"I approached Red Square three times, trying to find somewhere to land, before discovering a wide bridge nearby. I landed there and taxied into Red Square"
- Mathias Rust
About this Quote
Mathias Rust was a German pilot who famously flew a small airplane from Finland to Moscow in 1987. In this quote, Rust is explaining his journey to Red Square, the renowned public square in Moscow. He tried to land in Red Square three times, however was unable to find a suitable location to land. After searching for a while, he found a wide bridge close-by and chose to land there rather. After landing, he taxied his aircraft into Red Square, where he was jailed by Soviet authorities. Rust's daring flight was seen as a significant embarrassment to the Soviet Union, and it triggered a good deal of debate. Rust's story is a pointer of the power of specific guts and decision, and it functions as an example of how a single person can make a difference.
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