Fake Snakes: Protecting Your Airplane from the Public

Synthetic serpents on the wings make just the right statement for a vintage airplane pilot.

Monday, August 21, 2023 at 05:19 PM ET

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Ron Johnson from Rockford, Illinois, has a particularly clever means of protecting his 1941 Ryan PT-22—he puts realistic-looking toy snakes on the wings. The message is clear: Don’t tread on me. [Courtesy Dave Lefavour]

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft owner Ron Johnson effectively protects his 1941 Ryan PT-22 at air shows by placing realistic toy snakes on its wings to deter the public from touching or climbing on it.
The article highlights the issue of "John Q. Public" disregarding "Do Not Touch" signs on display aircraft, leading owners like Johnson to employ creative deterrents over confrontation.
Johnson's PT-22 is a restored primary trainer known for its challenging flight characteristics, serving as a significant historical artifact and a memory trigger for many aviators.
Beyond protecting display aircraft, toy snakes are also suggested as a method to deter birds from aircraft, though they can unexpectedly startle people.

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One of the first lessons we learn as children is “if it isn’t yours, don’t touch it.” However, there are many people who seem to forget this when they see a really cool airplane. Despite “Do Not Touch” signs hanging on the propeller, there are some folks who touch, lean on, and even climb on or into aircraft that don’t belong to them.

Ron Johnson from Rockford, Illinois, has a particularly clever means of protecting his 1941 Ryan PT-22—he puts realistic-looking toy snakes on the wings. The message is clear: Don’t tread on me.