# Beaver Twist at end of runway (photo) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 27, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195 "2008-01-27T15:55:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/21 "2008-01-27T19:57:48Z")
May I ask the relevance to the story of the fact that John Travolta sometimes used the runway? And yet, his name is mentioned in the story about six times! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/22 "2008-01-27T20:00:19Z")
Too bad he didn’t have any JATO bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/23 "2008-01-27T20:19:25Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] Too bad he didn’t have any JATO bottles. [/QUOTE] Or something from [Turbonique.](http://www.almar.easynet.be/turbonique.htm) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/24 "2008-01-27T22:21:18Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] How many runways in the U.S. end at an 85-foot cliff? That seems almost as dangerous for small planes as it is for cars. [/QUOTE] I didn’t know you could get that much elevation change in Florida. But if you define “cliff” broadly to include “slope”, then yes, there are quite a few here in hilly New England. Earth often has to be leveled, sometimes blasted, to make a long enough level surface for a runway. The fills are often covered by low trees or brush, put in to stabilize them, as well. Yes, there can be some serious local turbulence from wind whipping up those approaches, and the local vegetation can create thermals in sunny conditions that are also a little tricky to deal with. Just be quick on the throttle and punch your way through. But I don’t think they cause excessive danger otherwise - you’re focused on your position relative to the runway during the approach, and if you hit short, you’ll hit hard no matter what you hit anyway. BTW, show a little sympathy for these kids. Did none of you ever do something stupid at that age that now makes you feel lucky to have survived? Did you even ever get drunk? Well, I didn’t, but I can understand it all the same. Can we nominate "FHP: Alcohol likely involved " for the Duh of the Week Award? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/25 "2008-01-27T22:27:12Z")
I’d vote them in for the “Darwin” awards! Sure sounds like a dumb stunt to me-wonder if the insurance company will pay out? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/26 "2008-01-27T22:35:36Z")
[QUOTE=freckafree] May I ask the relevance to the story of the fact that John Travolta sometimes used the runway? And yet, his name is mentioned in the story about six times! [/QUOTE] Seven, if you count the caption on the one photo. I must say, though, that DAMN Travolta’s got a big house, and a REALLY big plane! (The article links to a map that shows where Travolta’s house is, and if you go to Google Maps it’s pretty easy to find it there, do an aerial view, and zoom in. Dang.) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/27 "2008-01-27T22:44:59Z")
[QUOTE=freckafree] May I ask the relevance to the story of the fact that John Travolta sometimes used the runway? And yet, his name is mentioned in the story about six times! [/QUOTE] Dangit, I was just about to post, “Hey, did you hear that John Travolta uses this runway?” ---
**Author:** ![Mongo\_Ponton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mongo\_Ponton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mongo_Ponton)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/28 "2008-01-27T23:33:07Z")
I was 18 once and screwed around with cars on the runway of our local airport. Alcohol was always involved. I can definitely see the attraction but the drop off into trees is a problem. I never wrecked on the runway but I did manage to total more than 10 cars before I got certain concepts. On the flip side a friend of mine wrecked his home built plane on an as yet to be opened highway. Boys will be boys, you just have to try and help them live through it. No matter how old they get. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/29 "2008-01-28T01:36:16Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] Or something from [Turbonique.](http://www.almar.easynet.be/turbonique.htm) [/QUOTE] Or maybe [this](http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/30 "2008-01-28T02:34:11Z")
[Photo of Travolta’s house at Jumbolair](http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_nov2004/Travolta_House.htm). Got nose docks for his 707 AND his Gulfstream. Just FTR, pilot’s license records are public info, and easily available at [faa.gov](http://faa.gov). He may be the only person ever to have a 707/720 type certificate on a private license. He doesn’t even have a commercial. Also, he’s restricted to second officer on the Boeing, even though all his publicity photos have him in the left seat. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/31 "2008-01-28T02:44:07Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] So, were the last thoughts of the passengers “Whee!” or “Oh SHIT!!!” I wonder? ☹ [/QUOTE] Or maybe “Look Mom, I’m flying!” ---
**Author:** ![Ferns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/90ced4/32.png) [@Ferns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferns)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/32 "2008-01-28T05:06:08Z")
Looks like the lawsuit threats from the rich kids’ parents may already be starting, and the little darlings aren’t even buried yet. My guess is that lawyer threats caused this article to be published. It states that the sheriff’s office is now “stepping back” from its statement that alcohol was likely a factor in the crash: [http://www.ocala.com/article/20080127/BREAKING\_NEWS/911924212/1053/BREAKING\_NEWS](http://www.ocala.com/article/20080127/BREAKING_NEWS/911924212/1053/BREAKING_NEWS) In other news, a poster on the BMW performance forum that the driver had been a member of said this tonight: \*"On reading through some of the other online news reports about this, the worst part is that the skid marks on the upper edge of the berm they flew over supposedly indicate that they were moving almost sideways when they left the ground… and some indication that there were OTHER skid marks indicating that maybe they had done this several times, cutting it closer each time – at least until the last time. So rather than “wheeee”, I strongly suspect “Oooops” (about two seconds worth) was mingled with everything else they had to say right then."\* :smack: ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/33 "2008-01-28T18:07:11Z")
[QUOTE=Bystander/observer quoted in the linked story] “I saw them going up and down the runway,” he said. “They were flying.” [/quote] Umm, no, actually, and therein lies the problem. They weren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/34 "2008-01-28T21:20:24Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] Umm, no, actually, and therein lies the problem. They weren’t. [/QUOTE] Sure they were. The flight was great. It was the landing that was the real problem. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/35 "2008-01-28T21:44:15Z")
Was XENU involved? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/36 "2008-01-28T21:49:44Z")
I noticed the wire services and big time news sites carried this gem: > [@](#): > > The engine block of the BMW was completely dislodged and wreckage from the car was found over a 200-square-foot area, the FHP spokesman said. Source: [Five dead after car crashes off end of private airstrip - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/26/airstrip.car.crash/) Wow! Only 200 square feet! Why do I think they forgot to add an additional zero or two? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/37 "2008-01-28T21:57:25Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] I noticed the wire services and big time news sites carried this gem: Source: [Five dead after car crashes off end of private airstrip - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/26/airstrip.car.crash/) Wow! Only 200 square feet! Why do I think they forgot to add an additional zero or two? [/QUOTE] Maybe not. The big sedan was crushed down to the size of a clown car. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/38 "2008-01-28T22:41:29Z")
I did some pretty stupid things when I was a kid that age but never anything like this. Damn. 5 kids! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/39 "2008-01-28T22:59:42Z")
Is it just me or is “Jumbolair” a really stupid name for a housing development/gated community? Also, it’s interesting to note that one of the dead kid’s girlfriend is the daughter of the people who own the community/airstrip ([from here](http://www.ocala.com/article/20080127/BREAKING_NEWS/911924212/1053/BREAKING_NEWS)). But of course she says she did not give them the access code to get in. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195/40 "2008-01-28T23:15:43Z")
Good thing Travolta lives nearby, cause: "When you’re a Scientologist, and you drive by an accident, you know you have to do something about it, because you know you’re the only one who can really help… " [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beaver-twist-at-end-of-runway-photo/435195.md?page=3)