---------------------------------------------------------- Lightning-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 10/07/11: 4 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 05:47 AM - Re: Re: First flight..more (Kayberg@aol.com) 2. 06:38 AM - Re: Re: First flight..more (Greg Hobbs) 3. 07:05 AM - Re: Re: First flight..more (Dennis W. Wilt) 4. 03:19 PM - first flight (Carl and Pat Beatrice) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 05:47:46 AM PST US From: Kayberg@aol.com Subject: Re: Lightning-List: Re: First flight..more This has been a tough one for the Green Landings crew as well. We all loved Harry and respected the 37,000 hours he had spent in the air during the course of his 70 years. His flight was witnessed by a number of people, including the individual whose house he unfortunately hit. There were no mechanical problems with the plane, it had made several flights that day and the day before. The wreckage was carefully checked by the GL crew as a part of the FAA investigation. No problems were noted during that examination. My personal pain is that I watched him possible over-rotate on his first takeoff but perhaps out of respect for the 37,000 hours did not say anything. It appeared to some that he over-rotated on this second takeoff, got up perhaps to 100 feet or so, mushed along and then stalled and rolled left after flying some distance (500-800 ft) extremely nose-up. Witnesses say he impacted the foundation of the house after a couple ground strikes. Of course this is all very preliminary and could be inaccurate. My point in writing this is that there did not seem to be a design or mechanical problem. It was determined that the engine was at full power until impacting the house. However, as Buz and many others have noted, test flying a newly completed airplane is not an easy task. While Harry had built and flown a Glassair III with IO-550, cruise of 300 mph, even he noted that the Lightning did not fly like a Glassair. It flew like a Lightning. He loved the way it flew after his first flight. I believe this was his second solo flight. Ryan had done the first flight and several test flights. Keep the Green Landings folks in your prayers as well. This was a tough one. Doug Koenigsberg In a message dated 10/6/2011 9:33:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, gitzie@comcast.net writes: --> Lightning-List message posted by: "bgsu" glasair98hw(at)comcast.ne wrote: > First flight of Lightning N747HW today in West Virginia after 7 months building . Everything went as planned with no abnormal flight characteristics and smooth running engine. Thanks to Ryan, Walter, Chris, Curt, Doug and Buddy for all their help and advice when needed. This is my second kit. First was a Glasair III and took 7 years to complete. Looking forward to many happy hours of flying. I will fly it to Connecticut after the 40 hours test phase. Harry http://www.herald-mail.com/news/tristate/hm-pilot-dead-after-hedgesville-cra sh-20111005,0,4831228.story Terribly sad... ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 06:38:34 AM PST US From: "Greg Hobbs" Subject: Re: Lightning-List: Re: First flight..more Doug, Mark, I am so sorry about your loss. We know how much we grow to love our pilots and their dreams of flying and continuing to fly. If there is anything Greg and I can do for you at this time please call us. We know how hard this is and we will be praying for you all. Crystal Hobbs (520-405-6868-Greg number-)--- Original Message ----- From: Kayberg@aol.com To: lightning-list@matronics.com Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 5:45 AM Subject: Re: Lightning-List: Re: First flight..more This has been a tough one for the Green Landings crew as well. We all loved Harry and respected the 37,000 hours he had spent in the air during the course of his 70 years. His flight was witnessed by a number of people, including the individual whose house he unfortunately hit. There were no mechanical problems with the plane, it had made several flights that day and the day before. The wreckage was carefully checked by the GL crew as a part of the FAA investigation. No problems were noted during that examination. My personal pain is that I watched him possible over-rotate on his first takeoff but perhaps out of respect for the 37,000 hours did not say anything. It appeared to some that he over-rotated on this second takeoff, got up perhaps to 100 feet or so, mushed along and then stalled and rolled left after flying some distance (500-800 ft) extremely nose-up. Witnesses say he impacted the foundation of the house after a couple ground strikes. Of course this is all very preliminary and could be inaccurate. My point in writing this is that there did not seem to be a design or mechanical problem. It was determined that the engine was at full power until impacting the house. However, as Buz and many others have noted, test flying a newly completed airplane is not an