Register

As FAA Investigates, Most Laugh Off Gyrocopter Stunt

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Mailman Doug Hughes landed a gyrocopter on the Capitol lawn as a protest to draw attention to campaign finance reform, having planned the stunt for over two years.
  • Authorities like the FAA are investigating the unauthorized flight, while an aviation association called it "unacceptable," but much of the public found the incident amusing.
  • The event highlighted security concerns regarding Washington D.C.'s protected airspace but, unlike previous breaches, the public's reaction focused more on the gyrocopter's quirky nature rather than negatively impacting general aviation.
See a mistake? Contact us.

With his harebrained landing of a gyrocopter on the Capitol lawn to hand deliver hundreds of protest letters to Congress, mailman Doug Hughes has put a new twist on the expression “going postal.”

The FAA says it’s launching a full-scale investigation of the unauthorized flight. AOPA quickly labeled the stunt “unacceptable.” Most everybody else, meanwhile, seems to be laughing off Hughes’ impromptu arrival on the Washington, D.C. Mall in his self-described “flying bicycle.”

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE