He'd routinely fly his rig over to Chick-fil-A and other restaurants to buy food, if the place was close to a field where he could land. It was a lot of fun to watch.
Posted on 08/04/2026 6:32:00 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
RICHFIELD, Wis. — A 69-year-old man flew a helicopter from the Rosendale area to a Cabela’s store in Richfield on Saturday evening because “the drive was too long,” the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said.
A sheriff’s deputy responded about 6 p.m. to a report that a helicopter had landed in the Cabela’s parking lot in the Village of Richfield.
The deputy contacted the pilot, a 69-year-old Rosendale man, who said he had flown to the sporting goods store. The drive from Rosendale to Richfield takes about 50 minutes.
The sheriff’s office said the pilot was properly licensed, landed safely and complied with all applicable Federal Aviation Administration regulations. He also answered the deputy’s questions about helicopter-landing requirements.
“We can honestly say this isn’t your everyday parking complaint,” the sheriff’s office said.
No arrests were made, and no violations were issued.
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Besides avoiding traffic, he also avoids Flock Cameras...
...for now, as Flock is working on drone surveillance also.
He also answered the deputy’s questions about helicopter-landing requirements.
“We can honestly say this isn’t your everyday parking complaint,” the sheriff’s office said. I’d say not sheriff.
He's not required to contact any tower if he's flying Visual Flight Rules (VFR), which most helicopters do, and not flying in controlled airspace.
I found a neighborhood near Huntsville, Texas with a landing strip in the middle of it and each house had a hanger next to it. Strange, but whatever lifts your wings.
Yes, but it was a “compact” spot. This is how neighboring vehicles get door dings
-PJ
I still have 3 Cabela’s safari shirts I bought in the 1980s, they’re really good , LOL
Now go after the whiney ass who bitched about it!!
Really!
An airport tower controller doesn't want you calling if you're not taking off, landing, or passing through their airspace.
And the TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) doesn't want you contacting them in such a situation as they have enough on their plate.
He’s not going to do that at Costco on the weekends unless he puts it on hover and climbs down on a rope.
Actually, come to think of it, he does cross the landing path when the planes come right over the city coming in out of the NW. They fly right over the city on their approach to the airport. So, he must have to call in to make sure there is no traffic in the flight path.
no
Love it!
I wonder if the FAA has any objections?.............
I wonder if the FAA has any objections?.............
Yawza!!
There is a guy who lives down the road from me and he keeps his helo in his back yard - which is the street side and I drive by almost everyday.
Sometimes I catch him taking off or landing. Very cool!
He'd routinely fly his rig over to Chick-fil-A and other restaurants to buy food, if the place was close to a field where he could land. It was a lot of fun to watch.
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