JoelT
Well-Known Member
LOL.. Never heard that story.. Ate at that BK more than once though..
Seriously? I thought that would be legend. Anyway, here is the short version: Our T-34 takes off on 15. Right before turning left x-wind the engine starts spewing oil and the engine quits. The pilot (retired colonel who had 5000 dual given in T-34s) yanks the plane into a 90 degree bank and pulls hard knowing the plane will stall. All he wants to do is get away from the base housing. At about 100 feet the plane does stall and he said he had to do the hardest thing he has ever done in his entire life - push the nose over to gain speed. At this point he is almost over the BX and less than 100'. He sees that the parking lot is almost empty and aims for it. He touches down (gear up) right next to the south end of the BX and slides between two parked cars ripping both wings and tail off. The plane continues to slide into a empty parked van in the Burger King parking lot and explodes. The plane and van came to rest literally in the drive thru. Amazingly, both pilot and passenger came out with only minor injuries. And, the real kicker, I was the CFI that signed them off to fly that day! Air Force investigations are real fun.
