Ethiopian man will arrive in a self-made airplane on his wedding

India Today ^ | 11-26-2015 | Sanjana Agnihotri

[cyclotic]

I know. My mom’s husband has one of each type of plane and recently went on BP meds. He can only fly one of them right now.

[tcrlaf]

The dream of flight is filled with trial and error.

The thing he built still looks safer than much of the stuff flown in WW1.

I applaud this guy for following his dream.
Exactly the kind of guy that should be HERE:
Experimental Aircraft Association
http://www.eaa.org/eaa

[dljordan]

“Has he heard of John Denver?”

John Denver's aircraft didn't crash because of faulty materials.

[kik5150]

Why did the property come off in the video? The rotating mass of the prop wants to go one constant speed. A reciprocating engine speeds up and slows down as it goes through the combustion cycle. Only a strengthened crank end can sustain the stress. If the rest of his construction is as well engineered he will certainly die. If he can avoid groundlooping, The plane will fly, high enough to kill him when the ground rises up to smite him.

[kik5150]

Prop, not property

[Nuc 1.1]

Don’t see a prop. That tail wheel is looking quite robust.

[driftless2]

I admire the guy’s tenacity, but he has never piloted a plane before, and he is going to try and fly his own homemade airplane without, I’m assuming, an expert inspecting his craft. What could go wrong?

[kalee]

Same here, I hope he achieves his dreams and lives a long and happy life with his bride.

[JaguarXKE]

Reminds me of Sid Caesar and Edie Adams in Mad Mad Mad Mad World when they rented the old bi-plane to get a jump on the other treasure seekers.

[Talisker]

I hope both his flight and his marriage are amazing successes and are remembered happily for generations to come.

God bless you, I do too.

[TChad]

"The aviation geek hopes a flight school accepts him after his attempt turns a success he gets out of the hospital, if he survives."

[piasa]

Now, this guy is a real dreamer... unlike people rushing over the border to get free benefits.

[piasa]

I really wish this guy would try unpowered flight first... then something more akin to the Wright Brothers... then if he survives that...

[piasa]

Wings mostly look like dope and fabric

[Axenolith]

He took off nearly empty of fuel, thought 1 of the two was full IIRC...

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

One of two tanks was full. The one connected to the fuel pump was empty. He did not have time to switch tanks before he crashed. The empty tank had just a enough fuel to impart a dangerous dose of kinetic energy, but not enough to maintain flight or achieve altitude. The full tank had more than enough fuel to burn him to a cinder. BTW, he had just bought the plane and it was his first day flying it. RIP.

[Yo-Yo]

What do you call a fiancee whose future husband kills himself?

Available.

[hattend]

NTSB report

More detailed report leading up to crash of N555JD