Bare-Foot-Bandit gets around.

[Paxx]

I guess young Colton had himself a mischievous 4th of July weekend. Apparently tired of the Pacific Northwest our vagabond ruffian/prankster/thief clicked his heals and a few aircraft later he ends up on sunny Abaco Island in the Bahamas. Maybe the Royal Bahamas Police can capture and instill some proper English manners in the young lad. Maybe not. I'm thinking Colton is already on his new motor yacht cutting course west to the Florida Keys.

I bring up this story because, having heard of the fellow the past few years, it was interesting that the last airplane he stole (so far!) was from an airport right down the street from me. And the choice of aircraft, he couldn't have picked a nicer one.

Cessna 400 Corvalis TT
Data from Columbia 400 Pilot's Operating Handbook[14]

General characteristics

* Crew: 1 pilot
* Capacity: 3 passengers
* Length: 25 ft 2 in (7.67 m)
* Wingspan: 36 ft 1 in (11.0 m)
* Height: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
* Wing area: 141 ft² (13.1 m²)
* Empty weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 3,600 lb (1,500 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Teledyne Continental TSIO-550-C flat-6 engine, 310 hp (230 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 235 knots (270 mph, 435 km/h) calibrated airspeed
* Cruise speed: 235 knots (270 mph, 435 km/h) true airspeed at 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
* Range: 1,107 nm (1,274 mi, 2,038 km) (It is 900nm from Bloomington, Indiana to Abaco Island - GPS Direct. Full tanks and a nice tailwind I guess, Colton always gets the Lucky Dog Pass.)
* Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
* Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s) or greater, below 16,000 ft (4,875 m)
* Wing loading: 25.5 lb/ft² (125 kg/m²)
* Power/mass: 0.091 hp/lb (150 W/kg)

Pocket Hot Rod!

[Raptor22]

Paxx,

I wouldn't want to be in his feet when they catch him. LOL!

[darrenvox]

i heard he used flight simulator to learn to fly...not a good role model for flightsim!!

ps i hade never even heard of a cessna 400....i thought any cessna number above 400 was a twin engine...

stay out of canada colton we dont want you!!!

[Paxx]

Paxx,

I wouldn't want to be in his feet when they catch him. LOL!

No doubt, and catch him someone will. Eventually. Even Underdog was canceled.

i heard he used flight simulator to learn to fly...not a good role model for flightsim!! ...

Microsoft Flight Simulator doesn't steal aircraft - people do.

I imagine he actually learned how to fly the way World War I pilots did, jump in and take her up, with the unusual twist of having to steal the aircraft also. I'm thinking he is a GPS navigator considering the conditions he flies under - SBFR (Skater Boi Flight Rules).

Update - This incident may have been a copycat crime, and not the BFB.

[Paxx]

Update #2.

Bare-Foot-Bandit busted!

[Ragtopjohnny]

Finally got him!

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/articl...mas%2F19549503

Must say it's about time...

John Thuot II
A+/Network+
Don't forget to visit our modeler's site:
http://www.dreamscape-studios.com

[JBnTX]

Get A Rope!

I can't believe how much this common criminal has been glorified
by the press? Even his mommy says he's as smart as Einstein.

I don't think so.

[darrenvox]

[QUOTE=Microsoft Flight Simulator doesn't steal aircraft - people do. [/Quote]

i never said that im just saying when the police look at who plays this game they might think we are going to steal aircraft....or do stuff we see when we play it!!!

[aircav1970]

Hah! Arrested in the Bahamas,his mother won't talk to the press,evidently has a "book deal" in the works for his story.....I guess we all see that crime does indeed pay,in some cases!

[Ragtopjohnny]

Yup, amazing what happens. Of course, if it were any of us, we'd be thrown in the slammer, no publications, and people would just "Pah!" at yah where ever you go, as they should to him.

In these cases, book and movie deals should be out of the questions. Just attention getters, that's all they are....

John Thuot II
A+/Network+
Don't forget to visit our modeler's site:
http://www.dreamscape-studios.com