On a recent trip through Africa, I got a highly unusual visitor getting into the Cessna 182 I was flying.
Maybe he’s shooting a movie
Got to be careful… it could be a SHE
Anyway, he or she is getting way more attention than I ever got
SNAKE ON A PLANE!!!
(Seriously, good you didn’t take off with it hidden under the carpet).
It looks like a green mamba to me. “The mortality rate of untreated bites is unknown but is thought to be quite high” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_green_mamba
They are shy and elusive
Just like AeroPlus then
Beautiful animal. Looks a bit distressed already. How did you remove it?
We had a snake take up residence on the front porch of the pilot shop in Prescott, Arizona. Fortunately there was a back door. Turned out not to be the expected rattler (on that occasion), but a harmless King snake.
As part of my safari guide education I had done a snake (removal) course, so I travel with a kit to remove snakes with me on safari tours in Africa, but so far had never used it. It is a green mamba and I removed it and released it again away from the aircraft/airfield. It is a beautiful animal indeed and not too distressed, so it was very easy to remove it.
Removal video:
Impressive!
Reminds me of the camel spider in an F16 story….
https://www.wired.com/2007/07/f-16s-dangerous/