Hutch Hutchins?

[Bob Kuykendall]

Hi all,

I'm looking for any information I can find about a sailplane pilot
named (I think) Hutch Hutchins. Last I heard, he flew in Southern
California, and he once owned a Ventus. Is he still around? Where did
he fly? I'm trying to track down a piece of soaring lore that he was
allegedly involved in. Anything you can tell me would be helpful.

Thanks, Bob K.

www.hpaircraft.com/hp-24

[Bob Kuykendall]

Thanks to all who emailed! Apparently I had the name wrong, it is
actually "Hutchinson." The part I'm still trying to track down is,
what happened to the Ventus. I know what some people say the answer
is, and I'm trying to figure out what is real and what is legend.

Thanks, Bob K.

On Dec 1, 10:54*pm, Bob Kuykendall > wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm looking for any information I can find about a sailplane pilot
> named (I think) Hutch Hutchins. Last I heard, he flew in Southern
> California, and he once owned a Ventus. Is he still around? Where did
> he fly? I'm trying to track down a piece of soaring lore that he was
> allegedly involved in. Anything you can tell me would be helpful.
>
> Thanks, Bob K.
> /hp-24

[Evan Ludeman[_4_]]

Aw, come on, what's the legend?

It's snowing here, time for a good story.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

[Bob Kuykendall]

On Dec 2, 8:49*am, Evan Ludeman > wrote:
> Aw, come on, what's the legend?
>
> It's snowing here, time for a good story.

Okay, I'll give. However, first a note of caution: The tale begins
about thirty years ago, and many of the principals in it are no longer
around to set the record straight or to defend their version of it. So
I'd prefer to proceed with some caution.

Here's the short version: Legend has it that in the 1980s one of the
Hutchinson brothers crashed an early Ventus in the mountains somewhere
in Southern California. The wreckage changed hands, and after non-
structural repairs to restore the exterior contours, was used as a
plug to pull a set of molds for a certain composite sailplane kit that
appeared in about 1990.

What I am trying to do is try to figure out if there is enough
institutional memory within the Soaring community to get to the bottom
of the case at hand. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence, and
plenty of unsupported assertion. But is there anybody who was actually
there, who helped retrieve the wreckage, and repair it, and make the
molds? The information I have so far suggests that the bulk of this
work was done by people from outside the soaring world.

So, anybody?

Thanks, Bob K.

[Evan Ludeman[_4_]]

On Sunday, December 2, 2012 12:14:06 PM UTC-5, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
> On Dec 2, 8:49*am, Evan Ludeman > wrote:
>
> > Aw, come on, what's the legend?
>
> >
>
> > It's snowing here, time for a good story.
>
>
>
> Okay, I'll give. However, first a note of caution: The tale begins
>
> about thirty years ago, and many of the principals in it are no longer
>
> around to set the record straight or to defend their version of it. So
>
> I'd prefer to proceed with some caution.
>
>
>
> Here's the short version: Legend has it that in the 1980s one of the
>
> Hutchinson brothers crashed an early Ventus in the mountains somewhere
>
> in Southern California. The wreckage changed hands, and after non-
>
> structural repairs to restore the exterior contours, was used as a
>
> plug to pull a set of molds for a certain composite sailplane kit that
>
> appeared in about 1990.
>
>
>
> What I am trying to do is try to figure out if there is enough
>
> institutional memory within the Soaring community to get to the bottom
>
> of the case at hand. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence, and
>
> plenty of unsupported assertion. But is there anybody who was actually
>
> there, who helped retrieve the wreckage, and repair it, and make the
>
> molds? The information I have so far suggests that the bulk of this
>
> work was done by people from outside the soaring world.
>
>
>
> So, anybody?
>
>
>
> Thanks, Bob K.

Argh. I was hoping for a fun story. That's not a fun story.

T8

[Craig Funston[_2_]]

