Real-life 'Catch Me If You Can' con artist honored at aviation event
Frank Abagnale Jr. will speak at the Cradle of Aviation Museum
© BrunoPress
CELEBRITY Catch me if you can
The Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks film 'Catch Me If You Can' is not only smart and thrilling—it's also true. The real-life con artist Frank Abignale Jr. will recall his former exploits as a check forger, pilot impostor, and iconic trickster at an upcoming aviation event.
Abagnale is set to speak at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first American commercial jet flight, according to reports from Page Six. The exhibit will showcase the Boeing 707 airplane.
Though Abagnale never piloted an aircraft, he managed to "deadhead" more than 250 commercial flights domestically and internationally. “Frank posed as a Pan Am pilot, but never actually flew a Pan Am plane,” an airline executive told the publication.
After putting his days of impersonation behind him, Abagnale has worked with the FBI for over 40 years. The Academy Award-nominated film 'Catch Me If You Can' debuted in 2002 and was directed and produced by Steven Spielberg.