Latest news with #Butch
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Losing an old friend': Retired fighter pilot selling replica of P-40 Warhawk
INDUS – Wayne Foster spent much of his life chasing the horizon as a fighter pilot, but he could be facing his toughest battle yet: parting with the warbird he built by hand. At 88, Foster is selling one of his planes: a smaller-scale replica of a P-40 Warhawk with the Royal Air Force's 1940 Desert colours of the 112 Squadron. The asking price is $45,000. 'It's like losing an old friend,' he said, sitting in front of the plane stored inside a Quonset hut in Indus, Alta., a hamlet southeast of Calgary. Foster, who joined the Canadian Forces in 1956, served in the navy, spent three years in France and worked at an electronic warfare unit in Montreal for another four years. It was in the navy that he earned his nickname, Butch. 'I got the name Butch from Butcher, from dogfighting, I guess,' Foster said in an interview. 'We had a couple of guys in the squadron whose name was Wayne. I got Butch and my wingman got Chopper.' During his time, he said, they did a lot of dogfighting in Europe. Dogfighting is a series of tactical manoeuvres used in close-range aerial combat. 'I learned how to dogfight fairly well … by trial and error,' he said. 'Thankfully, I could do a lot of errors when no one was shooting at me.' He also had a tour in Puerto Rico. He was transferred to the United States Air Force for three years, where he trained pilots on the art of dogfighting. 'That was a wonderful tour. I flew the T-38 Talon — it goes like hell,' he chuckled. He remembers briefly sharing the sky with Chuck Yeager, an American flying ace and record-setting test pilot who, in October 1947, became the first pilot in history confirmed to have exceeded the speed of sound. Foster said he tried to 'bounce' Yeager, an unexpected attack to initiate a dogfight. 'He was coming up from Spain in a 104 and I couldn't catch him,' Foster laughed. 'He was much faster than I was, but I got the opportunity to talk to him later on in Germany.' In selling his replica, Foster admits he never got to fly a real P-40 Warhawk. 'But I've flown the P-51s and it's very similar in some ways. It doesn't have a big honking engine on it, but fortunately, this one here doesn't have a big honking engine on it either,' he said. Mechanic Pieter Terblanche has been working on the Warhawk. 'It's in very good shape for the time it's been sitting,' he said. 'Everyone that buys a plane has their own idea on what needs to be done to the plane. It can be done pretty fast.' Foster's daughter Tracy said the plan was to have it placed in a museum, but there have been several people who expressed interest in buying it. Offers have been outlandish, she added. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'We've had a couple of crazy offers, like $500 and a case of beer, and I went nope. And then it was $5,000 and a case of beer,' she said. One person offered $200, she said, but it turned out he thought it was a model he could fly using a remote control. Her father has never spoken much about his time as a fighter pilot, she said. 'Now that he's getting a little older, he's opening up a little bit more as to what he experienced.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Losing an old friend': Retired fighter pilot selling replica of P-40 Warhawk
INDUS - Wayne Foster spent much of his life chasing the horizon as a fighter pilot, but he could be facing his toughest battle yet: parting with the warbird he built by hand. At 88, Foster is selling one of his planes: a smaller-scale replica of a P-40 Warhawk with the Royal Air Force's 1940 Desert colours of the 112 Squadron. The asking price is $45,000. 'It's like losing an old friend,' he said, sitting in front of the plane stored inside a Quonset hut in Indus, Alta., a hamlet southeast of Calgary. Foster, who joined the Canadian Forces in 1956, served in the navy, spent three years in France and worked at an electronic warfare unit in Montreal for another four years. It was in the navy that he earned his nickname, Butch. 'I got the name Butch from Butcher, from dogfighting, I guess,' Foster said in an interview. 'We had a couple of guys in the squadron whose name was Wayne. I got Butch and my wingman got Chopper.' During his time, he said, they did a lot of dogfighting in Europe. Dogfighting is a series of tactical manoeuvres used in close-range aerial combat. 