"Jcarr" (jcarr)
11/25/2015 at 15:28 • Filed to: Planelopnik, Burt Rutan
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"Jcarr" (jcarr)
11/25/2015 at 15:28 • Filed to: Planelopnik, Burt Rutan | 4
| 10 |
Rutan’s amphibious SkiGull took its first flight yesterday. Here is a note from Rutan as reported on the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! :
Friends,
I have been waiting a long time to provide this update - the 47th new type of manned aircraft designed by me or produced by one of my companies, has now flown! Just in time, since we got our first North Idaho snow just hours after the flight.
While I do plan to continue designing new airplanes, the SkiGull is the very last airplane that I will be personally involved in building. I built SkiGull in my garage starting 20 months ago and it was a grueling exercise for an old guy in his 70s.
While I will finish the modifications and testing needed to find if SkiGull can reach the goal of being able to handle rough water, ocean swells, beaching on ocean coasts and operating from snowfields, I will not again expose myself of the challenge of laying up sticky composites, sanding foam and carbon fiber, staying up at night to monitor oven cures, etc. I plan to enjoy this new airplane in retirement, including its unique capabilities that combine STOL from all surfaces with ocean crossing range. It has a huge baggage compartment, so Tonya and I might even load it up for golf trips (I had quit golf 2 years ago to build SkiGull).
I have claimed that the most fun anyone can have at an airport is to watch the first flight of a new type. Yesterday our test team preflight briefed the first flight, took off from runway 06 at KCOE, flew for 1.8 hours and landed back on 06. The aggressive !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! included all the basic stability and control flight tests with the cruise configuration and with flap down and skis extended. All maneuvers on the card were performed on this first flight. Speeds for first flight were limited to less than 80 knots and altitude to less than 8,000 feet.
this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
> Jcarr
11/25/2015 at 15:45 |
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Burt is a truly amazing man. Most people buy an RV when they retire and want to wander a bit. This dude wants to go on long adventures in the wilderness, so like anyone would do he designed and built a completely bespoke composite flying boat. It’s overpowered for STOL, designed to land in heavy chop or in deep snow, and runs on conventional gas so he can fuel up in fishing villages in Alaska. He doesn’t even plan to try to sell the design to anyone.
Engineering mic drop.
Chris Clarke
> Jcarr
11/25/2015 at 15:50 |
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He has now built and flown 47 different types. Un. be. lievable.
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Jcarr
> Chris Clarke
11/25/2015 at 16:00 |
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I know, I did a double take at that. What a genius.
RallyWrench
> Jcarr
11/25/2015 at 16:13 |
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Has there ever been a more prolific aircraft designer who had a direct hand in so many different machines?
DrJohannVegas
> Jcarr
11/25/2015 at 16:13 |
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I have never wanted an aircraft more than I want that little motorglider. I guess this is a good excuse to get my self-launch add-on to the glider ticket.
Man, Burt never ceases to amaze.
Spoon II
> this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
11/25/2015 at 16:23 |
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This guy is a personal hero. 100% engineering awesomeness
lone_liberal
> Jcarr
11/25/2015 at 16:31 |
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I did not realize that Burt was living in my neck of the woods. Very cool!
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Jcarr
> RallyWrench
11/25/2015 at 16:58 |
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The only person who even comes to mind is Kelly Johnson, but he had a far narrower focus.
coqui70
> Jcarr
11/25/2015 at 23:08 |
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Hmmm ... STOL, amphibian, all weather, ocean-crossing range, large baggage capacity ... drug running anyone?
orcim
> Jcarr
11/26/2015 at 03:20 |
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OK. So. That prop is flashing in front of the cockpit, right? We’re back to to WWI/II flying experiences. Except, look at that landing attitude. Now add in a low cost Formula Ford experience.
Damn. If we had guns running under the seat out the nose with ammo feeds in the cargo area, we’d be talking a new kinda phun.