I assume that the article's reference to an experimental airplane is synonymous with a build-your-own kit airplane. Some of them you don't even need a pilot's license if its engine is under a certain capacity and size. Those things are death traps. Bringing your son along to risk his life, too, is douchebaggery.

"Have you ever seen a man naked, Joey?"

I am surprised they were not drunk at the time.

Twin-engine tandem-seat experimental? We all know what type this airplane was:

The Aristocrats?

"I don't know what he was doing flying so low."

It's just something you do...when you land...

CnFlght: I assume that the article's reference to an experimental airplane is synonymous with a build-your-own kit airplane. Some of them you don't even need a pilot's license

All experimentals require a pilot certificate. You're probably thinking of ultralights.

Too much vodak, right?.

I win. I googled and one of the town's local newspapers described it as an ultralight, which you don't need a pilot's license for.



/yay hotlinking
//that dad wins the most likely to Darwin his entire genetical stock award from me.
///him and his son's family jewels

robotfolksinger: The Aristocrats?

I came here to say that. Way to be on the ball kiddo!

Rasputin would be proud

CnFlght: I win. I googled and one of the town's local newspapers described it as an ultralight, which you don't need a pilot's license for.

The Aircam isn't an ultralight. That newspaper is full of fail, as newspapers usually are when it comes to aviation.

I should've been more clear. An experimental can include ultra-lights, which is what it happened to be in this case.

Ahem, allow me to quote the FAA's FAR for 2007: "Operating an ultralight vehicle under FAR Part 103 requires appropriate training, but does not require an FAA Sport or Private Pilot certificate."

Thus, you can pilot an experimental ultralight weight without a PPL.

Link (new window) where I found the article and the picture.

Again, papa, again!

the irony police may come out and kick me, but I find it ironic that the guy was a wireless technician. get it? power lines = wires.

/ok.
//whatever.

If it's an experimental, then it's not an ultralight. They are mutually exclusive.

CnFlght: I assume that the article's reference to an experimental airplane is synonymous with a build-your-own kit airplane.

That would be the same type that John Denver died in, no?

Bringing your son along to risk his life, too, is douchebaggery.

FWIW, the kid was 22, old enough to make his own decisions. It wasn't like he had a little kid in the plane.

Toiletduck, you are wrong. Aircam's aviation site (new window) calls its craft an ultralight and I think they know their business. Link (new window)

It was designed for low-flight, low-speed pictures over the African savanna.

/I'm a farking pilot
//knows aviation inside and out

CnFlght: I assume that the article's reference to an experimental airplane is synonymous with a build-your-own kit airplane. Some of them you don't even need a pilot's license if its engine is under a certain capacity and size. Those things are death traps. Bringing your son along to risk his life, too, is douchebaggery.

Yep, that's what killed John Denver... well that and he was high, at the time

CnFlght: Toiletduck, you are wrong. Aircam's aviation site (new window) calls its craft an ultralight and I think they know their business. Link (new window)

1. That's not Aircam's site. It's a fan site.
2. What qualifies as an ultralight overseas does not qualify as an ultralight over here.

Do yourself a favor and check 14CFR Part 103, where it will tell you that ultralights must weigh and their max speed, and then check what the Aircam is capable of. The Aircam is not an ultralight in the US.

Here are the specs from the actual manufacture's website:
http://www.aircam.com/Specifications.htm
Note the weight, speed, and fuel capacity and compare it to Part 103. It is not an ultralight in the US, therefor it requires a pilot certificate.

Experimental aircraft and ULC are completely mutual. Again, my friends at the FAA agree with me:
Special Airworthiness Certificate (new window)
Experimental Category

A special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category is issued to operate an aircraft that does not have a type certificate or does not conform to its type certificate and is in a condition for safe operation. Additionally, this certificate is issued to operate a primary category kit-built aircraft that was assembled without the supervision and quality control of the production certificate holder.


Experimental Category
Operating Amateur-built, Kit-built, or Light-sport Aircraft
Special airworthiness certificates may be issued in the experimental category for:

* Operating amateur-built aircraft: to operate an amateur-built aircraft in which the major portion has been fabricated and assembled by persons for their own recreation or education.
* Operating kit-built aircraft: to operate a primary category aircraft that was assembled by a person from a kit manufactured by the holder of a production certificate for that kit, without the supervision and quality control of the production certificate holder.
* Operating light-sport aircraft: operating a light-sport aircraft that:
o Has not been issued a U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate and does not meet the provisions of 14 CFR section 103.1. An experimental certificate will not be issued under this paragraph for these aircraft after January 31, 2008;
o Has been assembled:
+ From an aircraft kit for which the applicant can provide the information required by 14 CFR section 21.193(e); and
+ In accordance with manufacturer's assembly instructions that meet applicable consensus standard; or
o Has been previously issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category under 14 CFR section 21.190.

/anything else you want to be proven wrong on?
//been a farker for years and yet is astonished at what people will want to argue over

Now you're confusing light-sport and ultralights. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME.

