dashvii(at)hotmail.com
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 Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject: Lightning - Not a myth of origins! |
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All C
I was trying to find some old pictures and I ran across these. Although not the Lightning these images are associated with the Lightning mythos. Fair warning that the following content may reveal disturbing images. This photos are not a recreation but actual evidence from the scene. Names have been witheld to protect the innocent. We'll say it's a "semi-true story" which is one of my favorite Jimmy Buffett songs.
So C the aircaft that is being used to test the structural loads for the new ASTM Lightning cert was one of many fuselages that were standing on their noses along the wall in the Arion Hangar. As many of you know C that fuselage had a run-in with a rogue pilot/Bonanza. I suddenly feel the need to explain what happened.
So C we'll call him Billy Bob. Billy Bob had recently decided to climb back into the cockpit after 15-20 years out of the cockpit. He never did get his pilots liscense and thought he should pick it up again. Billy Bob had just been released from a couple years he spent in the big house for stealing cars. As he said though C "is it really stealing if you're only selling the parts that you stole?" So C what better hobby for an ex-con to pick up in a post 9/11 society than to fly airplanes. This particular fellow did want to learn how to land though. Unfortunately for Billy Bob landing was not his strong point. Neither was taking off C flying around C or even taxing for that matter.
So one day Billy Bob met Tommy Gun. Tommy Gun had some money and too much faith in other individuals. So C one day Billy Bob convinces Tommy to let him fly his plane C a Beech Bonanza with both their families on vacation. Keep in mind C Billy Bob would soon fail his pre-solo written due to not knowing that he needs a complex sign off C can't fly with others on a student pilots liscense C meeting prereq number of landings C etc C etc C etc.
So C the plane C freshly washed and waxed C shinning like a new penny was pulled out of the hangar and fueled in prep for the flight. Of course C being a safety minded individual C Billy Bob did what any good pilot would do and decided that in order to keep somebody from accidentally walking into the prop he'd start the aircraft without applying brakes so that he could tell the judge C "I ran them down C they didn't walk into the prop." Of course he wasn't a cruel individual so he wanted to put them out of their misery quickly if this did C by chance happen and so he used full throttle while starting.
Clear...no wait C that's right C I'm pretty sure he didn't say that either. Ignition C vroom C damage to engine due to high RPM's before the engine has adequate oil temps and flow. No brakes set so of course the aircraft lept forward. It was sitting at the top of the shallow hill next to Arion....was. So the aircraft travels down the hill before the left wing impacts a tree and spings the plane around C right plane through the side of the Arion hangar. I think one or more gear failed at this point and the airplane fell to the ground and the prop hit. Here are the eye witness pics.
Exhibit A. This was after the fact but under the artificial red line you can clearly see the path the main gear took down the hill. The left most X indicates where the left wing impacted the tree and took a large chunk out of the tree (and wing). The right most X is where the plane entered the hangar and knocked over the fuselage currently used for testing.
Exhibit B. The accident aircraft. Note that is not a scimitar prop and those aren't winglets!
Exhibit C. again C just to reinforce C NOT a winglet!
Exhibit D. Major ouch. Well at least the spar looks in good shape.
I rest my case. Brian
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