“Wrong Way” Corrigan, A Real Jet Set Hero
Cuz you’re still fiending for stories of aviation hijinx after the Jet Set Chapter of Frank151 dropped months ago, Frank commemorates the 70th anniversary of Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan’s flight across the Atlantic and into the hearts of wingnuts who thought Charles Lindbergh was a punk. Corrigan took off from Brooklyn, NY and wound up in Dublin, Ireland after over 28 hours in the air, despite having submitted a flight plan that named California as his destination.
When the Bureau of Air Commerce came-a knockin’ for an explanation, the seasoned pilot blamed a faulty compass and claimed he hadn’t noticed how off-course he was until 26 hours into the journey. The Irish prime minister welcomed him in the emerald capitol and New Yorkers threw a ticker-tape parade upon his return that outdid Lindbergh’s — all for shoveling so much bullshit onto The Man and getting away with it. What’s more, Corrigan pulled it off in a gangsta ride:
The thing is, Sunshine really was a crate. It was patched up and lashed together and, worse . . . had developed a gas leak that Corrigan decided he didn’t have time to repair. Gasoline actually leaked into the cockpit while the plane was over the Atlantic. Corrigan solved that problem by using a screwdriver to punch a hole in the cockpit floor.
Props to “Wrong Way” Corrigan for elevating the phrase ‘ghetto rig’ to a whole new level.
(via Wired)
