bignos Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Hi, i was on a leisurely out and back flight the other night, i played with a balloon, then started heading back, on the return leg i noticed a crop circle and descended to look at it (i was at about 900 ft and descended to 500) whilst photographing the crop circle i saw someone in a nearby house pointing a gun at me, needless to say, i left the area pretty damn fast. i am in a dilemma, should i report it to the police and bring attention to paramotoring, which has the possibility of bad press or just let it go?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_b Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 I would report it. but that is just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommcb6016 Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Yes this need's to be reported to the police. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignos Posted June 27, 2010 Author Share Posted June 27, 2010 im guessing that he was a pissed off farmer that either thought that i had created it or that i was bringing attention to it, either way its no excuse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobra Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 agree report it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel_d. Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 That might have been near where I fly, where was it? Oh and yes I would report it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druffuk Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Definately report this!! He must have a licence for his gun and no matter how you choose to look at it he is abusing this, it should be reported. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poz Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 If you do report it, you can be sure that the police will take it very seriously. They are under a lot of pressure to take anything gun related seriously. However, you will probably find it was a teenager with an air rifle/pistol. In a previous life I used to be in the cops and confiscated more air weapons from teenagers than I care to remember. Normally they were brought to my attention by people who had had them pointed at them. I find it very unlikely it will be a farmer with a shotgun, unless he's completely stupid....but you never know. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantheman Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 i saw someone in a nearby house pointing a gun at me, I'm with Poz on this - also how close were you to the house, was he IN the house ?, and how could you tell he was pointing at you ? there is a flip side of this i.e. someone was innocently plinking at tin cans in their garden and did not know you were even there ? If it's a farmer waving a shotty at you then it's a different ball game he needs locking up especially after the recent incident in the news ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer_Dave Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Shotgun's only good to kill rabbits at little more than a hundred feet range. Stay 500 and above...you'll be fine 243 rifle is a different matter but a firearms license holder wouldn't point it skyward. The bullet would travel 6 miles and he'll be keen to get it in the ground if not a deer No wish to sympathise with nutters but how high were you and how good is your eyesight ? Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammertime Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Personally, I would let this go. I have been out shooting numerous times at the back of my house and aircraft have flown over but it doesn't mean I want to have a pop at them. If you report this, the chap can simply say he was out shooting vermin. He was probably enjoying his hobby of shooting as you were enjoying yours of flying. And from 500ft I wouldn't think it was possible to say if a gun was pointing at you or not. However, if you are adamant it was pointing directly at you, then you will decide what is best. I am a farmer, gun holder and paramotorist, so I can understand all angles of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon_dunn Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 On a flight 2 years ago i had some fireworks directed at me whilst making an approach to land... I immediately started to climb fast again and circled over the area to see if i could ascertain where they were launched from- but was unable to make a positive ID... I decided not to report this, as it may have only given more people the idea to launch fireworks... Would be a very serious issue though if they did make contact with the wing- luckily they exploded beneath me. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyraider Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 ...not everyone has bino's and the scope gave him a better look? It was explained to me this way from a buddy who wanted to see more. If there are no bullets in it then it is just an eyepiece. Cheers, Marko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignos Posted June 28, 2010 Author Share Posted June 28, 2010 it was definitely an irate adult and he definitely pointed the gun at me and gestured for me to leave - as i say, i think because of the crop circle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantheman Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 With that in mind, and if you were just flying over fields following the 500ft rule then I'd be tempted to report him, you can't just threaten people like that with a firearm, however it's your call as you would have to make the report etc etc, maybe drop local plod an email with a map showing the location of the house where he lived and a description of the events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poz Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 it was definitely an irate adult and he definitely pointed the gun at me and gestured for me to leave Bignos, if it really occurred exactly how you described it above, ie irate adult, gesturing you to leave, then we shouldn't even be debating this matter, you should have reported the incident to the police and the CAA immediately on landing. The reason? Well apart from the obvious, who will he point his gun at next, someone else who, in his distorted opinion, deserves to have a gun pointed at him. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignos Posted June 28, 2010 Author Share Posted June 28, 2010 thanks all, good points! but will it not be my word against his, a lot of shit, then no result like it usually is with the boys in blue?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantheman Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Did you get any photos or did you vacate the area before you managed to snap anything, would be worth posting a google earth link with the field/houses so we can see where it is ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignos Posted June 28, 2010 Author Share Posted June 28, 2010 (edited) Here is a shot from about 800ft (on approach), he was stood next to the grey barn on the left next to the black 4x4 outside the barn (hiding behind the tree below and to the left of the barn). Google earth co-ordinates 52*15'33.69"N 1*26'53.65"W Edited June 28, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 First firearm rule!!!! NEVER point a weapon at someone, not even in jest. Mistakes happen. I saw a guy loose the bottom of his left leg when his best mate shot him with an SA80. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 I think I'd report it given the same situation. As an aside, a very good crop circle Cheers, Alan _____________________ Dudek ReActionTST 29 Fresh Breeze Airboss (Solo) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poz Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 As an aside, a very good crop circle So, gun incident aside.....what's the script with these crop circles? Who's making them, and how do they do it so quietly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignos Posted June 28, 2010 Author Share Posted June 28, 2010 lets face it, its aliens not dug and dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helimed01 Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 thanks all, good points! but will it not be my word against his, a lot of shit, then no result like it usually is with the boys in blue?? I agree with you, I doubt the police would take it seriously once he denied his action. However why not visit him, be polite and friendly, explain why you flew over and show him the phot. At the moment he thinks a PPG pilot has vandalised his crop which would make me angry. Your positive action to approach him will I am sure persuade him that it wasn't you. He may be friendly and appologetic, who knows may be the location of the next fly in. Its good to talk. If he is arsey then approach police, the fact that you have tried to clarify and resolve the initial incident with the rifle will add quality to your story with the police. Thats what I would do. Whitters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukebanks1 Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 This is ridiculous! REPORT HIM! Do you want this to become an accepted practice amongst farmers. And yes accidents happen where guns are involved - seen the carnage with my own eyes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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