Only in LA!

[MoodyBlues]

When I heard reports of a man in a jetpack flying in the air space of LAX, I immediately said 'only in LA!'

Later, when I read reports from Air Traffic Control, guess what one of them said when an incoming pilot told him about the jetpack man? Yep! "Only in LA."

On KTLA's morning news yesterday, one anchor said, 'come on, Elon [Musk], we know it was you. Call us and come clean,' or words to that effect.

I love my hometown.

 

[Steven58]

I read that in the news, yesterday. I'd have to say "not smart, flyboy!"

 

[MoodyBlues]

I read that in the news, yesterday. I'd have to say "not smart, flyboy!"

I know! Downright stupid, if you ask me--and dangerous. Those are commercial jets landing at LAX. A sudden evasive move could be catastrophic.

I hope the imbecile is caught soon.

But it does make a funny 'only in LA' story.

 

[Deleted User]

I follow aviation incidents and noticed this earlier today, but hadn't watched it until now.
That could have been catastrophic considering what bird strikes can do. Bet he/she is never caught until someone divulges years later.

 

[Hadron]

I follow aviation incidents and noticed this earlier today, but hadn't watched it until now.
That could have been catastrophic considering what bird strikes can do. Bet he/she is never caught until someone divulges years later.

That will surely depend on how much effort is put into tracing them. After all, there aren't a lot of jetpacks out there, so the list of people with access to one cannot be that long. This isn't like some idiot flying a drone near an airport.

 

[Deleted User]

That will surely depend on how much effort is put into tracing them. After all, there aren't a lot of jetpacks out there, so the list of people with access to one cannot be that long. This isn't like some idiot flying a drone near an airport.

Sure, possibly. If that happened around Dublin Airport you would find them. L.A. ? Depends how much resource goes in to searching. Light general aviation planes get a slapped wrist if they stray or don't respond. Such a busy terminal airspace with many airfields, the attitude from air traffic control could be that's not gonna happen again and everyone's safe.
I haven't seen the news reports so don't know what the police are putting in to it.
Dash cams and CCTV may help though.

 

[MoodyBlues]

That will surely depend on how much effort is put into tracing them. After all, there aren't a lot of jetpacks out there, so the list of people with access to one cannot be that long.

Elsewhere? I'd agree. But as I was watching one news report on it, they were showing footage from Jetpack LA or Jetpack California [sorry, I'm too lazy to look it up right now]. It's apparently like a skydiving company, only with jetpacks.

Even so, their records [and other similar companies'] could shed light on Mr LAX Jetpack Idiot.

 

[lunatic59]

He's probably just warming up for his Area 51 flyover.

I miss the '70s when all we had were streakers running naked through a ball game.

 

[Deleted User]

I thought in recent years I'd seen somewhere or on some programme that jetpacks were a technological dead - end (capacity v distance), so it's surprising they could violate airways to a few thousand feet.

Now I just read this :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-54004695#:~:text=The FBI is investigating reports that a "guy,was witnessed by pilots on two separate planes.

which added someone may have developed an even better one, or it was a mannequin on remote.

 

[MoodyBlues]

He's probably just warming up for his Area 51 flyover.

I miss the '70s when all we had were streakers running naked through a ball game.

And the Academy Awards! Who can ever forget elegant, eloquent David Niven, not missing a beat as a naked man streaked across the stage behind him, pointing out the man's...um...shortcomings?

Those were the days!

 

[Deleted User]

Sorry to flog an already expiring horse, but this guy is the best at factual analysis and he just posted this:

 

[MoodyBlues]

Sorry to flog an already expiring horse, but this guy is the best at factual analysis and he just posted this:

In case anyone's wondering, but doesn't want to watch the video, it does NOT deny that this really happened, or anything like that. It just explains how air space around a major airport, specifically LAX, works, and which violations jetpack man may have committed.

 

[no one]

It was just an extremely rare weather pattern.
Nothing to see here.
Move along.






................HEY YOU!!!! Move along!

 

[ocnbrze]

so i just recently saw this youtube video about the garvity jetpack:

and then i saw this as well:

i wonder if it was this guy or not?

 

[MoodyBlues]

The more I think about it, the more I think SOMEONE had to see him when he landed, and when he got into a car--perhaps taking time to remove the jetpack first. It's LAX, not some remote airport. Even with COVID, there had to be people around.

Apparently, he was flying several miles from the airport. Maybe surveillance cameras on businesses, or doorbell cameras on houses, caught his takeoff/landing/escape in a vehicle.

I know LAX really well. Its densely populated [with businesses and residences] surroundings would make being seen almost guaranteed. I think it's just a matter of time before we see video. Someone could have footage and not even know yet.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

Mexican/Phipino fusion.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Phipino

Is that a new way to spell Filipino?

 

[Deleted User]

Dear God I hope those Gravity things never take off (unavoidable pun) for general use.

 

[ocnbrze]

Dear God I hope those Gravity things never take off (unavoidable pun) for general use.

what? i'm down to be Iron Man for one day!!!!!!!!

 

[mikedt]

How come they didn't shut down the airport? Gatwick Airport(a major London airport) was shut-down for 24 hours with all flights cancelled, because of reports of a drone flying around in their air space.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-46623754

Presumably someone in a jet-pack is going to be more obvious than a rogue DJI Mavic or something?

 

[MoodyBlues]

How come they didn't shut down the airport?

My guess is that he was far enough away that it didn't warrant a shutdown.

Note that I'm ambivalent about saying that, because if he was close enough for incoming pilots to see...but then again, I'm no aviation expert.

 

[MoodyBlues]

So...the feds are on it now--the FBI is involved. Uh-oh, Mr Jetpack Man!

 

[dontpanicbobby]

It's been quiet for awhile in LA @MoodyBlues. Is it the smoke?

 

[MoodyBlues]

It's been quiet for awhile in LA @MoodyBlues. Is it the smoke?

Like bees?

Here in Arcadia, it's always quiet. My mom was fond of saying, "it's so quiet...it's like a cemetery around here..."

As for LA proper, the bad air quality has definitely affected everyday life. Its basin shape traps smog, hence its storied bad air quality. People have been warned not to exercise, or even go, outside due to the smoke. It has subsided, but it's still bad.

My cousin and I--who will never see 60 again--have been reminiscing about the old days, the '60s, with its terrible smog. We haven't seen anything this bad in decades. Even so, it's not as bad as it could be: a few days ago, Portland [Oregon] had the worst air quality of any major city in the world.