Unconventional Travel: Flying Across America (Part 8)
In the heart of Columbus, Ohio, Day 29 of an extraordinary hitchhiking adventure unfolded at the Wayfaring Buckeye Hostel, located on the Ohio State University campus. The hostel, equipped with multiple dorm rooms, two kitchens, and a hot tub in the back, provided a welcoming respite for the traveller.
The hitchhiker, with a cardboard sign reading "Flying East?" in hand, waited near the airport entrance, hoping to catch a ride on a plane heading towards the East Coast. His plan was to hitch a flight out from the Ohio State University Airport.
However, an employee explained that hitchhiking from an airport is not allowed due to it being private property and no one is likely to give a ride. Undeterred, the hitchhiker decided to try his luck elsewhere.
His perseverance paid off when he was approached by Mike, a pilot and co-owner of a single-engine Cessna 182. Mike, a friend of Rachelle, offered a ride, and the hitchhiker was soon soaring through the skies, accompanied by Mike and his friend Steve, bound for Morgantown, West Virginia.
Mike's plane is not just a means of transport; it's also used for rescuing dogs with Pilots N' Paws. The plane is co-owned by a few other pilots, reflecting the shared passion for aviation and helping animals in need.
The hitchhiker's adventure is not a new concept. Since the 1960s, hitchhiking on small private planes has been documented, albeit not as a common or recognised practice. General aviation airports, primarily serving private pilots and small aircraft owners, tend to be controlled environments with strict safety and legal considerations, making spontaneous or informal hitchhiking highly unusual and likely discouraged.
Mark, an aviation mechanic and pilot, has a history of offering rides to hitchhikers. He has flown hitchhikers around before, including one instance where he picked someone up in his truck and flew them to Georgia.
Despite the unconventional nature of his journey, the hitchhiker found solace in the hostel's hot tub, sharing stories and beers with travelers from around the world. His adventure continues, a testament to the spirit of exploration and the unexpected connections that can be made along the way.
[1] It's important to note that there is no readily available data or documentation indicating that hitchhiking on small private planes at general aviation airports is a common or recognised practice. General aviation airports primarily serve private pilots and small aircraft owners, and while private aviation is a form of private transport, it tends to be controlled and regulated by the aircraft owners or operators rather than open to casual passengers or hitchhikers.
The hitchhiker, now in Morgantown, West Virginia, found himself embracing a new appreciation for adventure-travel, as his journey unfolded in a small private plane. In the spirit of his unusual lifestyle, he cherished every story and connection made during his travels, each one as unpredictable as the next.
Despite anecdotal accounts of hitchhiking on small private planes since the 1960s, there remains a dearth of structured data or recognition of this practice at general aviation airports. These airports predominantly cater to private pilots and aircraft owners, establishing controlled environments where spontaneous hitchhiking is unusual and rarely sanctioned.
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