Whats up with Wagstaff at Oskosh

Hunter1 · **Joined:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:53 pm **Posts:** 97

for those who wanted my name to accompany my prior post........

Sincerely,

Brad Lauderback

Stallion 51

Kissimmee, FL

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:18 pm

As I see it, almost all of us are on the outside and only know some of the facts and the rest rumors or third hand info. I believe it is a fact she was charged with DUI, and she says she was not impaired. Was she arrested, was there a blood test at the station, therefore some proof or measurment not depending just on what either side says? Who on WIX was actually with Patty to see how much if any, she drank, and was also there to witness the driving or what the sheriff did?
Some folks seem to want to convict her because she is famous, some want to give her a pass for the same reason. Some want to convict her because they say she might not be friendly enough, others let her off because she has worked for airshow safety. I think she deserves the same treatment as anyone else, a fair hearing in court and/or a fair trial. I hope the judge in this case is bright, balanced, and most important fair minded, both to Patty who I read has not had a previous offense?, and was not on a road, and to the public who needs to be protected from dangerous drivers.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:24 pm

I agree ryan that we have all made mistakes and people do need to be respectful in what and how they say something.

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:27 pm

skybolt2003 wrote:

. . . who knew she was so old . . .

67 is NOT old, people!

Wade

richkolasa · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:27 pm

Just a few facts for people that might not know Wittman field and are getting a totally skewed idea of what happened (not with regards to legalities, but geographically):

Runway 36 ends before the warbird area, where Patty was apparently returning one of the occupants of her vehicle to. A taxiway extends past the end of the runway 36 and intersect with two smaller runways, 4-22 and 13-31, which are closed runways for the convention and have warbirds parked on them (at least on one of them). My guess is that Patty made a right turn one intersection too short, winding up on 36 rather than on 4-22. See airport diagram at:

http://www.wittmanairport.com/pdf/taxi.pdf

This seems totally reasonable to me. It's also my understanding that the tower closes at Wittman Field at 8pm. From a common sense standpoint, it would seem to me that this becomes much less the big deal than it's being made out, but that's just my opinion. I'm not sure of what the current FAA rules are on that.

I'm not sure where the people and planes she almost ran down come into this? Oh, would that have come from the National Enquirer?

Rich

Dudley Henriques · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:34 pm

[quote="Bill Greenwood"]

"others let her off because she has worked for airshow safety. "

Respectfully Mr. Greenwood, this is a gross misinterpretation of what I have said.
My opinion is based on what Miss Wagstaff told me. I believe her.

spookythecat · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:43 pm

I have very close ties to this incident and in my best interest i'm keeping my mouth shut. Some of what has been said is true, some has yet to be proven and some is hogwash.

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:57 pm

Dudley, if I read your piece correctly you say you are disappointed in fans that pre judge Patty. I agree we should not prejudge. However it seems to me that is exactly what many are doing. You have decided she is innocent , not because of the facts, but because you know her and believe what she said to you. That's not evidence. Others may believe what the security people or what the sheriff says. In the absence of any hard evidence like a blood test, it may come down to a question in court of only the word of people on both sides. That is why I wrote that I hope the judge is fair minded and balanced. She is presumed innocent until the prosecution proves Beyond a Reasonable Doubt otherwise. Even if found guilty, of this or a lessor offense, a past clean record would call for a lighter treatment than a repeat offender who drove at high speed on a public road.
I don't drink that much, and when I do I really try not to drive. I could see how this could happen to me or others. If one had a few drinks at a party, you might think of the EAA grounds as like a big parking lot, and not focus in the same way as if you were driving out on the highway.
I only know Patty to say hello, not well. I sat beside her at Vegas at one of the airshow safety meetings. Frankly she is my favorite pilot to watch of all the high performance acro types. Everyone knows as far as her flying goes it is at the highest level. And I'll bet she is smart enough that this type of thing won't happen again whatever the trial outcome.

Dudley Henriques · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 3:13 pm

Bill Greenwood wrote:

Dudley, if I read your piece correctly you say you are disappointed in fans that pre judge Patty. I agree we should not prejudge. However it seems to me that is exactly what many are doing. You have decided she is innocent , not because of the facts, but because you know her and believe what she said to you. That's not evidence. Others may believe what the security people or what the sheriff says. In the absence of any hard evidence like a blood test, it may come down to a question in court of only the word of people on both sides. That is why I wrote that I hope the judge is fair minded and balanced. She is presumed innocent until the prosecution proves beyond a reasonable doubt otherwise. Even if found guilty, of this or a lessor offense, a past clean record would call for a lighter treatment than a repeat offender who drove at high speed on a public road.

