Posted on 11/26/2015 1:01:20 PM PST by Citizen Zed
On November 28, the fearless Ethiopian will make a flying debut and marry his fiance Seble Bekele the moment he lands. This will be his second attempt after he first taxied to a runway 40 kilometers but a broken propeller ruined his chance of flying.
However, Asmelash Zeferu is all set with a new engine that doubles his power to 78 horsepower and has even sought professional advice for flying.
Flying has always been a dream for Zeferu, since childhood he wanted to become a pilot but he had to meet with disappointment when he got to know he did not meet the air school height requirements. He was just a centimeter short.
But Zeferu did not take the setback too hard, instead he decided to build his own aircraft and fly in it. It took him ten years of hard labour to achieve it, with aviation manuals and YouTube tutorials being his teachers.
Zeferu modeled his plane on one used by trainee pilots in the US in the 1920s and 30s. There were some parts of the plane which were bought second hand and some salvaged, but he could not find a cheap Ford engine.
But completing all the finished task, he is also set to be among a pioneering group of amateur enthusiasts from the continent. He has even taken advice from fellow flight enthusiasts and made modifications.
Zeferu will return to the same airfield and attempt to fly in his newly modified machine. For him the main concern is about landing safely and plans to take off at 90 mph and 10 meters height.
The aviation geek hopes a flight school accepts him after his attempt turns a success. Zeferu dreams of becoming an aerospace engineer at NASA.
(Excerpt) Read more at indiatoday.intoday.in ...
This has don’t do it written all over it.
About 25% of new general aviation aircraft in the USA are home built, but not from junkyard parts.
I admire this guy and his don’t quit can do attitude.
At first I thought that was a propellor, too. But I’m guessing that is a heat shield to prevent the engine exhaust from catching the doped fabric/canvas on fire.
This stunt sounds like it could come to a bad end-the guy sounds a bit eccentric...
I think that’s the heat shield, to keep the exhaust from setting the fabric alight...
As you say...
Has he heard of John Denver?
This has don’t do it written all over it.
...
The marriage or the airplane?
If he is Muslim, he might have a future at NASA - if he lives long enough.
Safe or dead, Darwin is not to be cheated.
The marriage or the airplane?
Given the choice i’d take the flight confidently!
Not to cast aspersions on Denver's airmanship, he was a rich dilettante, this cat is piss poor total enthusiast. He's likely to be a dead one, but you have to love his spirit. Too bad the traits that make him a great tinkerer will never serve him in the great aerospace bureaucracy.
I first thought that read “Elephant man...”
” with aviation manuals and YouTube tutorials being his teachers”
If I was his wife no way in hell would I get on a plane that he learned to build on YouTube - just saying. =)
About 25% of new general aviation aircraft in the USA are home built, but not from junkyard parts.
A Lancair it ain’t.
His kind of immagrant is wanted
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