easy task. While Harry had built and flown a Glassair III with IO-550, cruise of 300 mph, even he noted that the Lightning did not fly like a Glassair. It flew like a Lightning. He loved the way it flew after his first flight. I believe this was his second solo flight. Ryan had done the first flight and several test flights. Keep the Green Landings folks in your prayers as well. This was a tough one. Doug Koenigsberg In a message dated 10/6/2011 9:33:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, gitzie@comcast.net writes: glasair98hw(at)comcast.ne wrote: > First flight of Lightning N747HW today in West Virginia after 7 months building . Everything went as planned with no abnormal flight characteristics and smooth running engine. Thanks to Ryan, Walter, Chris, Curt, Doug and Buddy for all their help and advice when needed. This is my second kit. First was a Glasair III and took 7 years to complete. Looking forward to many happy hours of flying. I will fly it to Connecticut after the 40 hours test phase. Harry http://www.herald-mail.com/news/tristate/hm-pilot-dead-after-hedgesville- crash-20111005,0,4831228.story Terribly sad... ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 07:05:03 AM PST US Subject: Re: Lightning-List: Re: First flight..more From: "Dennis W. Wilt" Doug, Thanks much for the input and know that Donna and I are keeping you, Ryan, Walter, Buddy, Curt, and Chris in our prayers. Our sincere condolences, Dennis -----Original Message----- From: Kayberg Sent: Fri, Oct 7, 2011 8:48 am Subject: Re: Lightning-List: Re: First flight..more This has been a tough one for the Green Landings crew as well. We all love d Harry and respected the 37,000 hours he had spent in the air during the c ourse of his 70 years. His flight was witnessed by a number of people, in cluding the individual whose house he unfortunately hit. There were no mechanical problems with the plane, it had made several fligh ts that day and the day before. The wreckage was carefully checked by the GL crew as a part of the FAA investigation. No problems were noted during that examination. My personal pain is that I watched him possible over-rotate on his first ta keoff but perhaps out of respect for the 37,000 hours did not say anything. It appeared to some that he over-rotated on this second takeoff, got up perhaps to 100 feet or so, mushed along and then stalled and rolled left af ter flying some distance (500-800 ft) extremely nose-up. Witnesses say he impacted the foundation of the house after a couple ground strikes. Of course this is all very preliminary and could be inaccurate. My point i n writing this is that there did not seem to be a design or mechanical prob lem. It was determined that the engine was at full power until impacting th e house. However, as Buz and many others have noted, test flying a newly completed airplane is not an easy task. While Harry had built and flown a Glassair III with IO-550, cruise of 300 mph, even he noted that the Lightn ing did not fly like a Glassair. It flew like a Lightning. He loved the way it flew after his first flight. I believe this was his second solo fl ight. Ryan had done the first flight and several test flights. Keep the Green Landings folks in your prayers as well. This was a tough on e. Doug Koenigsberg In a message dated 10/6/2011 9:33:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, gitzie@com cast.net writes: glasair98hw(at)comcast.ne wrote: > First flight of Lightning N747HW today in West Virginia after 7 months bu ilding . Everything went as planned with no abnormal flight characteristic s and smooth running engine. Thanks to Ryan, Walter, Chris, Curt, Doug and Buddy for all their help and advice when needed. This is my second kit. Fi rst was a Glasair III and took 7 years to complete. Looking forward to many happy hours of flying. I will fly it to Connecticut after the 40 hours tes t phase. Harry http://www.herald-mail.com/news/tristate/hm-pilot-dead-after-hedgesville-cr ash-20111005,0,4831228.story Terribly sad... -= - The Lightning-List Email Forum - -= Use the Matronics List Features Navigator to browse -= the many List utilities such as List Un/Subscription, -= Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, -= Photoshare, and much much more: - -= --> http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Lightning-List - -======================== -= - MATRONICS WEB FORUMS - -= Same great content also available via the Web Forums! - -= --> http://forums.matronics.com - -======================== -= - List Contribution Web Site - -= Thank you for your generous support! -= -Matt Dralle, List Admin. -= --> http://www.matronics.com/contribution -======================== ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 03:19:22 PM PST US From: "Carl and Pat Beatrice" Subject: Lightning-List: first flight Our prayers are with Harry, his family and the crew at Green Landings. 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