In the strict legal sense and cutting it to the bone I would agree with you completely.

Let me rephrase what I said to read as follows;

Based on what Patty has told me COMBINED with the fact that over the last fifty years of involvement with air show pilots I haven't known ONE single professional display pilot
who would allow themselves to drink excessively on site while working an air show,

"I BELIEVE" (rather than have decided) that Miss Wagstaff will be vindicated when all the facts are aired concerning this matter.

Perhaps this states my opinion a bit better. I totally agree with you that ANY prejudgment should be shelved until this situation is aired.

Gary Norville · **Joined:** Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:13 am **Posts:** 92

With as stupid as people get on this site you just have to see what is said next.

You have people that make stupid comments and post them:

"Boinking someone on the runway evidently isn't illegial
It's just.................well, a few other things" Jack Cook
and if it wasn't posted as being part of the subject then why post it?

You have people that are the so called "expert" on the whole situation.

There are two or three people that have posted the most on this stupid subject, probably from their parents basement or getting paid at work to sit at their desk and throw someone under the bus for being human, or maybe that's the only life they will have in Warbirds

This subject is no different than some of the stupid crap that comes up about aircraft and their past. Who cares what it is and were it came from, it's spreading history and knowledge to people that aren't directly involved with Warbirds.

Two or three of you need to get a F-ing life.

I agree with Brad and a couple of others, mind your own business.

And if you feel this was directed to you, it probably was.

flygirl77 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 3:51 pm

You are all correct. The only people who truly know what happened are the people in the car, the security that stopped her and the officers that arrested her and took her to jail. I think the lesson to learn is that one night of bad decisions can ruin the rest of your life. We are all humans and make mistakes. Patty’s poor decisions that night can possibly cost her career.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:09 pm

Gary,
The only reason I have posted in this at all is that the EAA security people are being put under the gun. I have met several of them, and the ones I met were all great people. To come off on here and say that they were just looking to make a scene is a little crazy. I am not saying that Patty should be stoned out front of town hall either. People make mistakes. It is easy to talk tough until you are placed in that situation. I had someone very close to me killed in a DUI accident. Guess what it sucks. There person that killed her, his first DUI ever. I hated that man for a long time. But think of this. Did you ever make a mistake? Did you ever drive home from a party that you shouldn't have? Come on guys honestly. I am man enough to say, that yes I have. Have I ever driven down a runway? No But she made a mistake. I don't want to see anything more happen to her career in a bad light. She is human. My only problem with the thread is bashing some people that I know, and spent time with in the name to cover up a mistake.

richkolasa · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:43 pm

flygirl77 wrote:

You are all correct. The only people who truly know what happened are the people in the car, the security that stopped her and the officers that arrested her and took her to jail. I think the lesson to learn is that one night of bad decisions can ruin the rest of your life. We are all humans and make mistakes. Patty’s poor decisions that night can possibly cost her career.

More ridiculous and irresponsible speculation. Give me a break, Ms. "two-posts". Were you there? NO, correct? Then stop posting ridiculous speculation about other people's careers!

A better lesson might be "GET A FREAKING LIFE so you don't have to go on the internet and post factless blather about professionals". Just a thought.

Some of you nimrods should apply for a job with Mike Nifong's office. Oops, he don't have one any more. How'd that happen?!!
Rich

richkolasa · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:50 pm

flygirl77 wrote:

You can not make a mistake like that unless you had a lot to drink at the open bar during an event. I also heard that she resisted arrest and hit the sheriff deputy, (of course that is rumor), but I do not think she would have been arrested and needed to be bailed out the next morning for just drunk driving.

When this is ejudacated, I'd personally like to see you sued for slander, just because you're a individual of questionable judgement (that's not what I wrote, mine rhymes with goron).

Rich

bipe215 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:14 pm

richkolasa wrote:

flygirl77 wrote:

You can not make a mistake like that unless you had a lot to drink at the open bar during an event. I also heard that she resisted arrest and hit the sheriff deputy, (of course that is rumor), but I do not think she would have been arrested and needed to be bailed out the next morning for just drunk driving.

When this is ejudacated, I'd personally like to see you sued for slander, just because you're a individual of questionable judgement (that's not what I wrote, mine rhymes with goron).

Rich

Hey Rich,

Kind of reminds me when you said this on Page 6:

Seeing as about 75% of cops in NJ are fat-assed pricks, that doesn't surprise me.

Rich

You're doing your share of slandering too. Take a breath and calm down.

Steve G

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