Here, let me break down Part 103 for you:

Max weight is 255 pounds; the Aircam weighs 1040 pounds empty
Max speed is 55 knots; the Aircam's is over 100
Max stall speed is 24 knots; the Aircam's is over 35
Max fuel capacity is five gallons; The Aircam's is 28 gallons.

Once again, the Aircam is not an ultralight in the US.

I like pissing contests about airplane knowledge, so I'm obviously getting a kick out of these replies.

Did NO ONE see that the last names of the pilot and passenger is PEREZ??? Perhaps they were trying to make a run to the border...


/ducks and runs

I'm a private pilot, so I'll keep my comments private.

But I am getting a kick out these replies.

ME-iac: I'm a private pilot, so I'll keep my comments private.

I'm a commercial, so mine are for sale.

With the advent of the sport class license anyone still flying ultralight is a giant douche.

/Or a Duchendorf sammich

fragMasterFlash: With the advent of the sport class license anyone still flying ultralight is a giant douche.

Or someone who was denied a medical.

Trance750: well that and he was high, at the time

Obviously he wasn't high enough.

Well, if it's not an ultralight then NTSB investigates and it gets listed on their website right away:
NTSB database
That's pretty cool, you can look up anybody's accident right away, it's public record. Most types of accidents are required to be reported (well not breaking a windshield wiper or anything), and the NTSB often chooses to investigate anything like an emergency landing on a highway even if no accident occurs.

Hmmm... looks like the entire NTSB database is down. That is pretty inexcusable.

Oznog: Well, if it's not an ultralight then NTSB investigates and it gets listed on their website right away.

From that search page: "Generally, a preliminary report is available online within a few days of an accident."

I doubt we'll see a prelim in just a few hours.

Landed on a Russian River sandbar?????????






/Approves!!!!
//Rust FTW

AirCam is twin engine, which is excluded from the Ultralight or Light Sport classifications. It is also too heavy/fast/etc to be UL or LSA as well.

sCnFlght: Experimental aircraft and ULC are completely mutual. Again, my friends at the FAA agree with me:
Special Airworthiness Certificate (new window)
Experimental Category

It can't be an Experimental Light Sport Aircraft or Special Light Sport Aircraft either. These two "Sport Pilot" classifications along with the "Sport Pilot" license have been around for like 3 years now, in fact because of SP they just ended the exemption which allowed 2-seat "trainer" ultralights to exist. Sucks big time.

The AirCam has 2 engines. The two SP aircraft classifications and the SP license only allow single engine.

The SP license costs quite a bit to get, takes a lot of time, and can't really be used to get a Private Pilot License later so it's kind of a dead end. It it full of training and testing on things irrelevant to the way many pilots want it for- just want to take up the wife, putter around over some fields, take some pics, and go home.

I've been through Duncan Mills and Monte Rio many, many times. Trust me they need this kind of excitement.

clear_prop: ...

I just checked your profile. I have a set of those Thirty-3Gs as well. They rock, but the damn battery cover keeps coming off mine.

CnFlght:


/yay hotlinking
//that dad wins the most likely to Darwin his entire genetical stock award from me.
///him and his son's family jewels

Speaking of, do you get a Darwin bonus for bringing your son along on a caper like this?

/does anyone say caper any more?

RandomKeyStrike:

Speaking of, do you get a Darwin bonus for bringing your son along on a caper like this?

/does anyone say caper any more?

I don't eat fettucine unless it comes with capers.

Toiletduck: I just checked your profile. I have a set of those Thirty-3Gs as well. They rock, but the damn battery cover keeps coming off mine.

Send it in and they'll upgrade it to the new style battery box. Lightspeed has really good service. The little holder for the battery box is annoying the way it doesn't hold the battery box tight. It really should click in more.

Trance750: Yep, that's what killed John Denver... well that and he was high, at the time

Was it a Rocky Mountain high?

"Thank god I'm a country buoy"

ericwass: I've been through Duncan Mills and Monte Rio many, many times.

What's impressive is this. The Russian River isn't all that big and surrounded by Redwoods.

/ The old Boy Scouts camp north of Monte Rio is great for cliff diving..

Good wine comes from the russian river valley. And there's a neat Grove there too.

Oscar Brand, unavailable for comment. Fairly obscure.

So 95% of everyone here dislikes ultralights and think they are deathtraps?

Hydrostatic_Equilibrium: So 95% of everyone here dislikes ultralights and think they are deathtraps?

Can't speak for anybody else, but yes, that's my opinion.

I like ultralights and think they're a blast. Smaller planes are just more fun.

I could do without the two strokes though. But, whaddyagonnado.

If it's a two-seater, it ain't an ultralight.

/thought they did away with "part 103" ships anyway, in favor of LSA?

Written by Anastasia Ustinova.

"Hey, Stacy! Another Russian story for you to cover!"

I bet she was disappointed.