>Having being denied an exit visa, Mr Zdarsky decided to take matters into his own hands and built his own plane; a hang glider with an engine from a car.
> On August 1984, he set off at 3am and made good his escape to Vienna where he requested political asylum.
That's one of the most impressive achievements I've ever heard in my life time. It's like I've just read RMS' portfolio again. That's a huge stunt, probably done on a budget, and it worked!
Another person did the same thing in East Germany a few years later, which is possibly even more impressive (as the security was likely much higher there):
I saw a documentary about it on TV last year, although I can't remember what channel, and nothing relevant seems to come up on youtube.
Fascinating people! It would be interesting to drop in on Ivo and have a chat with him, although it would probably be good to get PPR first so he doesn't try and shoot the plane down (and bush-tires might be a good idea, unless you know the runway condition).
yeah, those were some properly fed times back home. people were shot on the borders, electrocuted on wires, blown up by landmines and killed by border dogs. my father used to do hang gliders back then, and told me about the failed attempt to escape that had guy falling down, but down in half by opened garage doors (i think after some shooting aimed at him). Another ones trying to cross border river in winter by swimming, putting thick layer of fat on their bodies, and only 1 out of 2 making it on the other side.
this is how Russian mentality sees 'helping out' to their friends. anytime I hear anything seemingly nice from Putin (or anybody from east), these memories put things in perspective.
This reminds me of Peter Heller's "The Dog Stars". The setting is America after some type of virus destroys civilization. The protagonist has a Cessna and a dog and lives in a hangar. It's probably my favorite book that I read last year. I think about it all the time.
Any of the host of easily-transmissible diseases, but probably cholera, yes. "You have died of dysentery" didn't become the meme of Oregon Trail for nothing.
I live in Utah, and was just recently looking at land out there. I'm kind of sick of the struggle for some breathing room to do anything interesting here in Provo without having to ask permission from the city, and pay through the nose for real estate... I'm probably just bitter about my recent interactions with the mayor and zoning and the council, and whatnot...
I'd like to not have to care what my neighbors think about the things I'm doing.
When I lived in Utah, I owned some land. If you want cheap desert and sagebrush, Iron / Millard / Box Elder Counties are good options. For treed, remote, secluded parcels, check out Hamlin Valley if you have a sturdy 4x4. Cheap desert can be be had in lots of places, like Modena and Delta.
Your limiting factor will be procuring water rights.
It seems to paint a similar picture to the NY Times article, and appears to be a fair summary of him. The firearms are a part of his life, and I don't see the NY Times article making a big deal of it. The reporter perhaps just isn't used to someone carrying around assault weapons, so is naturally a little bit freaked out.
Overall, both the article and video are a fascinating glimpse into the life of a fascinating man who has very successfully created his own destiny.
>The reporter perhaps just isn't used to someone carrying around assault weapons, so is naturally a little bit freaked out.
This seems rather childish of the reporter. There are armed guards in the Charles de Gaulle airport with assault rifles and these guns are available and visible in common stores in most places around the US.
It's as sad as a reporter writing how afraid they were of being bombed at every air show they reported on.
I think you misunderstand. I admire the man and respect his right to own his weapons and defend himself while he's out there in the middle of nowhere on his own. I was simply pointing out that it's natural for someone to be slightly wary of a civilian with assault weapons.
I'm generally supportive of increased gun regulation but that wasn't even on my mind while reading this article. I just read it as an interesting look into the life of a guy living in solitude. I didn't really care what he was doing with his guns.
Also the footnote that there really was a crazy guy going around shooting at people validates his decision to build some fortifications. I thought the article was kind to him.
I'd say it's more along the lines of the NYT poking fun at the humorously urbanite reporter, completely shocked at the concept of living alone, being independent, and having lots of big scary guns.
> On August 1984, he set off at 3am and made good his escape to Vienna where he requested political asylum.
That's one of the most impressive achievements I've ever heard in my life time. It's like I've just read RMS' portfolio again. That's a huge stunt, probably done on a budget, and it worked!