Post by Dave Homewood on May 1, 2022 14:27:22 GMT 12
They got up to some dodgy things back in the 1960's it seems.... this from the Press, 19th of May 1969:
Plane’s ‘Miracle’ Landing
(N.Z. Press Association)
AUCKLAND, May 18.
Two Matamata men landed a Piper Colt plane on the roof of a car, bounced off, then landed safely on the Matamata airfield, Waharoa, last night. The car was standing with its headlights on at the airfield, apparently to provide landing lights for the plane.
The landing capped a 15-minute flight over Matamata which brought residents running outside as the aircraft swooped a bare 200 feet above their homes.
Both men will appear in the Matamata Magistrate’s Court later this week charged with taking an aeroplane. Their landing was described as a miracle by the chief flying instructor and manager of the Waikato Flying School, Mr T. J. Bindon, of Matamata, who accosted one of the flyers after the aircraft rolled to a halt on the airfield. “I had just arrived when they made their first attempt to land,” Mr Bindon said.
They dropped down behind the trees and I jumped out of the car to hear them crash.
“But nothing happened. They must have flown round for another try.
“The next I saw of the plane was its navigation lights moving up the runway.
“It wasn’t until we took their car to the town that we found the plane tyre marks on the roof.
“There were two black rubber marks, then two neat grooves where the wheels ploughed in.” The night was very dark and overcast, said Mr Bindon.
Plane’s ‘Miracle’ Landing
(N.Z. Press Association)
AUCKLAND, May 18.
Two Matamata men landed a Piper Colt plane on the roof of a car, bounced off, then landed safely on the Matamata airfield, Waharoa, last night. The car was standing with its headlights on at the airfield, apparently to provide landing lights for the plane.
The landing capped a 15-minute flight over Matamata which brought residents running outside as the aircraft swooped a bare 200 feet above their homes.
Both men will appear in the Matamata Magistrate’s Court later this week charged with taking an aeroplane. Their landing was described as a miracle by the chief flying instructor and manager of the Waikato Flying School, Mr T. J. Bindon, of Matamata, who accosted one of the flyers after the aircraft rolled to a halt on the airfield. “I had just arrived when they made their first attempt to land,” Mr Bindon said.
They dropped down behind the trees and I jumped out of the car to hear them crash.
“But nothing happened. They must have flown round for another try.
“The next I saw of the plane was its navigation lights moving up the runway.
“It wasn’t until we took their car to the town that we found the plane tyre marks on the roof.
“There were two black rubber marks, then two neat grooves where the wheels ploughed in.” The night was very dark and overcast, said Mr Bindon.
