Oshkosh Airventure Fly-In 2010-5
More photos from Oshkosh 2010.
More of that funny Cobalt. That whole forward canopy bubble is nothing but glare-shield inside. The pilot is positioned about halfway back on that side window. Problem with canopy is it's heavier than skin. Much heavier. Just steepen the windshield and push that glare-shield up to the outer surface. Might start to ruin the non-traditionalness of the look (start to look like a fat Velocity). No comment on the major structural element of the canard just tacked on there with a little plywood.
Somewhow it doesn't say power to me. It says fat rear end, with lots of junk in the trunk.
The Terrafugia flying car. I guess I was fascinated with weird-looking stuff this year, as there were tons of high-wing tube-and-fabric Rotax-powered LSA's to choose from. They have retired this vehicle and will apply the learning to a new design. One major problem that other than the Taylor Aero Car in the museum none of these flying cars has overcome is that the rear wheels are way too far aft for any sort of takeoff performance. I think the flying dunebuggy guys have it right - don't try to kid yourselves with a rigid wing. Just make it a soft/inflatable wing, live with the fact that all you're really doing is lifting your car over a ravine or river, and be done with this whole idea that it can traverse the sky like an airplane. What would appear to be the much less technically challenging idea of the roadable boat never takes off and sells any units either.
That's the easy way to make a 4-blade prop. It's two 2-blade props bolted together.
Nothing particularly outstanding here. But when I saw it, I had to take a photo. It's also in my Sun N Fun 2000 photos, and the Copperstate 2009 photos. This plane has gotten around for a while.
Nice paint.
Forgot what this was in - might have been one of those Fisher all-wood airplanes. Anyway, interesting fabrication for control sticks without welding.
Some derivative of the Kitfox family with a Rotec looking a little too big out front.
The round engine just doesn't quite go with the square fuselage.
Missed this paint detail at the Sonex factory open house. That's a cool way to comply with the required Experimental marking.
Like the overall scheme blending polished metal and paint.
The jet project with its new tri-gear. Yes, I think they will eventually get a wheel pant over the front tire.
By Tuesday, homebuilts were gathering in droves. This is a small part of the Van's customer aircraft parking area. If you had any questions about the Van's product line, walk 100 yards in any direction.
That there are some slick side pipes. Practically no drag at all.
Corvair-powered all-composite single seater.
Cockpit of that bad boy.
I said I was going to write down what this was so I wouldn't forget. That plan went out the window. Anyway dual big screens so you can watch the game and the weather, with a couple of those little flight thingies in the middle.
Ah, the controversy! Has Sonex gone too far putting a turbo on a VW? On one side, it's no longer KISS, but it is cheap power, if it works.
Oh, the man's name escapes me. But I recall seeing a line drawing of this on his column in one of the flying magazines. I thought the airplane was gone, but obviously, it's not.
The only one like it on the field. This is a Prescott Pusher kit from the mid 1980's. Looked like a relatively huge cockpit volume for a 4-seater. The sign says all-metal construction with non-structural fiberglass shells for the fuselage.
