En 1956, un veterano de la II Guerra Mundial llamado Thomas Fitzpatrick hizo totalmente impensable. Voló un avión de un solo motor a través de los rascacielos de la ciudad de Nueva York y aterrizó en el centro de Manhattan. Todo, al parecer, por ganar una apuesta hecha durante una borrachera. Dos años mas tarde lo volvió a repetir para convencer a un hombre que, en otra borrachera, no le creía tal hazaña.
El primer aterrizaje de Fitzpatrick en Manhattan
El 30 de septiembre de 1956, después de tomar unas copas en una taberna local en Washington Heights, en Manhattan, Thomas Fitzpatrick, un antiguo piloto de la II Guerra Mundial, condujo hasta una escuela de aviación. «Tomó prestado» uno de sus aviones monomotor y lo aterrizó de vuelta en las cercanías del bar donde había estado bebiendo unas horas antes.
Según la crónica, primero intentó aterrizar el avión en un parque aledaño, pero descubrió que estaba demasiado oscuro para ver, por lo que optó por la calle. Finalmente hizo un aterrizaje de precisión, borracho, alrededor de las 3 a.m. en St. Nicholas Avenue, cerca de la calle 191.
Cuando los vecinos despertaron, se sorprendieron al encontrar una avioneta estacionada en medio de la ciudad. El exitoso aterrizaje improvisado llegó a las portadas de los medios de comunicación locales como el New York Daily News y el Democrat.
A pesar del peligro que implicó tal evento, era difícil negar que había realizado con éxito un aterrizaje casi imposible, volando a través de una estrecha calle pública rodeada de rascacielos, automóviles y postes de luz. El New York Times cantó sus alabanzas, calificándolo de “una proeza de la aeronáutica”. De hecho, incluso la policía quedó impresionada, a pesar de que en sus declaraciones Fitzpatrick se había justificado falsamente con que había sido un aterrizaje de emergencia. Más tarde admitió en una entrevista que todo formaba parte de una apuesta.
El sargento Harold Behrens, de la oficina de aviación de la policía, comentó que las probabilidades de lograr un aterrizaje de esas características eran de 1 entre 100.000.

Fuente de la imagen: New York Times
La segunda vez, dos años más tarde
El 5 de octubre de 1958, solo dos años después de su primera acrobacia aérea, Thomas Fitzpatrick repitió su espectáculo. Esta vez un Cessna 120 monomotor en Amsterdam Ave, cerca de la calle 187.
Realizó su segundo truco aéreo solo porque un hombre desconocido de Connecticut no se creyó la historia del primero. Aunque el alcohol, de nuevo, jugó un papel importante en la anécdota.
Pero a diferencia de la primera vez, Fitzpatrick huyó de la escena tras el aterrizaje. Más tarde se entregó en la estación de policía de Wadsworth Ave alegando con descaro que «simplemente estaba en el vecindario» y escuchó que la policía lo estaba buscando. Para su mala suerte, en esta ocasión no contaba con un permiso de vuelo válido. No había renovado su licencia de piloto después de que se le suspendieran hacía 2 años.
Las consecuencias de los actos de Thomas Fitzpatrick
Después de su primer aterrizaje en Manhattan en 1956, Fitzpatrick fue acusado de hurto mayor y de violar los códigos administrativos de la ciudad. El propietario del avión se negó a presentar cargos por el robo, por lo que estos se retiraron y solo recibió una multa de 100 dólares.
En su segundo aterrizaje, Thomas no tuvo tanta suerte. Fue acusado de hurto mayor, operación peligrosa e imprudente de un avión, aterrizaje no autorizado en los límites de la ciudad y violación de las normas de la Administración de Aeronáutica Civil por volar sin una licencia válida. El juez lo condenó a seis meses de prisión y una multa de 25,000 dólares.
Dejando a un lado la criminalidad y a pesar del daño que pudo haber causado, las excelentes habilidades de Fitzpatrick siguen impresionando a pilotos de todo el mundo que escuchan la historia. Todavía hoy en día, más de 50 años después.
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