A Wisconsin man who opted to fly his helicopter to a Cabela's store instead of driving cited the convenience of avoiding a lengthy car trip. Dennis Pipping, 69, landed his helicopter in a mostly empty section of the Cabela's parking lot in Richfield, Wisconsin, on a Saturday evening.
Pipping stated he had decades of flying experience and called the store in advance of his flight. He also circled the parking lot to ensure a safe landing area. The flight from his home in Rosendale to the store took approximately 20 minutes, significantly less than the roughly 45-minute drive.
After landing, Pipping entered the store to purchase bowhunting broadheads. Upon his return, a Washington County sheriff's deputy was present to investigate the unusual landing. Deputies determined that Pipping was properly licensed and had complied with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. He was not arrested or cited, with the incident being described by the sheriff's office as a "unique way to make a shopping trip."
This incident occurred against a backdrop of airspace awareness related to presidential travel. In a separate event, the Federal Aviation Administration was investigating an airspace incident involving President Donald Trump's Marine One helicopter and a commercial plane near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which reportedly caused a momentary loss of separation.