[simpits-tech] OT: EX Copter Crash

[Bob Phillips]

If you read the rest of the story on the news link, you will find that the
airframe was made for a hard landing, if the wheels are down.  It seems that
the owner of the aircraft wired the gear horn (the thing that makes noise if
gear not down) off  because it kept going off during high speed taxi tests.
This was at the request of the test pilots.  This flight was only the second
of many done with the gear up.  On hand were several DoD people and they
were impressed with the way the bird withstood the crash, so it was not a
total loss.  They also expect to have this thing flying again in about 3
months with a bigger engine and be able to really go fast.  The idea is to
make this the fastest rotar equipted bird and maybe to be able to compete
with the Osprey...


Bob aka Lumper