Capitol gyrocopter stunt is Florida mailman's

A Florida mailman landed a small gyrocopter on the lawn of the US Capitol on Wednesday, in an act of protest against the influence of money in politics.

Pilot Doug Hughes, 61, landed on the lawn without incident and was immediately taken into custody by police.

Hughes told the Tampa Bay Times what he was going to do before his illegal flight and landing. He said he had strapped 535 letters to the gyrocopter, intending to deliver them to every member of Congress and argue for campaign finance reform.

“I don’t believe the authorities will shoot down a 61-year-old mailman in a flying bicycle,” he told the paper before his flight.

Hughes, of Ruskin, Florida, said he planned to inform authorities “well over an hour in advance of getting to the no-fly zone, so they know who I am and what I’m doing”.