"Why does it always have to be snakes?"
Posted on 06/05/2006 10:58:09 AM PDT by TC Rider
Monty Coles was 3,000 feet in the air when he discovered a stowaway peeking out at him from the plane's instrument panel: a 4 1/2-foot snake.
Coles was taking a leisurely flight over the West Virginia countryside in his Piper Cherokee last weekend and was preparing to land in Ohio when the snake revealed itself.
"Nothing in any of the manuals ever described anything like this," said the 62-year-old Cross Lanes resident.
But advice given 25 years earlier from his flight instructor sprung to mind: "No matter what happens, fly the plane."
Coles attempted to swat the snake but it fell to the pilot's feet, then darted to the other side of the cockpit.
While maintaining control of the single-engine plane with one hand, Coles grabbed the reptile behind its head with his other.
"There was no way I was letting that thing go," he said. "It coiled all around my arm, and its tail grabbed hold of a lever on the floor and started pulling."
The next step was to radio for emergency landing clearance.
"They came back and asked what my problem was," he said. "I told them I had one hand full of snake and the other hand full of plane. They cleared me in."
After a smooth landing, Coles posed for pictures with the snake, then let it loose.
"That snake resides in Ohio now," he said.
I wouldn't have had to land the plan and wrestle the snake. I'd have seen the snake and that would have been the end of it. I read about that movie that is upcoming Snakes on a Plane. Hope airport security is aware of this.
What kind of a snake was it?
He might inspect a little closer next time.
Some of the early auditions (PG-13 - Language, Impressions):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUgl_8fI-XQ&search=snakes%20on%20a%20plane
Monty's Python?
"What kind of a snake was it?"
It was a deadly Tube Steak Viper. Of the Whitesnake family.
That guy's very good.
ding ding ding! we have a winner!
Yeah, he's awesome. I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard the first time I saw it. His Christopher Walken makes me laugh just thinking about it.
"I'd fight the snake..."
The things some will do to get flying lessons...
Was he sure it wasn't that Carvilee fellow? He IS a snake, after all.
Have a picture of that?
Not familiar with that one, however I can say that having a snake keeping me company would have me squirming around. I don't like snakes - any kind.
Ah...never mind...I was so curious I looked it up ... "Tube Steak Viper".
bookmark
It's MUFFIN SNAKES ON A MUFFIN PLANE, dude !!!!
"Why does it always have to be snakes?"
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