6 ms·

In a Remote Part of Utah, Life Alone in a Hangar (2012)

133 points by cpncrunch 10y ago

michaelbuckbee 10y ago
There are more pictures (though it looks like the same article syndicated) at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123200/The-ultimate-man-cave-Stunning-aircraft-hangar-middle-Utah-desert-plane-designer-lives-plane--guns.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123200/The-ultimate...
- laktak 10y ago
  actually there is a link in the story: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/03/29/garden/20120329-UTAH.html http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/03/29/garden/20120329-...
bizentin 10y ago
Three year old article from NYT. No need to read: Quick find someone as far from our traditional "normal" background as possible and paint them as recklessly using firearms. Lets also talk down to him for wanting to defend himself against threats that would otherwise have no recourse to receive help aka police response time 3 hours. Trash article. No intellectual value. No furthering the debate on the pros and cons of firearm freedoms based on the current social and political climate. Just fear mongering and snubbing. Throw this is the trash and find something useful to read.
- wyager 10y ago
  I'd say it's more along the lines of the NYT poking fun at the humorously urbanite reporter, completely shocked at the concept of living alone, being independent, and having lots of big scary guns.
- gravypod 10y ago
  The way that paint it, it sound's like he is living the life! This is how I want to retire. This guy has it right.
  - cbanek 10y ago
    Agreed. I think this article actually portrays him in a great light - between helping the FAA and S&R, he seems like a model citizen. I hope to be that awesome someday.
    - enneff 10y ago
      Also the footnote that there really was a crazy guy going around shooting at people validates his decision to build some fortifications. I thought the article was kind to him.
- cpncrunch 10y ago
  Actually, I first heard about this guy through this vimeo video: https://vimeo.com/169747974 https://vimeo.com/169747974 It seems to paint a similar picture to the NY Times article, and appears to be a fair summary of him. The firearms are a part of his life, and I don't see the NY Times article making a big deal of it. The reporter perhaps just isn't used to someone carrying around assault weapons, so is naturally a little bit freaked out. Overall, both the article and video are a fascinating glimpse into the life of a fascinating man who has very successfully created his own destiny.
  - hueving 10y ago
    >The reporter perhaps just isn't used to someone carrying around assault weapons, so is naturally a little bit freaked out. This seems rather childish of the reporter. There are armed guards in the Charles de Gaulle airport with assault rifles and these guns are available and visible in common stores in most places around the US. It's as sad as a reporter writing how afraid they were of being bombed at every air show they reported on.
    - cpncrunch 10y ago
      Big difference between armed guards and a civilian.
      - jdminhbg 10y ago
        You mean whether they're prosecuted if they shoot someone?
        justin_vanw 10y ago
        Think about it, they are wearing uniforms. They are so official it must be ok.
      - vkou 10y ago
        Unless these armed guards are actively serving in an army, they are civilians.
- _nothing 10y ago
  I'm generally supportive of increased gun regulation but that wasn't even on my mind while reading this article. I just read it as an interesting look into the life of a guy living in solitude. I didn't really care what he was doing with his guns.
gravypod 10y ago
>Having being denied an exit visa, Mr Zdarsky decided to take matters into his own hands and built his own plane; a hang glider with an engine from a car. > On August 1984, he set off at 3am and made good his escape to Vienna where he requested political asylum. That's one of the most impressive achievements I've ever heard in my life time. It's like I've just read RMS' portfolio again. That's a huge stunt, probably done on a budget, and it worked!
- cpncrunch 10y ago
  Another person did the same thing in East Germany a few years later, which is possibly even more impressive (as the security was likely much higher there): http://articles.latimes.com/1989-05-29/news/mn-692_1_berlin-wall-west-berlin-allied-sources http://articles.latimes.com/1989-05-29/news/mn-692_1_berlin-... I saw a documentary about it on TV last year, although I can't remember what channel, and nothing relevant seems to come up on youtube. Fascinating people! It would be interesting to drop in on Ivo and have a chat with him, although it would probably be good to get PPR first so he doesn't try and shoot the plane down (and bush-tires might be a good idea, unless you know the runway condition).
