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Like a lot of you I got a call in the middle of the night about this. My phone was off -- I was getting my kiester kicked to the tune of six figures in an airport board meeting, and I'm still leery of sitting down -- and the caller (who I think wrote this story) left me a message, sounding shocked. After listening, I was shocked, too.

I've since heard from a number of other people who knew them. I have to say I barely did.

As far as the danger in their act or lack of the same, and whether the community has something to learn from that (well, there's always SOMEthing to learn!) I believe that that is something for the ICAS members to discuss behind closed doors, without the press (even the aviation press. ESPECIALLY the aviation press, who are the only ones who might understand) or the public, so that everyone can speak freely.

One small correction to DD's usual informative post -- the motor in Samson was a modified R-985 (P&W) putting out about 400hp. Samson was built by Steve Wolf, who also built some percentage of Delmar Benjamin's Gee Bee, and the wings for Jim Wright's ill-fated Hughes H-1. Steve is a very nice guy and an incredibly talented builder, and a first-rate acro pilot in his own right.

I think it was Steve building the Samson replica that got Curtis interested in doing the M-14 version, the Pitts model 12. Steve would tell you, or Jim or Kevin Kimball.

I admire Jim Leroy's ... uh, equipment... in saying The Show Must Go On. And I don't mean Bulldog. But his website says he's a reformed Marine, a predictable bunch on the stick-to-it-iveness front.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F