Kerry needs to stop...

[sfecap]

Flying his own airplane around to campaign stops.

Seriously. (This isn't a "tweak the kerry folks" post.)

I was reading an article about JK, and it was talking about him flying to a campaign stop in his own light twin engined airplane. I have no doubt that Kerry is an experienced and competent pilot, (he's also a glider pilot, very cool...), but flying oneself between campaign stops is not a good idea.

The statistics are not good for businesspeople/pilots who sometimes feel the need to push on when they are, or the weather is marginal. The fatality rate in light twins after an engine failure are very high.

What do you Kerry supporters think about this?

I'm serious here...this is not a negative Kerry thing. He should stick to professional pilots, and the Heinz corporate jet or jet charters for campaigning.

I know he loves to fly, as do I, but I'd sure like to see him limit it to pleasure trips when there is no "pressure" to get there.

Any pilots here have an opinion?

[pruner]

1. I'm not a pilot, or a Kerry suppoerter per se…

but I am in total agreement with you.

[XanaDUer]

2. I support Kerry

and I agree too.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[joeybee12]

5. Does he do that? For shame!

Seriously, if he does, that's a bad no-no.

he needs to set an example.

[curse10]

4. But...

if he used the Heinz private jet how soon would it be before a regular Kerry basher posted something about it?

[sfecap]

6. If he uses the Heinz corporate jet,

...and he reimburses the company for the cost of his travel, there is nothing wrong with that. Free transportation would be illegal.

Edit: Kerry also has a private jet that they keep in a charter company they own, so he may not use the Heinz jet all that much. My mistake.

[KC21304]

8. I'm confused. Does he fly his own plane, or does he use the Heinz

plane all the time ?

Maybe the article about him flying his own plane to campaign stops wasn't meant to convey that he did it a lot. I don't have a clue what he does to be frank with you.

[sfecap]

9. The way it sounded...

...was that he uses his plane, and also charters aircraft. I don't think they use the Heinz airplane all that much for campaign trips. The family has a personal jet that they own, it's in a charter company, so he may be using that plane for longer trips. But he has his own light twin, and the article was about him flying it solo, coming home from a campaign stop after a long day.

I wish I could find the article on the 'net, but I don't remember what magazine it was in...

[KC21304]

15. Thanks for changing your subject line in #6

so that my answer sounds like I'm asking a silly question.

Oh well, them's the breaks.

[sfecap]

18. You weren't asking a silly question,

and I was incorrect which is why I changed it.

Geez.

[Pez]

7. my uncle has a plane...

...and you can be damn sure he'd fly it to campaign stops... if he campaigned. but he's an ass so i don't want to think of him running for --->ANY<--- office.

anyway, i'm sure he's instrument rated so i bet it's not a problem. and he probably has a bitchin' crew working on his ride.

what plane does he have?

[sfecap]

11. I don't know. Light twin.

They also have a personal jet, that's in a charter comany that they own. I think he uses that one for long trips.

I'm sure he's instrument rated, but keeping current is the most important thing...

[Pez]

13. i wouldn't worry about the senator

my uncle is a jackass but he's a top-notch pilot... he learned privately; normally flies a baron. we even went up in his yak and did barrel rolls. thing's like over 50 years old... russian wwii trainer plane. i've flown all over the place with him. i don't think kerry flying himself is a problem.

to err on the side of caution i suppose it's always better to trust someone else, but there are tons of accidents that way too. personally if i could i'd rather be in control. but i'm a control freak ;-D

[sfecap]

14. A Baron is a nice airplane.

Flew one years ago for a guy.

Lot's of fun...

[Pez]

16. lots of fun if you aren't with my uncle

:evilgrin:

he's a bigot repuke.

[sfecap]

17. LOL.

n/t

[polmaven]

10. Perhaps he should stop only because

that seems like a good way to be "Wellstoned"

[sfecap]

12. The Wellstone accident was an accident.

A terrible, unfortunate accident.

[Padraig18]

28. Yes, it was.

Horrible, sad, tragic, all those things... but an accident, nonetheless.

[JI7]

19. i don't like those small planes

not sure what he flies, but i don't like those small planes either and would rather have him not do it either.

[sandnsea]

20. He should live his life

When all is said and done, you have to be happy with the life you lead. Kerry is the kind of person who relaxes by being active, flying seems to be one of those activities for him. I can't imagine him stopping anything he enjoys doing or needs to do during this campaign. It's just not his nature. It's one of the best things about him, to me.

[sfecap]

24. True.

Kerry's active lifestyle is one thing I do like about him.

He's just putting himself in a bad situation flying alone after a long day on the trail. Heck, this could have been an isolated thing, and the article was a bit of a puff piece. Maybe the writer just thought it showed an interesting take on him.

I like that he's a pilot. I have that in common with him.

[w4rma]

21. WTF!! I may not support him over Dean in this presidential election

But I sure as heck want him alive and in politics helping us all for as long as possible. He's easily one of the best and most influential elected Democrats in the country.

I seriously wish he'd play it more safely.

[genius]

22. You're right. Anyone Bush is afraid of seems to die prematurely

Personally I think all the candidates should be flying commercial. Dean's probably safe. Karl Rove likes him.

[sfecap]

23. You just had to come in here and piss on this, didn't you?

"Dean's probably safe. Karl Rove likes him."


Never fails.

[MrPeepers]

26. I'm pretty sure

Rove would be happy to take out ANYONE who speaks out against the Administration. If Dean has done one thing, it's been to really bring up a lot of the faults of the Administration.

Peepers

[NewYorkerfromMass]

25. There is no way he flys "alone"

at least not as a rule. But I appreciate the concern and supportive attitude from the non Kerry supporters here.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

27. Never alone. He always has a few hookers aboard!

:evilgrin:


Seriously, I think it's pretty cool that he flies, whether he's alone or not.