Six forced landings aren't enough to keep Thamesville-area pilot Mac Mazurek on the ground.
The 66-year-old was forced to guide his custom-built Spitfire plane to a hard landing in a cornfield near the Chatham-Kent Municipal Airport earlier this month, but since then, has gone back up in a separate aircraft without any issues.
"I wasn't nervous, but I was perhaps a little more attentive to the engine sounds in this case," says Mazurek with a chuckle. "I have two other airplanes and I've flown them a lot -- it's almost like getting in your car and going for a drive."
At the moment, Mazurek is working to repair his Spitfire, but he can't help but reflect on the support he had immediately after the incident.
"I'd like to thank the first responders, the EMS, the fire crew, and the airport personnel for the outstanding job they did," says Mazurek, adding fellow members of the Kent Flying Machines also did what they could to help him out. "When I got home from the hospital, the plane arrived about 15 minutes later at my house -- I can't thank them enough."