Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Australian Pilot Stranded In Antarctica

Posted by michael on from the should-have-used-AAA dept.

mirio writes "Australian Jon Johanson is currently stranded in Antarctica at the US McMurdo outpost. He was attempting a flight from New Zealand to Argentina via the South Pole when he encountered a headwind that caused him to burn more fuel and divert to the base. Now both the Americans and the New Zealanders there are refusing to sell him fuel. Jon's story is amazing. He has flown his homebuilt RV-4 around the world three times and to the North Pole. You can read about his trips around the world here."

3 of 855 comments (clear)

  1. Good old New Zealand and US hospitality by marena · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    I've got a nice idea. Every time a yank or new zealander takes a sedan and drives it into the outback we'll refuse to help. We'll give them food and let them camp in our shed. As we don't believe tourism should be encouraged in the outback we'll also offer to pull the sedan to pieces so it can be towed back to the nearest town (at your expensive).

    Saying that having no contingency plan for a trip like this was a little stupid. Sort of reminds me of the around the world yacht racers where they contingency plan is to rely on whatever Navy is close enough to help them out. Just give the poor guy some fuel (make him pay heavy costs) and send him on his way.

    - Mark

  2. Send a fuel ship by r00zky · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Yup, thats what Australia should do:
    Send a fuel ship, refuel the plane, and then crash the ship in front of USians base.

    They'll really appreciate it a lot, they love fuel!
    They can invade a country for fuel but can't sell some fuel to a poor old man in distress.
    That will teach em.

    --
    I'm a chainsmokin' alcoholic sociopath, so-ci-o-path
  3. Re:They say they want to discourage tourism... by djupedal · · Score: 4, Flamebait

    Yep. He created the issue by design.

    ..this guy is just looking for the headlines. Check some of the documentaries on these guys....they fly across borders and land on military bases all the time, claiming fuel issues, etc. They use existing facilities as fuel dumps, and hop from point-to-point, depending on the kindness of strangers.

    Someone finally called him on it, and now he's having to deal with that. He may not like the deal, but he's busted, and not in a position to complain.