Do small planes ever fly under the Gateway Arch? (school, legality)

[robertpolyglot]

I think I've been up in it twice. Once for sure. It's interesting, though the viewing area is really small. Either the guides, or other tourists, talk about the illegality of flying under the arch. Has it ever been done? If so, what has happened to those folks? They've got to be pretty crazy.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

I think I've been up in it twice. Once for sure. It's interesting, though the viewing area is really small. Either the guides, or other tourists, talk about the illegality of flying under the arch. Has it ever been done? If so, what has happened to those folks? They've got to be pretty crazy.

From Answers.com, "At least 6 planes have flown under the gateway arch since it was completed in the mid 1960s. According to the Feb 1, 1981 edition of the Lakeland Ledger*, including the latest 1981 incident, none of the pilots or aircraft were positively identified."

Had the pilots been identified they would have been charged with "reckless" flying and violating elevation and clearance minimums and at the very least, lost their licenses.

[flynavyj]

Yep, it's happened...but it doesn't "happen", not even during the airshows. As per the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)

Sec. 91.119 — Minimum safe altitudes: General.

Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:

(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.


(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.

(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.


(d) Helicopters, powered parachutes, and weight-shift-control aircraft. If the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface—


[Docket No. 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91–311, 75 FR 5223, Feb. 1, 2010]

The old rule of thumb is you can typically do most things once...if you flew under the arch, you could easily escape before someone was likely to read your N# on the side of the plane...and that would be even more likely with an older plane using smaller N#'s. I personally loved operating in the sparsely populated places, cause you could drop down just above the corn, and pop up over the tree lines...

PS, the base of the arch is over 600 feet wide...you could fly a very very very large aircraft under the arch if you've got the "Balls" to do it...

And in terms of flying low, I believe someone flew under the Eads bridge ages and ages ago...but I'd have to look it up to see who it was, and when it occurred.

[BoomBoxing]

Are we ready for a 12 in 12? Will Matheny take the reins and lead the birds to victory? Will the cards falter without Pujos?

So many questions yet I have a feeling we are in for another amazing season. Go Cards!

[flynavyj]

Well that seems like an oddity considering the title of this thread.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

From Answers.com, "At least 6 planes have flown under the gateway arch since it was completed in the mid 1960s. According to the Feb 1, 1981 edition of the Lakeland Ledger*, including the latest 1981 incident, none of the pilots or aircraft were positively identified."

Wow. Thank you for the info. So, someone hasn't done so in 31 years. I'm surprised no one has been identified.

Yes, I think it would be pretty stupid. I once read/heard that there was a medical school class doing some rounds. One of the med students picked up a pair of defibrillator paddles and used them on someone as a joke. He (or she) was expelled. I would think that any pilot would think about keeping their pilot's license before undertaking such a stupid stunt.

[BoomBoxing]

Originally Posted by flynavyj

Well that seems like an oddity considering the title of this thread.

Haha oops thought I clicked on new thread. Note to self: don't post new threads from iPhone

[flynavyj]

lol, Awesome end for the game though...93 mph breaking ball! You go Motte!

[1greatcity]

Since the arch is a national monument, located in a national park, flying an aircraft between the north and south legs is considered a breach of security....a federal offense.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by 1greatcity

Since the arch is a national monument, located in a national park, flying an aircraft between the north and south legs is considered a breach of security....a federal offense.

Not to mention stooopid!