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.
Prior to world war 2.0 lots and lots of folks commuted by air to downtown NYC and the financial district. Fuel rationing for the duration put an end to that sort of thing, and it never returned. A fair bit of helicopter commuting maybe.
What kind of Karen would call the police about a helicopter landing in a parking lot??
There are grocery stores (with hardware sections) in Alaska and several other northwestern states (Idaho, Montana, that I know of) that have runways behind them, with a ramp (airplane parking). Folks who live far out can fly in, do their shopping and be home before the ice cream melts.
Well, you're not supposed to fly below 500 ft in populated areas, so even if the cops aren't interested, the FAA might be.

LINK: Hey Guys! There's containers in The Container Store!!!
Ok, I'm bad, I know, for laughing at this, but yes, I can be a pig occasionally!
There's another in NE Georgia.
I think if they're under VFR (Visual Flight Rules) a flight plan is not required. Open to correction.
Reading is FUNdemantal.
is this what is now considered news?
There’s a similar neighborhood in Plano, TX.
Sanford FL has a neighborhood of plane owner/pilots. I think John Travolta lives there with his huge jet.
Not sure that it sounds as though he was “harrased” by the police...
Lol!
I used to deal with a guy in Pendleton, OR. He told me was going to Boise that day. I asked, how long does that take to drive? He replied, I don’t know, I have never driven it. He had his own single engine plane. He flew there and back.
“See that guy over there? He’s not doing anything wrong, but let’s go run him through the process. It beats solving real crimes...”
Was he harassed?
Sounds like the sheriff simply investigated, as they do with many car drivers. Check the license, registration, etc.
Usually, it's Obama's sons who call such routine investigations "harassment."
Usually, it’s bootlickers who have no problems with being harassed for no legitimate reason.
Two can play that game.
No ones property or life were threatened in any way by this guy doing something completely legal... so where was the “terry stop” trigger for them talking with the pilot?
That’s an R44 from Robinson.
Robinson is the single largest civilian helo maker 14000+ units sold.
I got my PPL-H in a R22 its the helo of choice for flight schools.
If you look up this cabelas its rural so more than likely this guy has acreage and a helipad at his home.
You are thinking of...pilots frequently flew into the Sidney Municipal Airport (SNY) in Cabela’s original hometown of Sidney, Nebraska, where the local FBO coordinated courtesy vans to pick up visiting shoppers
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