Posted on 08/18/2006 7:33:10 AM PDT by txroadkill
So, looking at the Arrow, it looks like an attempt at a good copy, but that would be it. No way I'd fly or ride in the Arrow, Taylor, yes.
If major repairs were done on John's as the article says, I wonder why the poor fellow refused competent assistance from the manufacturer?
Anyway, not meaning to be overly critical, but leaving a drill on top of the engine, etc???Sounds like old John (bless his soul) didn't have the focus to be a pilot. You don't stay a pilot long and not have a sharp / analytical mind. There is very little room for error even though the physical requirements to fly an aircraft aren't that demanding.
Wonder what kind of unpowered glide angle the Arrow possesses? With that large wing it should be very good, but it just doesn't look like it handles w/respect to quick yaw corrections.
Agree on all points, especially which of the aircraft you'd be willing to fly in.
After reading the article, I don't think he should have been flying anything. A friend of a friend of mine bought the farm along with his family after making a bad repair on a home built.
Aeronautical degrees take a lot of work to get, then one has to spend many years working with it to understand there's a zero tolerance for error in manufacturing and flying aircraft.
After first looking at the Arrow a picture immediately came to my mind:
Imagine.
Assuming the prop spins counter clockwise looking from tail to nose on the Arrow. Think about being 40-50 ft up on approach and then catching a 20 mph right to left gust coming from around 2 o'clock (45º to your right). I don't think there's enough rudder on that thing considering its size and placement to easily correct for that type of gust.
a guy that wealthy should be flying something like a civilianized F-15 although I've never heard of one, there are civilianized F-16's out there. Or so I have heard.
John should have had a minimum 200+ solo hrs in a high wing aircraft like a Cessna, Piper, whatever before tryin on an expiremental coupled with at least a couple semesters with some materials and ME courses before assuming 'it's just like working on a lawmower'.
"Sometimes it's just not a good idea to do-it-yourself."
True that! When you're in a machine with nothing but air between you and the hard, cold ground, you want that machine to be in EXPERT condition.
I've heard of a few folks that could never get their pilots license cause they were never good with directions or maps and couldn't complete the groundwork.
Never underestimate to what lengths people will go to to save a buck or make an extra buck.
On another subject. All these folks found guilty of ID theft and the costs / headaches they inflict? Simple. Public Caning - 7 Licks and Monetary restitution for however long it takes for the repayment - no jail time at all unless they refuse to pay.
PS. I read your about page. Interesting. I'm sure many fellow Texans appreciate your sacrifice as a LEO.
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