I Touched A Beech Starship

"Chris Clarke" (shiftsandgiggles) 07/24/2015 at 15:13 • Filed to: Beech Starship, Oshkosh, Airventure, planelopnik

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You know, only one of five aircraft currently in active service. The very same airplane used as a chase vehicle for SpaceShipOne and the first certified civilian aircraft that extensively used carbon fiber composites.

While everyone else was geeking out over the F-35

and this rare Avro Lancaster bomber

nobody was paying attention while I was getting a chub from this sweet sweet Rutan utopian dream.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Chris Clarke 07/24/2015 at 15:14

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Did it consent?

Party-vi > Chris Clarke 07/24/2015 at 15:18

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/apologies

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Chris Clarke 07/24/2015 at 15:18

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Hamilton Lanky!!!

MonkeePuzzle > Party-vi 07/24/2015 at 15:20

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cue the : “THATS MY DAUGHTER” comment

Party-vi > MonkeePuzzle 07/24/2015 at 15:20

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hence the /apologies

Ash78, voting early and often > Chris Clarke 07/24/2015 at 15:27

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We built this bizjet

We built this bizjet on ROCK AND ROLL.

Chris Clarke > Party-vi 07/24/2015 at 15:29

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Took me 15 shots to get that pic.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Party-vi 07/24/2015 at 15:30

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Shes got as much poppin out as that Lancaster. Continuation of apologies.

Party-vi > Chris Clarke 07/24/2015 at 15:35

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You’re doing God’s work, son.

*salute*

coelacanthist > Chris Clarke 07/24/2015 at 16:54

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ttyymmnn > Chris Clarke 07/24/2015 at 16:55

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I would have been right there with you. Such a beautiful aircraft. But I would have spent the rest of my day by that Lancaster. EAA is on my bucket list.

Big Bubba Ray > Party-vi 07/24/2015 at 19:02

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If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Chris Clarke 07/24/2015 at 20:37

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[insert high pitched squealing noises]

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Ash78, voting early and often 07/24/2015 at 20:37

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*bizprop.

Ash78, voting early and often > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 07/25/2015 at 09:38

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I refuse to change my nomenclature simply because the main propulsion fan is unducted!

/s

Jcarr > Chris Clarke 07/26/2015 at 21:32

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Starship and Lancaster were gone before I got there. Good time, though. Banner year.

Driver > Chris Clarke 08/09/2015 at 14:03

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I touched this:

TacoWagon > Chris Clarke 08/09/2015 at 15:44

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I touched one too, at Pima. It was sad and stationary in the desert sun. I like to think the The spirit lives on in the Piaggio.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Chris Clarke 08/09/2015 at 15:44

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the Rutan-designed Starship is one of my favorite aircraft ever. I have heard it described as designed to fly backwards, with the wings aft of the elevators, but it still is fantastic, like many of Rutan’s designs, including the smaller VariEze, and Long-EZ that share the Starship’s general layout.

I have longed for a second-generation starship design now that composites technology isn’t just breaking ground, as the Starship did. Newer turbofan tech, newer avionics, new materials and understanding in composite construction... A new successor to Starship would be a fantastic plane... or even scaled down to a VLJ.

BoostedBlazer > Chris Clarke 08/10/2015 at 10:18

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I got to fly one once! It was back around 2001-02 I had completed my Private and was doing instrument and one of the guys taking class with me owned one! (no I’m not messing with you) Was really a cool experience, you don’t notice it from up front but the damn things are LOUD when they’re throttled up!!! Neat airplane for sure, too damn bad it’s impossible expensive to keep them flying.

Porschephile > Chris Clarke 08/11/2015 at 10:39

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One flew over my ex’s garden in Biggin Hill (England, where Bernie Ecclestone has his offices and planes) - they make the most bizarre noise I’ve heard from any aircraft.

Sort of half TIE Fighter and half screaming turboprop.

Chris Clarke > Porschephile 08/11/2015 at 10:47

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There are only 5 Starships in active service, and none of them outside the States. What you saw was a Piaggio P.180 , which is much more common.

Porschephile > Chris Clarke 08/11/2015 at 12:00

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Ah you may well be right, Chris. It would indeed make sense.

I’m absolutely sure the props were at the very aft of the plane though. This was probably 4 years ago in the Summer.

Bunkie21 > Chris Clarke 08/12/2015 at 13:26

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Believe me, I was paying attention to the Starship. I’ve loved it since day one. It was great to stand right next to it at Oshkosh this year.