On Sunday, December 2, 2012 9:25:36 AM UTC-8, Evan Ludeman wrote:
> On Sunday, December 2, 2012 12:14:06 PM UTC-5, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
>
> > On Dec 2, 8:49*am, Evan Ludeman > wrote:
>
> >
>
> > > Aw, come on, what's the legend?
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > It's snowing here, time for a good story.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Okay, I'll give. However, first a note of caution: The tale begins
>
> >
>
> > about thirty years ago, and many of the principals in it are no longer
>
> >
>
> > around to set the record straight or to defend their version of it. So
>
> >
>
> > I'd prefer to proceed with some caution.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Here's the short version: Legend has it that in the 1980s one of the
>
> >
>
> > Hutchinson brothers crashed an early Ventus in the mountains somewhere
>
> >
>
> > in Southern California. The wreckage changed hands, and after non-
>
> >
>
> > structural repairs to restore the exterior contours, was used as a
>
> >
>
> > plug to pull a set of molds for a certain composite sailplane kit that
>
> >
>
> > appeared in about 1990.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > What I am trying to do is try to figure out if there is enough
>
> >
>
> > institutional memory within the Soaring community to get to the bottom
>
> >
>
> > of the case at hand. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence, and
>
> >
>
> > plenty of unsupported assertion. But is there anybody who was actually
>
> >
>
> > there, who helped retrieve the wreckage, and repair it, and make the
>
> >
>
> > molds? The information I have so far suggests that the bulk of this
>
> >
>
> > work was done by people from outside the soaring world.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > So, anybody?
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Thanks, Bob K.
>
>
>
> Argh. I was hoping for a fun story. That's not a fun story.
>
>
>
> T8

Bob,

I think it's a fun story. Waiting for the gripping conclusion..

Craig

[Evan Ludeman[_4_]]

On Sunday, December 2, 2012 1:25:01 PM UTC-5, Craig Funston wrote:
> On Sunday, December 2, 2012 9:25:36 AM UTC-8, Evan Ludeman wrote:
>
> > On Sunday, December 2, 2012 12:14:06 PM UTC-5, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
>
> >
>
> > > On Dec 2, 8:49*am, Evan Ludeman > wrote:
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > Aw, come on, what's the legend?
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > It's snowing here, time for a good story.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > Okay, I'll give. However, first a note of caution: The tale begins
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > about thirty years ago, and many of the principals in it are no longer
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > around to set the record straight or to defend their version of it. So
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > I'd prefer to proceed with some caution.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > Here's the short version: Legend has it that in the 1980s one of the
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > Hutchinson brothers crashed an early Ventus in the mountains somewhere
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > in Southern California. The wreckage changed hands, and after non-
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > structural repairs to restore the exterior contours, was used as a
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > plug to pull a set of molds for a certain composite sailplane kit that
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > appeared in about 1990.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > What I am trying to do is try to figure out if there is enough
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > institutional memory within the Soaring community to get to the bottom
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > of the case at hand. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence, and
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > plenty of unsupported assertion. But is there anybody who was actually
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > there, who helped retrieve the wreckage, and repair it, and make the
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > molds? The information I have so far suggests that the bulk of this
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > work was done by people from outside the soaring world.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > So, anybody?
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > Thanks, Bob K.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Argh. I was hoping for a fun story. That's not a fun story.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > T8
>
>
>
> Bob,
>
>
>
> I think it's a fun story. Waiting for the gripping conclusion..
>
>
>
> Craig

I guess you don't have friends in the Tor Jensen fan club?

It's a nightmare story for some.

T8

[JJ Sinclair[_2_]]

On Saturday, December 1, 2012 10:54:39 PM UTC-8, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> I'm looking for any information I can find about a sailplane pilot
>
> named (I think) Hutch Hutchins. Last I heard, he flew in Southern
>
> California, and he once owned a Ventus. Is he still around? Where did
>
> he fly? I'm trying to track down a piece of soaring lore that he was
>
> allegedly involved in. Anything you can tell me would be helpful.
>
>
>
> Thanks, Bob K.
>
>
>
> www.hpaircraft.com/hp-24

Hutch was seen thermalling soooo low that he was casting a shadow about 5PM, it is believed that he thermalled right into the ground! Nobody knows, not even Hutch who doesn't remember anything after breakfast due to a severe case of dehydration. The ship was bought for salvage and Hutch wasn't involved with the Amecican Spirit projrct.

[Craig Funston[_2_]]