'I learned how to dogfight fairly well ... by trial and error,' he said. 'Thankfully, I could do a lot of errors when no one was shooting at me.' He also had a tour in Puerto Rico. He was transferred to the United States Air Force for three years, where he trained pilots on the art of dogfighting. 'That was a wonderful tour. I flew the T-38 Talon — it goes like hell,' he chuckled. He remembers briefly sharing the sky with Chuck Yeager, an American flying ace and record-setting test pilot who, in October 1947, became the first pilot in history confirmed to have exceeded the speed of sound. Foster said he tried to 'bounce' Yeager, an unexpected attack to initiate a dogfight. 'He was coming up from Spain in a 104 and I couldn't catch him,' Foster laughed. 'He was much faster than I was, but I got the opportunity to talk to him later on in Germany.' In selling his replica, Foster admits he never got to fly a real P-40 Warhawk. 'But I've flown the P-51s and it's very similar in some ways. It doesn't have a big honking engine on it, but fortunately, this one here doesn't have a big honking engine on it either,' he said. Mechanic Pieter Terblanche has been working on the Warhawk. 'It's in very good shape for the time it's been sitting,' he said. 'Everyone that buys a plane has their own idea on what needs to be done to the plane. It can be done pretty fast.' Foster's daughter Tracy said the plan was to have it placed in a museum, but there have been several people who expressed interest in buying it. Offers have been outlandish, she added. 'We've had a couple of crazy offers, like $500 and a case of beer, and I went nope. And then it was $5,000 and a case of beer,' she said. One person offered $200, she said, but it turned out he thought it was a model he could fly using a remote control. Her father has never spoken much about his time as a fighter pilot, she said. 'Now that he's getting a little older, he's opening up a little bit more as to what he experienced.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Fox News
30-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Woman feared dogs, then began trekking all over the world with newly adopted pup
Once terrified of dogs, German adventurer Heike Pirngruber is now walking the globe with Butch, a flea-covered puppy she rescued in Mexico that's reportedly become one of the most well-traveled dogs on the planet. Together, the two have crossed continents by foot, canoe, motorbike and tuk tuk, news agency SWNS reported. Pirngruber, 53, adopted the Australian cattle puppy in 2021 while she was staying in a beach hut in Baja California, Mexico. Butch was just a month old, malnourished and alone when she found him. "I never really liked dogs when I was a kid," Pirngruber of Heidelberg, Germany, told SWNS. "But the first moment I had little Butch in my arms and knew he was mine now, I couldn't believe how I felt." Her fear of dogs came from years of solo travel — seven of them spent cycling around the world. She was often chased by aggressive strays, she said. But her perspective began to change after a chance encounter at the beach hut. She had cooked grilled chicken when a street dog, later named Max, appeared at her door, SWNS reported. Initially hesitant, she was convinced by a friend to feed him. The next day, Max returned with two companions, Brownie and Pushy. She began feeding them regularly and slowly shed her fear. Later, when a local tried to give away a litter of flea-ridden puppies, Pirngruber made a life-changing decision. She chose Butch and took him on the road. "Nothing was the same anymore," she said. "And I had no clue how this little puppy would change my life." She added, "He's my best friend. I love this guy to death and it's awesome. I've never regretted picking him up and taking him with me on my travels, especially as he wasn't treated very nicely." Having Butch by her side changed more than her travel routine, according to SWNS. "With Butch, I always have someone there. I am never alone. I have such a connection with him and I'm happy with him." A former camera operator for ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), Germany's biggest broadcast station, Pirngruber has been traveling full-time for more than 12 years. She has visited 104 countries across every inhabited continent. Originally, she'd planned to cross