- flohofwoe 10y ago
  Here's another story of a family escaping from Eastern Germany via a home-made hot air balloon: https://www.ballonflucht.de/html/englisch.html https://www.ballonflucht.de/html/englisch.html
  - peckrob 10y ago
    This was also made into a movie called Night Crossing [0]. It's available for streaming from a few places [1]. [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Crossing https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Crossing [1] http://www.canistream.it/search/movie/Night%20crossing http://www.canistream.it/search/movie/Night%20crossing
- saiya-jin 10y ago
  yeah, those were some properly fed times back home. people were shot on the borders, electrocuted on wires, blown up by landmines and killed by border dogs. my father used to do hang gliders back then, and told me about the failed attempt to escape that had guy falling down, but down in half by opened garage doors (i think after some shooting aimed at him). Another ones trying to cross border river in winter by swimming, putting thick layer of fat on their bodies, and only 1 out of 2 making it on the other side. this is how Russian mentality sees 'helping out' to their friends. anytime I hear anything seemingly nice from Putin (or anybody from east), these memories put things in perspective.
irrational 10y ago
I would think that he needs some insulation. Those thin metal walls can't do much to keep out the cold in the winter.
- gravypod 10y ago
  Being as far out as he is, he should just become a ham. Trust me, it gets rather.... "warm" working next to some of the larger repeaters. Don't warm your house! Warm you! But yea, he probably did install some insulation. It would bake you alive on a hot day if you sat in there with nothing.
- nsxwolf 10y ago
  I lived in a hangar for 3 months. It had a bedroom built into it. That small space was insulated and had an air conditioner/heater.
pontifier 10y ago
I live in Utah, and was just recently looking at land out there. I'm kind of sick of the struggle for some breathing room to do anything interesting here in Provo without having to ask permission from the city, and pay through the nose for real estate... I'm probably just bitter about my recent interactions with the mayor and zoning and the council, and whatnot... I'd like to not have to care what my neighbors think about the things I'm doing.
- fizgig 10y ago
  When I lived in Utah, I owned some land. If you want cheap desert and sagebrush, Iron / Millard / Box Elder Counties are good options. For treed, remote, secluded parcels, check out Hamlin Valley if you have a sturdy 4x4. Cheap desert can be be had in lots of places, like Modena and Delta. Your limiting factor will be procuring water rights.
elmar 10y ago
Vertical take off planes, looks like the "Holy Grail" off personal flight, everyone is after it.
pmlnr 10y ago
The title reminded me of Slick Henry from 'Mona Lisa Overdrive'.
criddell 10y ago
This reminds me of Peter Heller's "The Dog Stars". The setting is America after some type of virus destroys civilization. The protagonist has a Cessna and a dog and lives in a hangar. It's probably my favorite book that I read last year. I think about it all the time.
- teh_klev 10y ago
  Thanks for the recommendation, just ordered a copy.
percept 10y ago
"There is a shotgun if the badgers get too close."
conjectures 10y ago
I'm happy that there's still space for people like this in the world. I wouldn't want to live his life, but I'm glad he's living it.
chrissnell 10y ago
I've driven through Lucin a few times on my cross-country offroad adventures. Here are some pictures of the area if you're interested: https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9047700186/in/album-72157634923143210/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9047700186/in/album... https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9105660682/in/album-72157634923143210/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9105660682/in/album... https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9045451327/in/album-72157634923143210/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9045451327/in/album... This one is quite sad. A pioneer baby died on 2 March 1878 and his parents died the next day. Cholera? https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9047695750/in/album-72157634923143210/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9047695750/in/album...
- Piskvorrr 10y ago
  Any of the host of easily-transmissible diseases, but probably cholera, yes. "You have died of dysentery" didn't become the meme of Oregon Trail for nothing.
madengr 10y ago
I like this guy.
1024core 10y ago
If you want to get an overhead view: https://goo.gl/maps/i3qrnhjnhoo https://goo.gl/maps/i3qrnhjnhoo

