[MindBender26]

It was a retractable gear A/C

A/C was N2371N, a 172 RG registered to flight school an PIE.

[MindBender26]

make that at PIE, (St. Pete-Clearwater International)

[Merovingian]

FLASH! Maybe it was a secret service agent of Arab descent who had to be permitted to fly the plane after the debacle decision that it was the pilot's error for refusing the one headed for TX.

[HairOfTheDog]

Reading through late (sorry if this has been answered ad nauseum)... but for the record if it has not been said, technically the 172 RG is a retractible gear plane only in name. the mains stay down, only the nose retracts... It was created as a retractible training plane without the cost of the high-performance craft.

Not sure why it was important to the story for you anyhow... anyone with opposable thumbs can raise the gear.