Warbird Information Exchange

But Gary -- I didn't quite say never-- Do you know something I don't know? (About #4 I mean, not restoration, piloting, metalworking etc. LOL). Actually I'd love to see #4 on the race course again some day -- I've been photographing it since the 1970s and it has been flown by several good friends over the years.

Steve Mountain, who had the accident in #59 a while back, is doing pretty well considering what he's been through. He's walking well, attended the last couple of Renos as a spectator, has maintained his sense of humour, and hopes to be able to fly again some day. A good guy...

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

What took down #59?

I don't know that anyone knows the whole answer, and Steve doesn't remember. He pulled out of a race (in Oklahoma City) with apparent engine problems, which should not have been a big problem. He did not follow the briefed emergency landing approach and seemed to get slow and stall from 4-500 feet. This particular airplane had a fast racing wing with unforgiving stall characteristics. This was Steve's first race in this airplane, though he had previously raced a stock hershey bar wing Cassutt. The aiplane impacted nose down and was largely destroyed. Steve sustained major injuries.

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

Any information anyone can give me on the snoshoo would be greatly appreciated .




-E

I'm working on something, Neal....stay tuned.

Evan, I'm out of town right now to do an inspection on a P-63, but I'll get you some contact info for the Sno Shoo guys when I get back to my main computer.

Gary

You have my attention, Gary...

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

What damage did Alley Cat get after the mid air? Did it return to land or did it crash? How was/is the pilot?

Alley cat is done. I have seen photos of what's left of it. When the initial impact happened, it took part of the wing and tail off of it. Then a substancial amount of the fuse covering started coming off. The canopy hit Jason in the face which shattered his visor, and left him almost blinded (at the time, his vision is fine now). He started climbing, and most of us on the ground thought he was trying to get enough altitude to jump. He then turned back almost 180 deg. and headed to runway 14, but fell short. He hit the ground flat but with a big sink rate. The gear sheared off and it pushed all of the lower fuselage tubing up several inches. Now of course if Gary gets it, he'll figure out a way to have it ready for PRS this year Jason is fine, he is back to flying his Pitts, and the CAF Zero.

Sounds totaled to me.


I guess some people like restoring things though.

As much as Gary likes working with aluminum he should re-create the Wild Turkey F1 bird. Although I guess that wing wouldn't be legal under todays rules.

What is the 'wild turkey'?


Thread jacking my own thread: How many currently racing f-1'rs are composite and how many are wood/metal?

See this thread on AAFO http://www.aafo.com/hangartalk/showthre ... ild+turkey for all the scoop on American Special / Wild Turkey. Endeavor is the only fully composite bird in F1 right now. I have a few pics of it I will post later. All of the others are a Steel tube fuse. Some have composite wings, tails, and fuse covering. Some are tube, wood, and fabric. I don't think any have all aluminum wings.

Actually two composite birds racing right now. I forgot about "Madness" which I think is a Grove GR-7. There was another composite bird designed by Kevin Kelly, but it was lost a few months back in Reno when the new owner was test flying it after a lengthy rebuild.

Two GR-7's? A kit or just two made by the original builder?

No kits, and I am not sure how many were built.