZ, this one is stretching it a bit, unless the Te Araroa petrol station has a bowser for high octane fuel.

[wirat69]

It's called "reckless endangerment".

OMG... I must have had a Don Quixote moment... since when were Aussies endangered??

[wirat69]

Reminds me of an event a few years ago in a rural town in Oz.

The guy was running a commercial lawn mower along the verges, and of course driving on the highway after a beer or two.

He got booked for being under the influence while in charge of a lawnmower. TRUE!

Problem was that he and the grass were only half cut!!

[aboctok]

yep would be an offence of some description ...cops would make one up anyhow cause it is Australia ,most probably book him for not having a safety fixture around the prop or maybe steering wheel does not comply to australian standards for using on the roads...yep they will come up with some offence ,,over taxed,over charged ,over regulated ...use to be a great place but now is run by the cops...here's a good one ...you can be fined for parking your car with the windows down by more than 25mm......so that way you get to sit in a hot car when you come back

Sorry, only one Like for you. Double Like buttons, along with lasers and all knives*, are banned by Victoria Police.

* Bread and butter knives exempted with the appropriate permit.

[Chao Lao Beach]

here's a good one ...you can be fined for parking your car with the windows down by more than 25mm......

You have tweaked my interest.

What state and the actual Law please?

Or is that just simply an urban myth?

This can not be true, I would do it just to get the fine and take this to court, are convertibles illegal? This can not be more than a urban myth, even in a overgovern pitt like oz.

[jamhar]

I nominate this guy for "man of the year" award.

The dude's "man" card has been officially validated!

[masuk]

yep would be an offence of some description ...cops would make one up anyhow cause it is Australia ,most probably book him for not having a safety fixture around the prop or maybe steering wheel does not comply to australian standards for using on the roads...yep they will come up with some offence ,,over taxed,over charged ,over regulated ...use to be a great place but now is run by the cops...here's a good one ...you can be fined for parking your car with the windows down by more than 25mm......so that way you get to sit in a hot car when you come back

Sorry, only one Like for you. Double Like buttons, along with lasers and all knives*, are banned by Victoria Police.

* Bread and butter knives exempted with the appropriate permit.

I thought it was 50mm! oh dear...

[masuk]

This one will fix the Thai debt problem in years ahead, if they ever discover speed cameras..

A little bit of joy on the Gold Coast (QLD) which will just about pay for a new highway every couple of years. Motorists who put their foot down as they go down the hill, don't even see these cameras which are fitted facing the rear of the cars.