Oh Dear ! Poor Fella
I had my first altercation today, down at my usual fly area, Cuskinny Bay, only one other vehicle on the car park a very posh and expensive Range Rover, I sat at the picnic table and started my usual pre-flight routine checks, Max height, RTH altitude, props check etc etc.
Suddenly this tall fella appeared from nowhere with this thing under his arm that looked like a NASA space probe that had just returned from a 3 year mission to Mars. The following conversation then happened, I can remember it word for word so I wrote this as soon as I came back home. I consider meself a patient fella but when pushed a little too far...........
Him, "Hi, I'm ***** ******** - ****** (double barrelled surname), CEO of ******** Industrial, can I ask if you are intending to fly that "THING" here today ?"
Not an Irish accent
Me, "I am yeah"
By now he was really close up and was towering over me like a naughty schoolboy, must have been at least 6' 3", I'm 5' 7"
Him, "Can I ask if its licenced and registered ?
Me, (still very politely but this fella seemed really threatening and his attitude was awful) ,"My drones under 250 grams so it doesn't need to be, it's actually 243 grams, and before you ask, No, this isn't a no fly zone the nearest one is 30 miles away round Cork airport, there's a bird sanctuary to the East that my App warns me should be avoided, so I do"
I could feel my blood starting to just slightly simmer and I thought to meself, sorry bud but do ye realise you're in Ireland ? Don't mess with us, we only tolerate snobby eejits like you for so long, don't push me buttons for too much longer coz I'm likely to explode into your worst F****** nightmare.
Him, "I'm here to survey the whole area for the installation of waste water sewerage pipelines and I'd be grateful if you kept out of my way"
Me, "I'm here for pleasure so could you can stay out of mine please ?"
At this stage my internal hand grenade started It's countdown, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6,...............................
Him, "Have you any Idea how much this aircraft of mine is worth ?"
Me, "No, mine was €349 in Harvey Normans sale"
Him, "£5,500"
Me, "Really ? DJI sell one that could probably do a better job at a third of that price"
Him, "Do you live locally ? Where abouts ?
Me, "I do yeah but I don't divulge personal information to folks I don't know"
Him, "I find your attitude frankly appalling"
Seriously , he was now very intimidating and spoke to me like I was like something he'd trod in.
I'd honestly spoke quietly, politely and calmly to this fella so far, he was obviously not prepared to come to any compromise or agreement.
3, 2, 1, ............BOOM !!!!! The hand grenade exploded.
Me, "Listen, the sound of your voice is really grating on my nerves now, my AIRCRAFT has directional avoidance detection in it's bottom, does yours ? I hope so coz that THING of yours is likely to be inserted right up your arse if you don't get out of my face and **** *FF"
He was lost for words and got in his Range Rover and left, hopefully taught a lesson to not mess with the Irish, I actually took the time to wave him a fond farewell on his way out of the car park.
I had my first altercation today, down at my usual fly area, Cuskinny Bay, only one other vehicle on the car park a very posh and expensive Range Rover, I sat at the picnic table and started my usual pre-flight routine checks, Max height, RTH altitude, props check etc etc.
Suddenly this tall fella appeared from nowhere with this thing under his arm that looked like a NASA space probe that had just returned from a 3 year mission to Mars. The following conversation then happened, I can remember it word for word so I wrote this as soon as I came back home. I consider meself a patient fella but when pushed a little too far...........
Him, "Hi, I'm ***** ******** - ****** (double barrelled surname), CEO of ******** Industrial, can I ask if you are intending to fly that "THING" here today ?"
Not an Irish accent
Me, "I am yeah"
By now he was really close up and was towering over me like a naughty schoolboy, must have been at least 6' 3", I'm 5' 7"
Him, "Can I ask if its licenced and registered ?
Me, (still very politely but this fella seemed really threatening and his attitude was awful) ,"My drones under 250 grams so it doesn't need to be, it's actually 243 grams, and before you ask, No, this isn't a no fly zone the nearest one is 30 miles away round Cork airport, there's a bird sanctuary to the East that my App warns me should be avoided, so I do"
I could feel my blood starting to just slightly simmer and I thought to meself, sorry bud but do ye realise you're in Ireland ? Don't mess with us, we only tolerate snobby eejits like you for so long, don't push me buttons for too much longer coz I'm likely to explode into your worst F****** nightmare.
Him, "I'm here to survey the whole area for the installation of waste water sewerage pipelines and I'd be grateful if you kept out of my way"
Me, "I'm here for pleasure so could you can stay out of mine please ?"
At this stage my internal hand grenade started It's countdown, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6,...............................
Him, "Have you any Idea how much this aircraft of mine is worth ?"
Me, "No, mine was €349 in Harvey Normans sale"
Him, "£5,500"
Me, "Really ? DJI sell one that could probably do a better job at a third of that price"
Him, "Do you live locally ? Where abouts ?
Me, "I do yeah but I don't divulge personal information to folks I don't know"
Him, "I find your attitude frankly appalling"
Seriously , he was now very intimidating and spoke to me like I was like something he'd trod in.
I'd honestly spoke quietly, politely and calmly to this fella so far, he was obviously not prepared to come to any compromise or agreement.
3, 2, 1, ............BOOM !!!!! The hand grenade exploded.
Me, "Listen, the sound of your voice is really grating on my nerves now, my AIRCRAFT has directional avoidance detection in it's bottom, does yours ? I hope so coz that THING of yours is likely to be inserted right up your arse if you don't get out of my face and **** *FF"
He was lost for words and got in his Range Rover and left, hopefully taught a lesson to not mess with the Irish, I actually took the time to wave him a fond farewell on his way out of the car park.