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 ...
Dud!!!!.Black lives matter!!....just saying
He’s going to need a new propeller.
Oh God I’m An Ocean Buoy
http://www.madmusic.com/song_details.aspx?SongID=18075
I don’t know what that wood is in the wings, but there is a lot of it. He MAY have to be going 90 mph to fly. I wonder what it weighs?
I hate to tell him this but taking off is the easy part. Landing is the hard part unless you have a long runway.
He’ll never get off the ground. See the youtube video at post 15.
This man deserves an honorary redneck status if he survives....
or at least an “hold my beer” award if he doest
He should get a large life insurance policy first and put his fiancee as the beneficiary.
I hope both his flight and his marriage are amazing successes and are remembered happily for generations to come.
A landing is inevitable. The manner of landing presents many potential outcomes. Walking away while whistling a jaunty air is highly desireable.
;>)
Denver flew his own jet.
What possibly could go wrong?
When I applied for life insurance, one of the questions was whether or not I participated in general aviation. A truthful answer on his part might make premiums prohibitive.
I don’t know if it will take off but if it does landing is a certainty.
New engine with twice the HP + “pilot” with 0 hours of flight time who attempts to solo on his FAM-1 = torque roll crash on takeoff.
What do you call a fiancee whose future husband kills himself?
I thought Denver flew a kit. He died due to pilot error, or carelessness, depending on how you wish to characterize it. There was no mechanical failure involved. RIP.
I admire this guy and his don’t quit can do attitude.
_________________
So do I, just 100 years ago in this country, that backyard spirit was alive. Just like the dancers and acrobats, and musicians people who had nothing and worked at a skill or talent to support themselves, and sometimes achieve fame
I think JD flew a Long EZ. It had some kind of fuel problem if I remember correctly.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.