On Sunday, December 2, 2012 11:52:54 AM UTC-8, Evan Ludeman wrote:
> On Sunday, December 2, 2012 1:25:01 PM UTC-5, Craig Funston wrote:
>
> > On Sunday, December 2, 2012 9:25:36 AM UTC-8, Evan Ludeman wrote:
>
> >
>
> > > On Sunday, December 2, 2012 12:14:06 PM UTC-5, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > On Dec 2, 8:49*am, Evan Ludeman > wrote:
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > > Aw, come on, what's the legend?
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > > It's snowing here, time for a good story.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > Okay, I'll give. However, first a note of caution: The tale begins
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > about thirty years ago, and many of the principals in it are no longer
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > around to set the record straight or to defend their version of it. So
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > I'd prefer to proceed with some caution.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > Here's the short version: Legend has it that in the 1980s one of the
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > Hutchinson brothers crashed an early Ventus in the mountains somewhere
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > in Southern California. The wreckage changed hands, and after non-
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > structural repairs to restore the exterior contours, was used as a
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > plug to pull a set of molds for a certain composite sailplane kit that
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > appeared in about 1990.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > What I am trying to do is try to figure out if there is enough
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > institutional memory within the Soaring community to get to the bottom
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > of the case at hand. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence, and
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > plenty of unsupported assertion. But is there anybody who was actually
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > there, who helped retrieve the wreckage, and repair it, and make the
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > molds? The information I have so far suggests that the bulk of this
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > work was done by people from outside the soaring world.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > So, anybody?
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > > Thanks, Bob K.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > Argh. I was hoping for a fun story. That's not a fun story.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > T8
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Bob,
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > I think it's a fun story. Waiting for the gripping conclusion..
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Craig
>
>
>
> I guess you don't have friends in the Tor Jensen fan club?
>
>
>
> It's a nightmare story for some.
>
>
>
> T8

Evan,

Thanks for the lead in on that one. I was mercifully uninvolved in the "nightmare" Apologies to those involved for my lack of tact.

Craig

[Bob Kuykendall]

On Dec 2, 2:32*pm, JJ Sinclair > wrote:

>...The ship was bought for salvage and Hutch
> wasn't involved with the [American Spirit project].

Thanks, JJ! Do you remember what year that was, or where the accident
happened? I didn't figure that Hutch was involved in the kit, but I'm
trying to track back through the Ventus and see if I can uncover a
firm (or at least plausible) link between it and the molds.

Bob K.

[Bob Kuykendall]

On Dec 2, 2:32*pm, JJ Sinclair > wrote:

Hutch was seen thermalling soooo low that he was casting a shadow
about 5PM, it is believed that he thermalled right into the
ground! ...

JJ, I used keywords from your account of the accident, and I was able
to find it in the NTSB database. It looks like it was LAX91LA378, of
31 Aug 1991.

Thanks again!

Bob K.

[[email protected][_1_]]

Bob:

Private e-mail sent.

Mark

[Dave Nadler]

On Sunday, December 2, 2012 12:14:06 PM UTC-5, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
> ... was used as a
> plug to pull a set of molds for a certain composite sailplane kit that
> appeared in about 1990.

That wouldn't be the same crew that:
- didn't understand the torque loads the SH offset spar
design resolves through the root rib,
- didn't do any proof-load tests prior delivering kits
- had unfortunate results for these and other reasons ?

I wouldn't expect anybody involved to admit it,
at least not prior to many beers...

See ya, Dave

[Dan Marotta]

Is that why there's a very nice looking example in the Southwest Soaring
Museum in Moriarty, NM?

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/705037.html


"Dave Nadler" > wrote in message
...
> On Sunday, December 2, 2012 12:14:06 PM UTC-5, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
>> ... was used as a
>> plug to pull a set of molds for a certain composite sailplane kit that
>> appeared in about 1990.
>
> That wouldn't be the same crew that:
> - didn't understand the torque loads the SH offset spar
> design resolves through the root rib,
> - didn't do any proof-load tests prior delivering kits
> - had unfortunate results for these and other reasons ?
>
> I wouldn't expect anybody involved to admit it,
> at least not prior to many beers...
>
> See ya, Dave

[Dave Nadler]

On Monday, December 3, 2012 11:46:06 AM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
> Is that why there's a very nice looking example in the Southwest Soaring
> Museum in Moriarty, NM?
>
> http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/705037.html

IIRC there was a structural retrofit developed, but it was
a LOT of work. Some were updated and some were retired.
No idea about the example in the photo.
Surely Bob K. knows more details !

See ya, Dave

PS: Testing is good.

PPS: I sometimes teach a class on Testing and Testability ;-)

[[email protected][_1_]]

Testing is Good!

After the backbreaking labors of rigging and suspending a Spirit inverted, filling a metric ton of sandbags and loading / unloading them off the [now broken] wings, and then consuming some consumables, the Tehachapi Crew decided the optimal use of ASC gliders was as Salad Bars.

Put the plates and drinks in the cockpit on ice and have the veggies and toppings placed outboard in holes cut into the upper skins of the wings.

Happily, Tom Riley, among others, made the Heroic Effort and turned a few Spirits / Falcons into nice sailplanes.