WIX Archives
Another Mystery Avenger
Posted by Rob Mears on Fri May 02, 2003 07:12:37 PM
In reply top null posted by null on null
Sorry Scott :) I didn't want to hijack your post, but the title reminded me of something I read today.
I had a layover at George Bush International in Houston this afternoon and had a chance to paruse the magazine stand. I read a short story about a TBM firebomber pilot who "ran out of gas" and found himself standing on the wing at 100' AGL about to attempt a (suicide) bail out. About that time the engine sputtered to life and the resulting prop wash blew him off of his feet! There he was hanging
by his hands as the plane began to fly itself back into the sky :) He struggled back into the plane and finished his mission, never mentioning the incident to anyone until this particular article was written. He simply had forgotten to switch fuel tanks until the moment he climbed out of the plane.
I think it was Air & Space magazine, and he might have mentioned an N-number for the plane, though I don't recall. Has anyone else read this article, and is there any chance that someone here can identify the particular plane he was flying and whether it's still around. It would make for a hell of a story for the plane's current owner to share with the public at shows :)