by wifesaysno » Sat Apr 21, 2012 1:30 pm
I believe Sky King was based on a real pilot's exploits. I cannot remember his name, it was in an EAA Sport Aviation Magazine article a month ago. The 'sheriff' the Sky King character was modeled after flew an all-white Piper J-3 Cub around 29 Palms. One time he chased down a fleeing fugitive that was driving through the desert, buzzed the fugitive's car with his Cub, then landed right in front of him, and casually pulled out his revolver, got out of the Cub and arrested him on the spot! He would buzz around all the little homesteads in the desert at low level to check up on the citizens. If they need medical aid, food, water, etc. they would usually put a red piece of cloth on their clothes line to wave him down. He always carried emergency supplies to drop to people in need out in the desert.