What a character.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/garden/in-a-remote-part-of-utah-life-alone-in-a-hangar.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all%3Fsrc%3Dtp&smid=fb-share

Gump

GumpAir wrote:What a character.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/garden/in-a-remote-part-of-utah-life-alone-in-a-hangar.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all%3Fsrc%3Dtp&smid=fb-share

Gump

Good story. I've got an IVO prop on my plane. I had a few questions about the prop in the beginning, and he answered all the emails himself, very promptly.

tom

GumpAir wrote:What a character.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/garden/in-a-remote-part-of-utah-life-alone-in-a-hangar.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all%3Fsrc%3Dtp&smid=fb-share

Gump

Great Find Gump. Ive got to fly to TWF in the next few days and I'm going to get some aerial photos of his place.... hopefully I don't get shot

When we see out son in Morgan County, UT we fill up in Wells and head north to go arround restricted areas and fly right over Lucin. Looks bleak.

Tim

It can't be too bleak. I paid $400 on eBay for five acres right by his place. Haven't seen it yet but the pictures showed an oasis.

41.225167, -113.6215

Gump

He flys into KOGD all the time. He has a 172 that is painted in flat camo.... pretty interesting guy for sure.

I flew over his compound last year, on the way to Wendover, without knowing what I was looking at or that he lived there. It didn't look real homey....I remember thinking it (the big hangar) must have something to do with the FAA nav aid installation nearby.

At the tail end of the newspaper article, they reference the crazy guy who was living in a buried car and shooting at people........ I believe I had a run in with him, and posted about here. I'll recount it again, one of the scariest flying things to happen to me ever.

I had landed near a pile of junk farm equipment, and I mean junk no way usable/workable equipment, it was all settling into the ground! I consider myself an expert at landing in weird spots without anyone knowing or seeing, thus caring, and this place had NO signs of habitation. No recent tracks on the overgrown road leading up to it, not even a broken down shack. I had a raging need, due to too much bad convinence store coffee and some questionable Mexican food the night before, to land ASAP and lighten my load, if you catch my drift.

I landed and rolled out right at the end of the junk pile, jumped out and immediately started to drop trou, I got as far as loosening my belt when something caught my eye off to the side: I caught a fleeting glimpse of a typical crazy looking loon, right out of Hollywood central casting. Wild matted hair, big bushy beard and insane eyes, and no, I wasn't catching my reflection in my cabin mirror, used to keep an eye on passengers He was about 90' away and my first impulse was to start to hollar out "How ya doing, hope it's OK I landed here", and otherwise smooth over with some story why I dropped in. I got out a couple words and then realized that the brief glimpse I had of him he was ducking back down into whatever hole in the ground he'd popped out of, and then I got a REAL bad feeling!

In an instant I put it all together: he knew I was there, he knew I knew he was there, no one else was within miles, and no one knew where I was. Not moving or thinking so fast since I had a very close encounter with a black bear at Lower Loon Creek a few years back, I jumped back in the plane (I was still within 2 feet of it) fired it up, and without putting on my headset, shoulder harness and all the usual screwing around, kicked it around and cobbed the throttle. The problem was I had blown up a huge cloud of dust but knowing the way was clear I didn't back off, I remember thinking if I saw this guy coming at me or otherwise in the way, I wasn't going to stop I kept having a very bad spooky feeling, like get the hell out of here NOW! I went so far as to once off the ground, I kept it low and started jinking around and otherwise taking evasive action, once a mile or so away I had the thought to fly back over and take a calm looksee. But, I was still getting that bad feeling so just continued the hell out of there, noting the fact that for miles more all around, as previously, there was NO sign of ANY habitation whatsoever, whoever this guy was he sure in hell wasn't expecting visitors at 8 in the AM on a Sunday, much less arriving by air.

After getting home, I actually considered contacting the Sheriff office, but after more thinking about it I just let it slide. Until reading that news article on Ivo and the mention of the recluse shooter at the end, I mostly forgot about it. I have no doubt it was the same guy..... and I did real good getting out when and how I did! I remember I did check the plane for bullet holes once home, that's how strong of a feeling I had things wern't right.

I always imagined myself living that sort of life when I was younger, but I'm really not suited for the isolation. I admire his resolve though. It's probably a good idea to have a girlfriend 240 miles away....it discourages them from taking on airs. Still, letting her keep a gun there probably has opened the door to invasion.

Interesting guy, neat article. I heard about him when I landed in Brigham City in the Stearman. Continuing west I found his strip and buzzed it a few times but didn't see any signs of life. Would have been neat to land and say hi and hear more of his story.

A few years ago I went to Ivo's place along with Blackrock and 3 other friends from Elko. He was working on an electric governor for one of my friends plane. Ivo is a really interesting guy. he was working on the ultralight in the picture. 8 engines that change angles for vertical takeoff. This thing is wired.... (like an F-16). computers, remote control and stabilization gyros. Don't know if he got it to fly or not but it looked cool. He is all set up to invent and tinker in his hangar/house. not a bad set up.

Extremely intelligent guy with a great story.


When we left there we took off in formation on his wide runway with all 5 planes. kind of exciting. I had a picture of it but can't find it. Maybe Blackrock has on he can post.

When we left there we took off in formation on his wide runway with all 5 planes. kind of exciting. I had a picture of it but can't find it. Maybe Blackrock has on he can post.

Hmm... I can't find the 5-plane formation takeoff picture either so I guess these will have to do:






I think Ivo sent the take off photo so he may still have it.

I don't find it that weird that he would live way out there, in a big hangar.

I do find it very odd that it appears to not have ANY windows.....that correct? That says something, but I'm not sure what?

SE6601KF wrote: Don't know if he got it to fly or not but it looked cool.

I think its a giant R/C plane...... no pilot

I always imagined myself living that sort of life when I was younger,.......

The guy living in the car hulk?
Oh, I see, Ivo....

For a moment I was 'all ears'......

lc

Littlecub wrote:

I always imagined myself living that sort of life when I was younger,.......

The guy living in the car hulk?
Oh, I see, Ivo....

For a moment I was 'all ears'......

lc

I already got the car picked out.

EB

Blackrock, what kind of airplane are the guys all gathered around the front of in your 3rd photo down-- Bearhawk? Resolution goes to hell when I zoom in for the tail number so I can google it.

hotrod150 wrote:

...what kind of airplane are the guys all gathered around the front of in your 3rd photo down-- Bearhawk?

Yes, it is a Bearhawk that belongs to a friend of ours in Elko. It started out with a Range Rover motor and now has an LS1 swinging a 3-blade in-flight adjustable Ivo prop. There are 3 flying Bearhawks in Elko (only one is an auto conversion) and 2 kits are under construction. Another fellow is getting close to buying yet another kit. So if anyone is interested in looking at Bearhawks Elko is a good place to visit...