Stupid Criminals: You Might Say He Got Popped

Ne'er do well Quinton Marquise Allen from Detroit decided to rob a bank in Saginaw, and take a hostage while doing so.

The Michigan State Police then sent a drone over with a bottle of Faygo Red Pop.

When Quinton decided to Pop Up to get at the refreshing beverage, the MSP sniper Popped Off, and the hostage situation was fully and finally resolved, as was Quinton.

FOX10 News: Police used Faygo soda to lure suspect from bank before shooting him during hostage standoff

Faygo gets a couple new advertising slogans from this one:

"Faygo: The pop of choice of the MSP!"

and

"Faygo: Pop so good, you'd die for it." 

Flying - Memorial Day Flight To Saginaw

I had panned to fly with Leah to Jackson today, but Leah wanted to see some water on this flight. So off to Saginaw Bay we went. The weather promised nice solid VFR and high clouds that wouldn't be in the way and only moderate winds.

A solid preflight, a good start and we were off from Runway 9L, heading north.

Soon we were 20 miles away form Saginaw's TRSA so we gave them a call, stated out intentions to tour the bay and then land at Saginaw and we got a transponder code and then could fly around the area with no problems.

We flew over Bay City airport on the way:

We soon reached Bay City itself.

Yes, that's the USS Edson below.

A fitting flyover for Memorial Day.

Then up the river to Saginaw Bay itself. You can see from above very clearly where the swollen and muddy river empties out into the blue of the bay:

Then we flew out into the Bay, and over the rather large and impressive Shelter and Channel Island.

After that we headed to Saginaw, landing on Runway 14 after being directed into a left base entry, with a bit of crosswind as the very large Runway 5/23 is out of service for maintenance until August, but the 6,000 feet of Runway 14 more than sufficed.

Then we took off and headed back to Pontiac.

On the way back I was flying so smoothly my passenger actually fell asleep for awhile.

Getting flight following all the way through Flint's Class C airspace. I was instructed to maintain 4,500 feet throughout their airspace and that's what I did. Radar services were terminated once I was 12 miles from Pontiac so I contacted them, was told to ident and setup for and report a left base entry for 9L.

Then to Pontiac, landing on 9L with a 13 knot crosswind, but no issues and it was a very sweet landing, with compliments from my passenger.

After that we taxi'd back to the hangar, refueled the plane for the next pilot who was coming at 2 for a flight and then we had a picnic lunch at the airport, watching planes land and takeoff.

These planes included N73455, the first plane I ever flew solo:

And N8428S, The plane I now fly solo and own a share in:

That's 1.8, 2 landings, and some more great memories in the books.

Flying - A Great Hop To Saginaw Bay

Today the weather was, yet again, perfect.

How could I resist hopping in a plane under such perfect conditions?

I was even able to get a 3-hour block, rather than a 2, which was enough for the plan I had in mind. After all everyone wants to go to a body of water in summer to hang out, don't they?

I decided to fly to Saginaw Bay.

I did the preflight on Warrior N7930F and had the fuel tanks filled up, as they were under the tabs from the prior user.

I then got my takeoff clearance with a turn to the north approved.

It was a beautiful day to fly.

Simply gorgeous out.

20 miles from Saginaw, I got their ATIS and contacted Saginaw approach and was given a squawk code.

I almost asked if I got the call sign "Magnum" to go with that squawk code.

Sightseeing was in order. Basically I was told to stay at or under 3,500 and let them know when I wanted to come in to land with them. Since I had never landed at Saginaw before I figured I should give it a go.

First the sightseeing.

Saginaw Bay

Bay City with Bay City Airport where I landed the last time I was up here.

A drawbridge, and oh, what's this beside it, well, it is what I came to sight-see.

The USS Edson.

Its always fun flying over the USS Edson, even if the air was rather bumpy, making it difficult to get good shots.

After flying around for a bit more I then contacted Saginaw Approach and said I was ready to come land at Saginaw. KMBS is a Class D with a TRSA, so the procedures are rather similar to landing at a Class C airport. Talk to Approach first, then get passed to Tower, and then get cleared by the Tower to land.

I was heading 230 degrees and I was cleared for a straight-in Approach to Runway 23. Easy-Peasy. Saginaw's Runway 23 is an 8,000 foot runway. This was going to be fun.

Talk about your long runway. I was at a full stop before the first taxiway with a ton and a half more runway in front of me.

It then taxi'd back to Runway 23 to takeoff and head back.

To depart from Saginaw, I was given a VFR clearance from the tower and after I took off I was passed off from the tower and told to contact approach, which I did. Heading Back I received flight following and was passed off to Flint, and then got to pass through Flint's airspace at 4,500, quickly having to descend to 3,500 due to an aircraft that was heading my way and not communicating with Flint. Bad form, that.

As always, Saginaw and Flint's controllers were professional, helpful, and pretty darn cheerful which was nice.

Then, contacting Pontiac, they had me angle in for a right base entry to Runway 27R, and then requested I keep the base in very tight for other traffic. I did a very tight base and practically a power off 90, and did a perfectly smooth landing. They thanked me for my help and sent me over to ground. Then, taxi back to DCT and put the plane away and another simply awesome flight was complete.

2.0 Hours and 2 great landings.

Dangerous Detroit Continues To Be Tops In Crime

Detroit scored at the very top of the FBI's crime stats to take first place as the most dangerous city with a population over 100,000.

While other large cities may be fudging their stats and affecting the rankings, this is still a sad accomplishment.

Detroit led in both murders with 45 per 100,000 residents, and led in violent crime.

Other Michigan cities to make the list were Flint and Saginaw both leading in the cities with populations over 50,000 category.

Detroit has a long, long ways to go before becoming a prosperous and livable city again.

Source: The Detroit News: Detroit led U.S. in murder, crime rates, FBI says