RivetBangers.com

Or does this um.. seem moderately unsafe. Maybe I'm just getting stodgy in my middle age.

Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GB-zzpnk7Q

Seems pretty stupid to me... but hey, it's not my project.

Ironically, at our EAA breakfast the other morning, we were just talking about accidents that have occurred by running engines with the wings off.

I agree with the wings off thing. Actually I believe that Van's recommends against doing that as the wings dampen the vibrations. Otherwise I still think its pretty stupid. They didn't prove anything except that the engine runs. Who insurance covers the kid that runs out in front of them? Dumb Dumb Dumb in my opinion.

It's stupid s@#% like that, that is gonna cause more and more cities to file new ordinence banning the building the homebuilts in garages just like Jacksonvill, FL. It saddens me that people are really doing stuff like that. Spike, you're are absolutely spot on. That neighborhood looks awefully kid friendly...until you have a wingless airplane taxiing down the street, spinning prop and all.

I just posted a reply to the video on youtube. The guy's response to the first comment seems "cowboyish".

NOTE: My comment, as well as his response, have been removed...

Oddly enough, I've been emailing back and forth with the owner of that Zenith this moring after my comment to his video. He actually sounds like a real stand up guy, and took my comments in a constructive manner. The 601XL is plans-built, and he's been working on it since 2003, and plans to build a plans-built Bearhawk when the 601 is complete! PK!

Stand up guy or not he's not doing anything good for the home built community. Tune to any home video show on T.V. and your likely to see someone getting badly hurt if not killed by horse play or just plain stupidity. Any number of things could have happened that could have turned his showing off his cool toy into a tragedy. What was supposed to happen? Did he think his wheels might not turn? I don't see useful gain of information other than the guy's an idiot. Frankly I wouldn't want to share air space with him.

That's pretty much what I said to him in my comment on that website, and my first email to him. He never defended his actions, and just took it constructively, I guess. I agree though Jim. Dangerous, and stupid.

Most people don't intend to do anything stupid or harmful. Most people are really nice. But even really nice people unintentionally do stupid things that are harmful. We all know those people. I can see getting carried away in the moment but we still have a responsibility to be good neighbors first. Can you imagine what Jacksonvile would have done if this guy had done this there? Yikes!

And just from an operational point of view as far as taxiing with wings off, have we all seen that video of the Lancair taxiing with the wings off? He was one unhappy dude.

I saw a 'Youtube' thing the other day. Can't find it now though. It was a guy doing a groundrun in a Lancair Turbine with no wings. It jumped the chocks, collapsed a wheel and destroyed itself in about 2 seconds. Not to mention the people running away from the bits being thrown off.

I just watched it with my mouth open saying' you have to be kidding me!!!

Wish I could find it again.

Snap -
I saw that the other day too.
Looked like one of the retractable legs wasn't locked, collapsed on itself, and that's what started the whole calmity.
I also recall that the plane was not well secured....
It was just too painful to watch!!

Interesting to note that it was sent to me by a fellow Lancair buider....
Lorin D
9A Wings

This was posted on another less-friendly RV forum by our own Chad Jensen:

http://bellsouthpwp2.net/n/e/ne1h/Dontdothis.wmv

and the more mac friendly version also posted by Chad:

http://www.lancaironline.net/archives/DontDoThis.mpeg

Yeah, that was an eye opener!! This stuff really does happen! Even to the guys who bring home the REAL money and build Lancairs!!

Yeah, didn't he rebuild it over the course of a year? I think I would have given up at that point.

I forgot to say that you should be careful letting the kids watch the Lancair movie. In it someone uses big boy words and he uses his "outside" voice.

Thats the one. If you watch it you can see that both wheels a chocked with tiny little chocks. Wouldn't hold a toy car let alone a Lancair with a Turbine up front. It just kinda drags the chock along for the ride.

Imagine the ride home? "What am I gunna say to my wife? She won't let me build another one.'

I'm thinking of doing a "top segment" on the RV Hotline, "stupid pilot tricks." The thing about the taxi test is.....what do you learn? That the thing can roll on wheels?

I'd like to collect any stories of stupid pilot tricks (basically taxi testing, tho) that are out there that youv'e run across.

Bob Collins
St. Paul, Minn.

bcollinsrv7a (at) comcast.net

Why would anyone do that? It is just asking for trouble. I saw the video with the gear collapse also and it gave me a somewhat sick feeling. I would not want to risk all of the work and $$ for no reason.

Hey Bob,
Glad to see you here on the nicest RV forum anywhere! Welcome!

As for the stupid pilot tricks... hopefully we won't give you anything to print. But I'll keep my eye open for all those other stupid pilots.