This was just posted on Facebook:

Unbelievable! Some low life's, lower than rat shit scum slashed every tire on every airplane at Merrill Field gravel strip & all planes along north south runway. Carnage unbelievable! Even took wood wheel covers off planes & slashed them.

https://www.facebook.com/FlyboyAK/posts/1190676457641119

Sure hope they catch the bastards soon.

Couple hundred airplanes and a good amount of them with bushwheels. They even got the tail wheels.

The guillotine would be too humane for whoever did it. Sounds like a 24 hour guard would be cheap. where's the camera?

As an old timer i used to work with liked to say, "slit their bag and stick their leg through it."


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Unreal.

http://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorag ... ill-field/

A little coverage of the great folks at Airframes helping out:

http://www.ktva.com/owners-of-more-than-80-planes-have-tires-slashed-at-merrill-field-542/

Suddenly all the guys with worn out bushwheels are finding a way to "finish them off."

But seriously, class act by Airframes. This is simply an insane event. The perp will be lucky to be caught by police and be protected behind bars.

My money is on some environmental terrorist organization like PETA. Nothing else really makes sense to me.

If I was one of the affected aircraft owners I'd hire a lawyer and begin the process of a class action lawsuit against the airport and the municipality or corporation that owns it. It's not only the tire replacement costs but also lost revenue from business that can't be serviced, like hunters and fisherman coming in for the season, and deposits that will need to be refunded.

Barnstormer wrote:
If I was one of the affected aircraft owners I'd hire a lawyer and begin the process of a class action lawsuit against the airport and the municipality or corporation that owns it. It's not only the tire replacement costs but also lost revenue from business that can't be serviced, like hunters and fisherman coming in for the season, and deposits that will need to be refunded.

Ouch.

Barnstormer wrote:My money is on some environmental terrorist organization like PETA. Nothing else really makes sense to me.

If I was one of the affected aircraft owners I'd hire a lawyer and begin the process of a class action lawsuit against the airport and the municipality or corporation that owns it. It's not only the tire replacement costs but also lost revenue from business that can't be serviced, like hunters and fisherman coming in for the season, and deposits that will need to be refunded.

Wow, I mean WOW!
Is this what happens when Texas meets Alaska?
Those Texas values have no place in Alaska, so please check them at the door.

What do the LEO types on here have to say about the odds of finding the perp? Are the rewards we see offered "leading to the arrest and conviction" effective in situations like this?

Sure hope they make a very visible example out of who ever did this to deter repeats.

Barnstormer wrote:My money is on some environmental terrorist organization like PETA. Nothing else really makes sense to me.

If I was one of the affected aircraft owners I'd hire a lawyer and begin the process of a class action lawsuit against the airport and the municipality or corporation that owns it. It's not only the tire replacement costs but also lost revenue from business that can't be serviced, like hunters and fisherman coming in for the season, and deposits that will need to be refunded.

A class action lawsuit against the airport??? Because this is somehow their fault?
Sounds like a sure fire way for airports to start charing $50 a night fees to cover their lawyer costs or possibly just close their doors in fear of the liability.

Do me a favor and don't come to my field.

Class action lawsuit!? This is Alaska. Fix it and move on...

Barnstormer wrote:My money is on some environmental terrorist organization like PETA. Nothing else really makes sense to me.

If I was one of the affected aircraft owners I'd hire a lawyer and begin the process of a class action lawsuit against the airport and the municipality or corporation that owns it. It's not only the tire replacement costs but also lost revenue from business that can't be serviced, like hunters and fisherman coming in for the season, and deposits that will need to be refunded.

If anyone needs a explanation on why the cost of aviation in general can be so damn expensive, well there it is.
I hope they catch the ass that did this, better yet I hope a group of aircraft owners who just had there tires slashed, catch the ass hat that did this. Time to dig a new outhouse hole. The old one is now full.

blackrock wrote:What do the LEO types on here have to say about the odds of finding the perp? Are the rewards we see offered "leading to the arrest and conviction" effective in situations like this?

Sure hope they make a very visible example out of who ever did this to deter repeats.

Likelihood of finding them is low, unless a "buddy" gives them up. Then hard to prove in court. Frankly, I doubt the police will devote a lot of energy to this.....people getting shot frequently in ANC these days.

Really a sad day when this kind of crap happens. I've parked airplane's at some pretty unfriendly villages and never had issues......

MTV

mtv wrote:

blackrock wrote:What do the LEO types on here have to say about the odds of finding the perp? Are the rewards we see offered "leading to the arrest and conviction" effective in situations like this?

Sure hope they make a very visible example out of who ever did this to deter repeats.

Likelihood of finding them is low, unless a "buddy" gives them up. Then hard to prove in court. Frankly, I doubt the police will devote a lot of energy to this.....people getting shot frequently in ANC these days.

Really a sad day when this kind of crap happens. I've parked airplane's at some pretty unfriendly villages and never had issues......

MTV

Too bad the odds are low.

A permanent solution used back in the day... http://missoulian.com/uncategorized/nevada-s-last-lynching-full-of-american-folklore/article_5da33936-a35d-5b9e-928b-42d2a3823b87.html

I looked up the last in AK, but it wasn't nearly as simple or quick.

Very sad to say the least but the saddest part IMO will be the continued fencing and locked gates that are necessary to try and keep the criminals out but will also keep "us"out of some very cool places. I spent many years of my life on Merrill Field from working as a line boy in high school, to mechanicing as a young a&p and also learning to fly and getting my private pilots license. My wife literally grew up from an infant until having children of her own while working at her families FBO. What a cool and inviting place it was back in the day.

Even now half of the airport is locked off to the average person and I am certain all airplanes will be behind locked gates in the not too distant future.

Alaska in general and aviation specifically has drastically changed in my lifetime and I'm afraid this latest act of despicable vandalism will bring even more necessary evil changes. Can't see where any lawsuits won't just ad fuel to the fire.

Instead of suing and bitching......If anyone is in need, I've got a tired set of 8.50 x 6 and an 8" tail wheel tire free you pay shipping. In a box ready to go. I'd let a like new set of 26" goodyears go cheap to get someone going again, send me a PM. These are offered to Merrell feild victims.

SkyLarkin wrote:Very sad to say the least but the saddest part IMO will be the continued fencing and locked gates that are necessary to try and keep the criminals out but will also keep "us"out of some very cool places. I spent many years of my life on Merrill Field from working as a line boy in high school, to mechanicing as a young a&p and also learning to fly and getting my private pilots license. My wife literally grew up from an infant until having children of her own while working at her families FBO. What a cool and inviting place it was back in the day.

Even now half of the airport is locked off to the average person and I am certain all airplanes will be behind locked gates in the not too distant future.

Alaska in general and aviation specifically has drastically changed in my lifetime and I'm afraid this latest act of despicable vandalism will bring even more necessary evil changes. Can't see where any lawsuits won't just ad fuel to the fire.

Well said.

gbflyer wrote:

SkyLarkin wrote:Very sad to say the least but the saddest part IMO will be the continued fencing and locked gates that are necessary to try and keep the criminals out but will also keep "us"out of some very cool places. I spent many years of my life on Merrill Field from working as a line boy in high school, to mechanicing as a young a&p and also learning to fly and getting my private pilots license. My wife literally grew up from an infant until having children of her own while working at her families FBO. What a cool and inviting place it was back in the day.

Even now half of the airport is locked off to the average person and I am certain all airplanes will be behind locked gates in the not too distant future.

Alaska in general and aviation specifically has drastically changed in my lifetime and I'm afraid this latest act of despicable vandalism will bring even more necessary evil changes. Can't see where any lawsuits won't just ad fuel to the fire.

Well said.

I agree, well said. What Skylarkin said were my thoughts exactly.