the Americas by donkey in 2020, she said, followed by a break in Baja California in 2021. "With Butch, I always have someone there. I am never alone. I have such a connection with him." But after adopting Butch, she scrapped that plan and chose other ways to continue their journey. Over the next three years, they explored the Americas together on foot, by canoe, motorcycle, and tuk tuk before flying to Madrid in April 2024, per SWNS. After a brief return home, just her third visit in 12 years, she quickly realized that life in Germany no longer felt like hers. She was pulled back to the road. "Now, I love my freedom, I love living day-by-day, I love not knowing where I am staying each night or where I can pitch my tent. It's such a thrill," she said. Since then, she and Butch have walked through Spain, Andorra, France and Italy, before sailing to Greece. As of Nov. 2024, they'd crossed five European countries. "I choose where we go, mainly day by day. There are times when we want to get away from civilization and be by ourselves, and then other times I'm sitting in a square trying to get some contact with others, either in person or through my phone." "I love living day-by-day. I love not knowing where I am staying each night or where I can pitch my tent." She added, "But I'm not a planner, and that's the fun in it. It's about experiencing new places. I love culture. I love to understand the planet." She carries only the essentials she needs, she told SWNS: camping gear, a stove and pot, a camera, first aid supplies, and medicine for Butch. "Less is more," she said. "Carrying less is more freedom. It's always a burden having more." Despite occasional challenges, Pirngruber said her experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. "Ninety-nine percent of people are nice, and overall, I've had some great encounters with people," she said. "It's a safe world to travel in, in general."
Western Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Sip N Sea in Saundersfoot is thriving since opening
Sip N Sea was opened in Saundersfoot on August 17, 2025, by Hugh Drynda. Hugh ran The Snug in the same village for two and a half years but stopped running the popular pub in January to focus on his new business venture. Hugh's mother, Micaela Scudamore said: 'Things are going really well. We are going from strength to strength. We have been well-supported by locals and non-locals alike. 'We cook everything homemade, and people absolutely love our breakfast. We have a great reputation, and we are one of the top cafes on Google for Pembrokeshire. We have also introduced live music, and we have Sky Sports. 'It's Hugh's pub but I help him out. Everything has been very positive. Hugh is purely focused on Sip N Sea now and we are doing everything we can for the business to become bigger and better. 'We are going to keep on doing what we're doing. Our reviews speak for themselves. We are here for the long run not the short run. We are looking forward to summer, but we are already really busy, and we will be here when things get even busier in the coming months.' Sip N Sea is a café/restaurant from 9am to 3pm and a bar from 3pm to 11pm. The business has 36 reviews on Google and an average rating of five stars out of five. A review from this month (May 2025) wrote: 'Thoroughly enjoyed the Mexican evening tonight. Fish tacos were superb (my favourite tonight) and the pulled beef nachos/tacos were also delicious. 'As always, a great atmosphere here and the friendly faces make all the difference. A lovely evening and so nice to have something different. Great value for money. Will certainly be back." Another review from the same month added: 'Called in for breakfast the other morning. A really well-presented café-bar with helpful, friendly staff. 'The breakfast and vegetarian breakfast were exceptional with my partner saying the vegetarian sausages were the best she had tasted. Loved the presentation and quality of the food. Definitely returning when we are in the area.' Meanwhile, a review from two months ago (March 2025) said: 'Hugh. Thank you & your wonderful staff for making our stay in Saundersfoot a special week. The food was great, music with 'Butch' was fantastic & the atmosphere was great. 'It was nice to be part of the sing along with the locals, who made us feel so welcome. Thank you for looking after us so well. We will be back. Shirley & Lofty.'
