Pilot sees plane take off without him

A pilot watched in horror as his plane took off without him.

The airman, 70, saw it soar into the sky and do a loop before crashing, reports the Mirror.

The unnamed pilot had clung on to the wing to prevent it taking off at Barton Aerodrome, near Manchester, but lost his grip and fell off.

The drama began when the engine of the single-seater Luton LA4A cut out while the plane taxied.

The pilot left the cockpit to restart the motor manually but accidentally nudged the throttle lever open.

When he spun the propeller the engine roared into life and the plane surged down the runaway leaving the flyer stranded.

The plane was severely damaged but the pilot escaped with cuts and bruises.

An Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigation said the pilot did not realise he had knocked the throttle on because he was wearing padded clothing.

The plane is registered to Stephen Smith of Lancaster but he is not believed to have been the pilot.

A Barton Aerodrome spokesman declined to comment.

Erotic furniture on show

A Dutch carpenters' erotic furniture is to be exhibited at a top German art gallery.


Funny... I don't find this the least bit erotic, heehee! ;-) --The Wizard< Cabinet maker Mario Philippona designed a range of stylish wooden cupboards, wardrobes and tables using the female anatomy as his inspiration. His newest piece is a fruit bowl decorated with realistically shaped life-size wooden breasts called 'TittyFruity'. Other pieces include a wine-glass cupboard in the shape of a pair of large breasts, a table supported by legs moulded from a female model and a bedside drawer which opens by pressing a button in the piece's 'vagina'. Philippona said: "The shape of a woman, her organic architecture, combined with my passion for wood inspired me to sculpt these sexy designs." His furniture can be seen at Amadeus Art in the German capital for the month of December or bought online at http://www.sexyfurniture.nl

Boy gets his own postbox

An eight-year-old boy has got his own postbox because he loves sending letters.

Gareth Scott, who is autistic, now has his own postbox in his garden in Gatley, Greater Manchester.

His mum Denise wrote to Royal Mail to see if they'd supply a box. They couldn't but put her in touch with company Romec.

Company boss Paul Carr was so touched by Gareth story he sent a weighted fibreglass box and postman's hat to Gareth for free.

According to the Sun, Denise said: "He's over the moon."

*Ananova