133 points by cpncrunch 10y ago

There are more pictures (though it looks like the same article syndicated) at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123200/The-ultimate-man-cave-Stunning-aircraft-hangar-middle-Utah-desert-plane-designer-lives-plane--guns.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123200/The-ultimate...

laktak 10y ago
actually there is a link in the story: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/03/29/garden/20120329-UTAH.html http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/03/29/garden/20120329-...

bizentin 10y ago

Three year old article from NYT. No need to read: Quick find someone as far from our traditional "normal" background as possible and paint them as recklessly using firearms. Lets also talk down to him for wanting to defend himself against threats that would otherwise have no recourse to receive help aka police response time 3 hours. Trash article. No intellectual value. No furthering the debate on the pros and cons of firearm freedoms based on the current social and political climate. Just fear mongering and snubbing. Throw this is the trash and find something useful to read.

wyager 10y ago
I'd say it's more along the lines of the NYT poking fun at the humorously urbanite reporter, completely shocked at the concept of living alone, being independent, and having lots of big scary guns.
gravypod 10y ago
The way that paint it, it sound's like he is living the life! This is how I want to retire. This guy has it right.
- cbanek 10y ago
  Agreed. I think this article actually portrays him in a great light - between helping the FAA and S&R, he seems like a model citizen. I hope to be that awesome someday.
  - enneff 10y ago
    Also the footnote that there really was a crazy guy going around shooting at people validates his decision to build some fortifications. I thought the article was kind to him.
cpncrunch 10y ago
Actually, I first heard about this guy through this vimeo video: https://vimeo.com/169747974 https://vimeo.com/169747974 It seems to paint a similar picture to the NY Times article, and appears to be a fair summary of him. The firearms are a part of his life, and I don't see the NY Times article making a big deal of it. The reporter perhaps just isn't used to someone carrying around assault weapons, so is naturally a little bit freaked out. Overall, both the article and video are a fascinating glimpse into the life of a fascinating man who has very successfully created his own destiny.
- hueving 10y ago
  >The reporter perhaps just isn't used to someone carrying around assault weapons, so is naturally a little bit freaked out. This seems rather childish of the reporter. There are armed guards in the Charles de Gaulle airport with assault rifles and these guns are available and visible in common stores in most places around the US. It's as sad as a reporter writing how afraid they were of being bombed at every air show they reported on.
  - cpncrunch 10y ago
    Big difference between armed guards and a civilian.
    - jdminhbg 10y ago
      You mean whether they're prosecuted if they shoot someone?
      - justin_vanw 10y ago
        Think about it, they are wearing uniforms. They are so official it must be ok.
    - vkou 10y ago
      Unless these armed guards are actively serving in an army, they are civilians.
_nothing 10y ago
I'm generally supportive of increased gun regulation but that wasn't even on my mind while reading this article. I just read it as an interesting look into the life of a guy living in solitude. I didn't really care what he was doing with his guns.

gravypod 10y ago

>Having being denied an exit visa, Mr Zdarsky decided to take matters into his own hands and built his own plane; a hang glider with an engine from a car. > On August 1984, he set off at 3am and made good his escape to Vienna where he requested political asylum. That's one of the most impressive achievements I've ever heard in my life time. It's like I've just read RMS' portfolio again. That's a huge stunt, probably done on a budget, and it worked!