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rickie Fowler needed a good tune up for PGA. He's getting one at 2025 Truist Championship
Rickie Fowler needed a good tune up for PGA. He's getting one at 2025 Truist Championship FLOURTOWN, Pa. – Rickie Fowler needed a tune up. Good thing that his longtime coach Butch Harmon happened to be in Florida recently to look under the hood, and during Thursday's opening round of the Truist Championship, Fowler was firing on all cylinders. The 36-year-old Fowler birdied six of his first seven holes at Philadelphia Cricket Club's Wissahickon Course and closed with a birdie at the last to shoot 7-under 63, tied with Collin Morikawa and Sepp Straka, and two strokes off the lead held by Keith Mitchell. Fowler is coming off a disappointing season by his standards, especially after winning in 2023 and being selected for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. When asked to grade his 2024 season on the 'Son of a Butch' podcast, hosted by Butch's son, Claude Harmon III, Fowler didn't sugarcoat it: 'About an F,' he said. 'I didn't think you were going to say that,' Harmon III said. Fowler reconsidered: 'D-.' The first half of the 2025 season hasn't been much better. Fowler has recorded only two top-25 finishes this season in nine starts and ranks No. 121 in the FedEx Cup standings. He's slipped to No. 125 in the world and sits No. 64 in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings. The 2012 Truist Championship winner needed a sponsor exemption into this week's 72-man signature event as well as another one for the PGA Championship next week. But during a two-week break from the Tour, Fowler played in The Harmon, a four-man team event held at The Floridian. Playing as a plus-5 handicap, Fowler was the 'A player,' Butch, 81, as the 'D player,' and their team won. They played a practice round and a competitive round together in the competition and afterwards, Butch gave Fowler his stamp of approval. Fowler said he bent his irons a degree up before the tournament began because they were leaking right and his wedges were dialed in, setting up several short birdies, especially during the run of circles on the card from No. 4 through No. 7. Fowler shot 29, his fourth sub-30 for nine holes on Tour. He cooled off a bit on the back nine but his chip caromed off the flag at the par-5 15th and he rolled in the 6-foot birdie putt. His lone hiccup came at No. 17 when he failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker, missing a 12-foot par putt. But he bounced back with an 11-foot birdie at the closing hole and waved to the crowd. After rain earlier in the week, the course was receptive and minimal wind presented conditions for birdies galore. Mitchell, who is playing on a sponsor exemption too, birdied half the holes and shot a career-low 9-under 61. "This golf course is as classic as it gets, traditional. The weather was just absolutely perfect today. So it didn't really have much going to make it play harder," he said. "Being able to take advantage of it today with the weather was exactly what we were trying to do." Mitchell has been the king of the first round this season. The 33-year-old former Georgia Bulldog has shot 64 or better five times this season on Thursday. He's recorded four straight top-20 finishes, including a T-2 at the Corales Puntacana Championship. Mitchell, who ranked first in SG: Tee to Green, birdied four of his last five holes to cap an impressive bogey-free day. Denny McCarthy was sharp too, ripping off five birdies in a row to post 8-under 62. It didn't hurt that his putter was scalding-hot, topping the field in Strokes Gained: putting. In fact, his favorite shot of the day wasn't one of his nine birdies but rather the 22-foot par putt he canned at No. 16. As he waited to be interviewed after the round, a TV showed one of those putts falling in, bringing a smile to McCarthy's face. 'Cool. I always like watching myself make putts. It's good mojo, good osmosis, I guess,' he said. 'Yeah, it was a good day. Obviously I like watching myself do good things.' McCarthy also experienced good vibes at this old-school gem originally designed by A.W. Tillinghast (and later renovated by Keith Foster), who also built Baltimore Country Club, where McCarthy's brother, Ryan, is a member. 'A lot of holes out here remind me of BCC. I've played Baltimore Country Club a number of times, and I really like that place. So when I come here, I see a lot of similar visuals off the tee and how the greens are,' McCarthy explained. 'I played really freely, really committed, liked how my mindset was, and produced a good result.' How is Rory McIlroy doing at the 2025 Truist Championship? Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy, playing his first tournament as an individual since completing the career Grand Slam, averaged 335 yards off the tee and shot 4-under 66. McIlroy was asked to describe the feeling he was chasing at Augusta National and is seeking again. "I guess the best way to describe it is it's like a combination of trust, commitment, acceptance, and joy, all sort of mangled together," he said.
