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April 24, 1959
USAF Captain John Lappo flew his RB-47E through the 150 foot gap UNDER the Mackinac Bridge at 425 mph....A magnificent piece of flying that cost him his wings...
Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
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Jerry
Spring fever after a long UP winter!
Wonder if he ever got to fly again?
According to this article, no. He got the same treatment a lot of pilots do who get disqualified to fly for some reason- - - -commanding a maintenance outfit.
http://absolutemichigan.com/michigan/michigan-history-soaring-beneath-the-bridge/
I worked for a bunch of retread pilots- - - -usually bitter old dudes who couldn't pass their flight physical any more. Our squadron commander on Okinawa got replaced over a weekend after losing a serious battle with Jim beam- - - - -or maybe it was Johnnie Walker! Rumor had it that he got reassigned to an alcohol rehab ward in Japan before "retiring" early.
Jerry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYvsjGroa78
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
But I was in the simulator! AND I did crash on landing!
Fighter pilots USED to get away with a lot of shenanigans, bombers, not so much. SAC had no sense of humor. The hay days of jackassery ended in the mid 70's. But I've got lots of good stories from before that period.
I once had an F-4 that was gong to bomb the ramp on departure for home base. He filled the speed brakes with toilet paper, and made a high speed pass over the ramp. He went nose up in full burner and screwed the plane almost straight up while dumping the contents of the speed brakes. Very impressive except I noticed some of the floating debris didn't look like TP. Turns out he over G'd the travel pod and split it in two, also scattering his laundry over about 40 acres.