20 minutes of flight time against a 45-minute drive: that is the time-cost gap Dennis Pipping closed on Saturday evening when he flew his helicopter from Rosendale, Wisconsin to the Cabela's in Richfield, roughly 50 road miles away. The 69-year-old licensed pilot brought a neighbor along, called the store before departure, circled the parking lot to confirm clearance, and landed in a far, mostly empty section without incident. His stated purpose: bowhunting supplies.
The efficiency case
The flight trimmed 25 minutes each way compared to the surface route, cutting transit time by roughly 56% per leg. Pipping's own framing was direct: he answered a question about the decision with a question of his own, asking why anyone would drive if they could fly. He has decades of flying experience. The pre-departure steps he described (store call, parking lot survey from altitude) suggest the trip was procedural rather than impulsive.
The neighbor detail adds context. Pipping invited a friend for the ride, converting a solo errand into a two-passenger trip. The source does not indicate whether the neighbor had his own shopping list.
Regulatory outcome
A bystander spotted the landing and called Washington County sheriff's deputies to investigate. On arrival they found a properly licensed pilot who had complied with applicable Federal Aviation Administration regulations and put the aircraft down in a section of the lot clear of other vehicles. Pipping was not cited and not arrested. The Washington County Sheriff's Office characterized the incident publicly as a "unique way to make a shopping trip."
Post-landing review
Deputies waited at the aircraft while Pipping was inside the store. On his return, they reviewed his credentials and inspected the helicopter. His licensing was in order, FAA rules were satisfied, and the case closed without enforcement action. The broadheads went home with him.