Date:         Fri, 25 Jun 1999 22:52:16 -0500
Reply-To:     Marshall Ruskin <mruskin@PANGEA.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marshall Ruskin <mruskin@PANGEA.CA>
Subject:      Poor Visibility in Fog (Friday)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi Volks:

I was in a helicopter as a passenger, the pilot was flying over the
Northwestern US.

Suddenly, we flew into a deep, thick fog. No way could we see a thing, and
the helicopter was not equipped for night flying!

We saw a small light in the distance, so without any better ideas, we flew
towards it.

As we got closer, we realized it was rectangular light, closer still when we
realized we were flying right towards the illuminated window of a large
office tower.

Hovering outside, and looking through the window, we could see a middle aged
man, lazily typing at a computer keyboard. Finally, he looked up, saw us
hovering there, and then went back to the keyboard.

We were astonished at this. My pilot got an idea, with a fingertip, he wrote
in the mist on the cockpit window: "Where am I?" and revved the engine to
attract the office person.

Finally, the guy looked up, and read the message. He got a large piece of
paper, and wrote something on it quickly, then held it up for us to read:

"In a helicopter"

Then he went back to his computer.

My pilot, read the message, swore a couple of times, then set the helicopter
down EXACTLY where he needed to.

I was completely amazed at this, so I said, "Gee Whiz, how did you know
where to land?"

The pilot said, "Well, judging by the help we received, I determinded that
we were at the Microsoft Tower."


Marshall Ruskin, MCSE, BScEE
84 Westy "Iron Igloo"
Founding Member of "Vanagon's Anonymous"