the plane my dad built

[bertha katzenengel]

IINM, this is the same general kind of plane - an ultralight, built from a kit - in which John Denver (our distant cousin) died. Flying is my dad's unfulfilled passion. He says he has about two months to go before he can fly it - testing and FAA paperwork.

[Wcross]

1. That is so cool!

Is it an amphibion? Think about how fun it will be to go lake hopping!
I am planning on building one (an rv-4) someday as soon as I can scrounge the money up.

[bertha katzenengel]

2. I think it's strictly for ground landings.

Hope you can get yours soon!

[Wcross]

3. It is an amphibion- you can tell by the floats on the wing.

I hope you Dad has many hours of enjoyment from it.

[bertha katzenengel]

4. he answered my email - you were right -

it's amphibian. He's so excited.

[Wcross]

5. So Bertha, are you going to go up in it?

I love flying but have limited myself to the cessna's and Piper types so far (although I have some time in aerobatic planes). That little thing looks like it would be a blast- going low and slow is great fun.

[bertha katzenengel]

11. No, I'm way too heavy. As it is my dad will have to lose weight if he want

wants to take his wife up.

I want to learn to fly, starting with hang gliding, but for that, too, I have to lose weight. But it sounds like "low & slow" IS hang gliding!

[Wcross]

13. Think of flight as an incentive to get to "flying weight"!

My brother did some hang-gliding, he claimed it was fun. I like the ability to travel and see things that powered flight offers. It isn't anything like going on an airliner (BORING). You can fly along at 1000ft (agl) and really see things. I remember flying in the smokies once, one minute your 500ft agl, the next 2000ft.

[bertha katzenengel]

14. Oh, I do. I have since visiting Kitty Hawk, and asking the guy if

there was a weight limit on hang gliding. He actually sneered at me when he answered my question. (Stupid ignorant fuck.) I can't wait!

[Shine]

6. That's cool, bertha

It's great to be passionate about something. More power to him! :thumbsup:

Wishing him blue skies.....


:hi:
Shine

[redqueen]

7. Oh cool.

I'd love to do that, but I'm kinda chicken... bet he's terribly excited. :)

I saw a stunt plane flying in incomprehensible ways recently... freaked me out. Seriously.

[trof]

8. Looks a lot like a Lake Amphibian.

Out of New Hampshire.

[leftofthedial]

9. does anyone remember John Denver's last hit?

(the pacific ocean)

[bertha katzenengel]

10. Do you think that was funny? Especially in light of what I wrote in my OP?

Not that he was related to us but that my dad...

Oh, fuck it.

[leftofthedial]

20. I'm sorry, bertha k. I was bad.

I'm sure your dad will make sure he has enough fuel. The plane is beautiful. I think it's a very cool thing that he built it.

[bertha katzenengel]

21. I appreciate that, leftof.

:hi:

[leftofthedial]

22. it's a beautiful thing that he "built" you too

:hi:

[bertha katzenengel]

23. aw, shucks

:blush: I turned out far worse than he wished (gay atheist), and far, FAR better than the start he gave me. :bounce:

[Wcross]

15. FYI-accident report.

The accident report highlighted the following factors:

Denver began the flight knowing that the tanks were low on fuel but neglected to fill the tanks prior to takeoff as he thought there would be enough for the solo familiarization flight in the aircraft which he estimated would be an hour long.
The fuel selector was installed in a non-standard location which was difficult for the pilot to reach.
The fuel selector was installed to function in a counterintuitive fashion (up for off, down for right, and right for left) and was unmarked.
The fuel sight gauges were unmarked and non-linear, as a result they did not give an intuitive measure of fuel available.
It is likely that the fuel in the left tank of the aircraft was consumed during the first half-hour of the flight.
Denver would have had to loosen his harness and twist his body in the seat in order to reach the fuel selector.
In doing this it is likely that Denver inadvertently depressed the right rudder pedal.
With the rudder pedal depressed the aircraft would have rolled into a steep bank.
Denver was preoccupied with trying to change to the other tank and regain engine power; in doing so the bank was not detected or corrected in time.
The aircraft impacted the ocean before Denver was able to regain control.

------------------------------------
It is clear that the plane Denver was flying wasn't designed to be user friendly and he should have made sure the plane had adequate fuel before the flight.

Bertha, your dad built his aircraft so he should be very familiar with it. I wouldn't fear for his safety.

[bertha katzenengel]

18. my goodness

Looks like my cuz ignored some basic rules. So sad.

I'm not really worried for my dad. He's a smart guy, and cautious to the nth degree.

[Wcross]

19. You don't get old being stupid Bertha......

It seems the older I get the more cautious I become.

[Midlodemocrat]

12. That is so cool, Bertha!!!

And no, the joke above wasn't a bit funny. It was pretty insensitive actually.

[QuettaKid]

16. John Denver was a great man.....

nothing funny at ALL about the joke.....that is so cool you were related to him......in the grand scheme of things though, you know, we all are. I still miss him.

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. That is awesome! The day that John Denver died...a lot of my

childhood and favorite memories with MrG went with him. :(

Best of luck to your dad! :pals: