A man flying a replica of a plane used by the U.S. Army Air Corps and British Royal Air Force in World War II had to make an emergency landing on U.S. Route 17 in Polk County, Florida, earlier this week.
The single-engine Fairchild Model 24 landed on the highway at around 11:05 a.m. according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The man was headed to Bartow Executive Airport from Fort Myers, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office posted on X. No one on the ground was injured and the pilot was also OK.
Part-time commercial pilot Robert Mosier, 45, was hired to fly the plane ahead of an inspection and sale of the aircraft, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office told Tampa Bay Fox affiliate WTVT-TV. The engine lost power leading Mr. Mosier to make his emergency landing.
Mr. Mosier was then able to move the plane onto a grass median and out of the way of traffic, according to Tampa Bay CBS affiliate WTSP-TV.
The FAA is investigating his emergency landing.
The Fairchild Model 24 was used in World War II under the name UC-61 by the U.S. Army and as the Argus by the U.K’s Royal Air Force, according to the Planes of Fame Air Museum.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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