B.C. pilot delivers pizzas by plane at Burning Man
A Vancouver Island man became a festival legend after he delivered a stack of pizzas to festivalgoers attending Burning Man in Nevada's Black Rock Desert this summer.
"I had some people say I 'won Burning Man' for this, if that's even possible," Brandon Baker told CTV News.
Anything is possible at the nine-day festival, known for its boundless creativity and giant mechanical art pieces in the middle of nowhere.
You often hear tales of dusty debauchery and drugs from festivalgoers, but that's not Baker's story.
"I was very clear on the, 'I won't be trying any substances while down there,'" he said.
Baker is an engineer and a pilot, and along with a clear head he packed his pilot's licence and log book for the trip.
About a week into the trip he met some other pilots and one of them had intriguing news.
"One guy even has a plane down here," Baker recalled.
After receiving a reference letter from the Victoria Flying Club, Baker busied himself treating Burners to a bird's eye view of the festival.
The Burning Man festival is pictured by plane. (Submitted)
"People love it because they get to see Burning Man from the air," he said.
But those aren't even the heroics he became known for.
PIZZA DELIVERY
You don't go to Burning Man to eat and there's very few options around. But Baker had a pie in the sky idea.
"Maybe we should order pizza and bring it back to Burning Man," he said.
The ultimate party pizza run included a 35-kilometre flight to the town of Lovelock, Nev.
"The airport code to the southern town is L-O-L," said Baker.
It was a laugh out loud response from the pizza joint, which normally doesn’t deliver to the airport.
"They said, 'I think we could make an exception for that,'" said Baker.
It was precious cargo, and like a mirage in the desert, Baker delivered.
It wasn't exactly pretty, though.
"It barley fit through the cargo door," he explained. "We had 10 pizzas stacked on top of a bike on top of a guy on crutches."
The pizzas arrive at Burning Man. (Submitted)
But never before was a slice of pepperoni so well earned. As for the taste?
"The truth is, I don't remember how the pizza tasted," Baker admitted.
But looking back now, it doesn't really matter. What mattered was the journey.
The pizzas arrive at Burning Man. (Submitted)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires at suspected Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
Iran fired air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
DEVELOPING Israel targets air defence system in Syria, state news agency says
Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defence unit in southern Syria, causing material damage, state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying Friday.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.