cpncrunch 10y ago
Another person did the same thing in East Germany a few years later, which is possibly even more impressive (as the security was likely much higher there): http://articles.latimes.com/1989-05-29/news/mn-692_1_berlin-wall-west-berlin-allied-sources http://articles.latimes.com/1989-05-29/news/mn-692_1_berlin-... I saw a documentary about it on TV last year, although I can't remember what channel, and nothing relevant seems to come up on youtube. Fascinating people! It would be interesting to drop in on Ivo and have a chat with him, although it would probably be good to get PPR first so he doesn't try and shoot the plane down (and bush-tires might be a good idea, unless you know the runway condition).
flohofwoe 10y ago
Here's another story of a family escaping from Eastern Germany via a home-made hot air balloon: https://www.ballonflucht.de/html/englisch.html https://www.ballonflucht.de/html/englisch.html
- peckrob 10y ago
  This was also made into a movie called Night Crossing [0]. It's available for streaming from a few places [1]. [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Crossing https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Crossing [1] http://www.canistream.it/search/movie/Night%20crossing http://www.canistream.it/search/movie/Night%20crossing
saiya-jin 10y ago
yeah, those were some properly fed times back home. people were shot on the borders, electrocuted on wires, blown up by landmines and killed by border dogs. my father used to do hang gliders back then, and told me about the failed attempt to escape that had guy falling down, but down in half by opened garage doors (i think after some shooting aimed at him). Another ones trying to cross border river in winter by swimming, putting thick layer of fat on their bodies, and only 1 out of 2 making it on the other side. this is how Russian mentality sees 'helping out' to their friends. anytime I hear anything seemingly nice from Putin (or anybody from east), these memories put things in perspective.

irrational 10y ago

I would think that he needs some insulation. Those thin metal walls can't do much to keep out the cold in the winter.

gravypod 10y ago
Being as far out as he is, he should just become a ham. Trust me, it gets rather.... "warm" working next to some of the larger repeaters. Don't warm your house! Warm you! But yea, he probably did install some insulation. It would bake you alive on a hot day if you sat in there with nothing.
nsxwolf 10y ago
I lived in a hangar for 3 months. It had a bedroom built into it. That small space was insulated and had an air conditioner/heater.

pontifier 10y ago

I live in Utah, and was just recently looking at land out there. I'm kind of sick of the struggle for some breathing room to do anything interesting here in Provo without having to ask permission from the city, and pay through the nose for real estate... I'm probably just bitter about my recent interactions with the mayor and zoning and the council, and whatnot... I'd like to not have to care what my neighbors think about the things I'm doing.

fizgig 10y ago
When I lived in Utah, I owned some land. If you want cheap desert and sagebrush, Iron / Millard / Box Elder Counties are good options. For treed, remote, secluded parcels, check out Hamlin Valley if you have a sturdy 4x4. Cheap desert can be be had in lots of places, like Modena and Delta. Your limiting factor will be procuring water rights.

elmar 10y ago

Vertical take off planes, looks like the "Holy Grail" off personal flight, everyone is after it.

pmlnr 10y ago

The title reminded me of Slick Henry from 'Mona Lisa Overdrive'.

criddell 10y ago

This reminds me of Peter Heller's "The Dog Stars". The setting is America after some type of virus destroys civilization. The protagonist has a Cessna and a dog and lives in a hangar. It's probably my favorite book that I read last year. I think about it all the time.

teh_klev 10y ago
Thanks for the recommendation, just ordered a copy.

percept 10y ago

"There is a shotgun if the badgers get too close."

conjectures 10y ago

I'm happy that there's still space for people like this in the world. I wouldn't want to live his life, but I'm glad he's living it.

chrissnell 10y ago

I've driven through Lucin a few times on my cross-country offroad adventures. Here are some pictures of the area if you're interested: https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9047700186/in/album-72157634923143210/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9047700186/in/album... https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9105660682/in/album-72157634923143210/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9105660682/in/album... https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9045451327/in/album-72157634923143210/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9045451327/in/album... This one is quite sad. A pioneer baby died on 2 March 1878 and his parents died the next day. Cholera? https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9047695750/in/album-72157634923143210/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/defender90/9047695750/in/album...

Piskvorrr 10y ago
Any of the host of easily-transmissible diseases, but probably cholera, yes. "You have died of dysentery" didn't become the meme of Oregon Trail for nothing.

madengr 10y ago

I like this guy.

1024core 10y ago

If you want to get an overhead view: https://goo.gl/maps/i3qrnhjnhoo https://goo.gl/maps/i3qrnhjnhoo