Many private pilots I've heard talk agree that the two Pennsylvanians who haplessly flew into prohibited airspace over DC made one of the "dumbest aviation mistakes" ever.
One pilot said, "It's the stupidity of these guys who do such a bad thing for the rest of us in aviation. It's the worst publicity you can have; it will have an impact on us, and on the freedom of flying.''
While that might be taking it a little far, there is truth in his words. What those two did will live on in general aviation infamy. I wonder if the Smithsonian might not someday enshrine the little 150 in its hallowed aviation halls and dub it "The Little Plane That Panicked a Nation."
The Washington Post reported that Sheaffer, 69, "froze when a Black Hawk helicopter neared his wing. Martin, 36, who had 30 hours of flight time, took over the controls and made the landing at an airport in Frederick, Maryland."
How rich is that! Leave it to the student pilot to remedy the situation. Of course, as I've said already, I would have crapped in my pants had that happened to me.
I'm about done with all my jabs at these two hapless wanderers. My barbs have been a mixture of incredulity, stunned disbelief, and not just a little bit of anger. These two schmucks have given all of us a bad name. I don't know how or if ever these two will live this down.
I'm willing to give the student pilot a break. After all, he wasn't the PIC. And I do hope the FAA levies a stiff penalty against the older man, Schaeffer. Do I want them to strip him of his ticket? No, but a year-long suspension along with some required training in flight planning wouldn't be a bad idea.