Headed for Oshkosh

[MIKE JG]

Rutan Long EZ on its way to Airventure 2009.

     

[Mitch.]

Such a strange looking aircraft, got one down at the local airport.

[patchz]

That's what John Denver got killed in.


According to Wikipedia:

On October 12, 1997, Denver was killed when the Long-EZ aircraft he was piloting crashed just off the coast of California at Pacific Grove, shortly after taking off from the Monterey Peninsula Airport.

The Long-EZ is a two-seat experimental aircraft, designed in the 1970s by Burt Rutan. Denver's particular plane, N555JD, bought used, had been changed from Rutan's original published plans: the fuel tank selector valve had been moved from a location just aft of the nose gear wheel housing and between the pilot's legs to the bulkhead behind and to the left of the pilot's (front) seat.[12] This is of possible significance because it is believed Denver may have lost control of the aircraft during attempts to operate the fuel selector valve after running out of fuel in one tank. Witnesses stated that the plane made a sudden pitch-down plunge into the water, leading to speculation that, in reaching around to the rear, Denver bumped or kicked the side-stick control. The official investigation decided that he had likely inadvertently pushed the right rudder pedal trying to gain leverage to turn in his seat to reach the fuel handle.

Now why would someone move the fuel selector valve from an easy reach between their legs to a difficult reach over the left shoulder?

[EJW]

Strange plane. I saw on really low over the M1, less than 30 ft. Scary!

[ShaneG_old]

Several dozen small planes flew low over our house today, low enough I thought they were headed to our local airport.
The wife & I grabbed the camera and headed down to the strip only to discover it was a group of pilots racing eachother to Oshkosh.

Didn't get any pics, but got the number for the skydiving school there.


Very cool looking bird here. 8-)

[Brando14100]

Great angle and sky. Awesome shot.

8-)