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Defecting Cuban pilot lands Soviet-era plane in the Everglades
New York Post ^ | October 22, 2022 | Diana Kennedy

Posted on 10/24/2022 10:58:25 AM PDT by billorites

29-year-old Cuban pilot flew a Soviet-era biplane to freedom in Florida Friday — and promptly took a selfie when he landed.

Miami International Airport officials said the single-engine Antonov An-2 plane touched down at Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport around 11:30 a.m., NBC 6 reported.

The pilot had radioed that he was running low on fuel before landing on the strip near Tamiami Trail in the middle of the Florida Everglades, according to 7 News Miami.

His first act on American soil was to take a selfie with the plane in the background.

Family members identified the pilot as Ruben Martinez, according to NBC 6.

Martinez said he’d flown from Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, officials said.

Friends told NBC 6 that he used the plane for work, mainly for crop dusting.

Martinez was taken in for questioning by Customs and Border Patrol officers.


(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aviation; cuba; defection
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Check your closets Reuben.

1 posted on 10/24/2022 10:58:25 AM PDT by billorites
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To: billorites
"Martinez was taken in for questioning by Customs and Border Patrol officers."

Just like the three million walking into the USA this year from Mexico.

2 posted on 10/24/2022 11:06:47 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (The “I” in Democrat stands for “Integrity.”)
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To: billorites

For once, an actual refugee!


3 posted on 10/24/2022 11:17:39 AM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14/12 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15/12 - 1030am - Obama team scouts photo-op locations.)
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To: billorites

When I was in Korea 30 years ago, they had signs all over the place with the AN-2 on it. They said to report any sightings of the plane to authorities immediately. They were mostly wood and canvas save the engine and landing gear. They could fly through the valleys below most radar. And the Norks had them in droves.


4 posted on 10/24/2022 11:18:58 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Unlike the usual scum flooding across the southern border Ruben Martinez is educated, has a valuable skill and given a chance will work hard at a skilled job and pay taxes. He’s not going to cost the US GOVERNMENT ANY MONEY! Welcome to MIAMI


5 posted on 10/24/2022 11:19:29 AM PDT by WellyP (question!)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

LOL the 2022 version of “5 o’clock Charlie.”


6 posted on 10/24/2022 11:20:42 AM PDT by HombreSecreto (The life of a repo man is always intense)
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To: billorites

I went skydiving last Saturday for the second time. I must have gotten the bug because as soon as I saw the picture I thought that would be a cool plane to jump out of.


7 posted on 10/24/2022 11:25:49 AM PDT by cyclotic (Follow 1776rm.com. Fighting for our Constitution. @1776RM on Truth)
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To: WellyP
Unlike the usual scum flooding across the southern border Ruben Martinez is educated, has a valuable skill and given a chance will work hard at a skilled job and pay taxes.

If he opposes the Castro regime, he will be deported back there by Mayorkas. After all, he is an illegal alien!

8 posted on 10/24/2022 11:26:52 AM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: billorites
Looks a bit big for crop dusting.

Where are the dusting vents....?

Any crop dusters in the audience like to cime in.?

Probably used for flights around Cuba....or whats left of the Cuban air force.

9 posted on 10/24/2022 11:27:12 AM PDT by spokeshave (Proud Boys, Angry Dads and Grumpy Grandads.)
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To: spokeshave

They have crops in Cuba....who knew....?


10 posted on 10/24/2022 11:28:03 AM PDT by spokeshave (Proud Boys, Angry Dads and Grumpy Grandads.)
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To: WellyP

“educated, has a valuable skill and given a chance will work hard at a skilled job and pay taxes”

Yep! Exactly my first thought, too! But he will likely vote R so he must be eliminated at all costs by the Biden Gestapo. Just watch.


11 posted on 10/24/2022 11:30:29 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (The “I” in Democrat stands for “Integrity.”)
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To: billorites
AN-2s are cool planes.

There used to be one in Oklahoma City at Wiley Post airport, but it was severely damaged or destroyed in a tornado.

12 posted on 10/24/2022 11:30:36 AM PDT by SIDENET (Whatever they're threatening, the vaxx is worse...or they wouldn't be threatening you.)
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To: billorites

Lloyd Austin should direct his Department to tear the plane apart and learn about Soviet aeronautical technology. He could learn something.


13 posted on 10/24/2022 11:33:35 AM PDT by kinsman redeemer (The real enemy seeks to devour what is good. )
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To: billorites

It looks like a chunk of the port/lower wingtip is missing.


14 posted on 10/24/2022 11:35:47 AM PDT by kinsman redeemer (The real enemy seeks to devour what is good. )
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To: cyclotic

Whenever you can, try and get one of the good parachutes.


15 posted on 10/24/2022 11:49:09 AM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
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To: kinsman redeemer

That’s part of the spray rig


16 posted on 10/24/2022 11:49:59 AM PDT by Robe (A nation can survive its fools and even n the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within.)
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To: WellyP

The airlines need more pilots, that’s for sure.


17 posted on 10/24/2022 11:53:43 AM PDT by 38special (I should've said something earlier)
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To: billorites

Brandon is totes gonna send him back.


18 posted on 10/24/2022 11:53:55 AM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: cyclotic

While living in Romania a friend of mine gave me a sightseeing tour of the Carpathian mountains in his Cessna. At the airfield was a company that provided skydiving using this plane. Quite cool aircraft is right!


19 posted on 10/24/2022 11:59:33 AM PDT by Trinity5
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To: spokeshave
>>like to cime (sic) in?

Not a flyer, but years ago I had a crop duster bank over me as I was driving down the highway.

We were so close to contact that I could count the number of nozzles on each spray head.

There were five nozzles.

20 posted on 10/24/2022 12:03:52 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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