Pilot dies in Yellowstone crash (Hughes 1B Racer Replica)

Casper Star Tribune ^ | Tuesday, August 05, 2003 | The Associated Press

[tophat9000]

Pilot dies in Yellowstone crashBy The Associated Press

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (AP) -- One person was killed Monday night when an experimental airplane crashed north of Old Faithful, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The homebuilt Hughes 1B airplane was en route from Oshkosh, Wis., to Oregon when the crash occurred at about 6:30 p.m., FAA spokeswoman Karen Byrd said.

The pilot was the only person on board, but no identity was being released until family members were notified.

The plane's registered owners were listed as James and Betty Wright, of Cottage Grove, Ore., on the FAA's Web site.

The crash started a small fire near Midway Geyser Basin, but it was immediately contained by park fire crews, Yellowstone spokeswoman Marsha Karle said.

Several park visitors witnessed the crash. Investigators with the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board were en route, Karle said.

[nightdriver]

A beauty of a plane, however, it looks like the tail feathers are a little small for the overall shape and horsepower.

Isn't this the plane that Howard Hughes got wracked up in and which made him pretty much eschew flying?

[tophat9000]

Isn't this the plane that Howard Hughes got wracked up in and which made him pretty much eschew flying?

No that was the Hughes F11

[nightdriver]

Dang! That's another slick design. I don't think I've ever seen that one before.

Thanks.

[tophat9000]

Dang! That's another slick design. I don't think I've ever seen that one before.

If you like pretty airplanes I always like the F11 competitor the Republic F12 Rainbow ( both were late WW2 U.S. photo recon aircraft designs)

Republic F12 Rainbow

[nightdriver]

Republic F12, huh? That is one gorgeous airplane. Do you have any specs on it?

[Northern Yankee]

Damn...

I saw that plane at Oshkosh last week.

A beautiful plane it was.

God Bless the family.

Prayers sent.

[agincourt1415]

RE F12 Pic.

I dug up a picture of that same airplane, (in color) flying level with the picture taking plane approximately at the same altitude.

Found it at Tinker AFB, in a desk I occupied during my stint in the Air Force.

I couldn't get any information on what aircraft it was.

Thanks for answering a 30 year mystery.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

"Wasn't the R2 prone to ground loops?"

No. Or at least I don't know of any problems. However the R2 had a fixed tailwheel which means that a pilot must blip the throttle with rudder and down elevator to turn, often turning too much. This probably would make a spectator conclude the plane is prone to ground loops. The problem was aileron reversal, a problem not well known at the time, but known to most pilots of high perfomance planes today. This is where the plane is flying near the stall and a bank would cause the wing with down aileron to stall, snap rolling in the opposite diriction. The CG was sensitive also, with the pilot sitting way back, he couldn't weight too much. On top of that one owner installed a fuel tank behind the CG, the Granvilles told him the CG was too far aft and he flew it anyway, the crashed and burned and that was too much for their already poor reputation. I undestand that this plane fly's nicely as long as you keep the airspeed up on landings. Fairly inexperianced RC pilots fly the scale model without problems. Here is a site of the owner of the replica R2 with some history. I havn't read the entire site, so I am sure someone will tell me where I am wrong.

http://www.geebee.com/

[udpilot]

You have to be the most selfish, ignorant person out there. A man lost his life and all you can think about is how you cant enjoy your vacation. You are more likely to have your vacation ruined by a bear than an aircraft.

[Darksheare]

You are MOST late to this party mein fruend.
This thread is from 2003.
And you signed up merely to insult a poster?
Hmm.. how brave is that, especially on an old thread?

[dirtboy]

You are more likely to have your vacation ruined by a bear than an aircraft.

Smokey and Yogi are calling your statement a hate crime. Just for that, they're gonna knock over all your trash cans tonight.

[theFIRMbss]

>My wife and I are looking forward to a safe vacation in Yellowstone (Old Faithful Lodge) for two weeks in September, and now we have to look out for planes crashing . . .

In about six weeks,
my brother and his wife leave
to visit Egypt . . .