Unusual Sighting (What was that?)

[Kyle Boatright]

Yesterday, we departed Falcon Field, South of Atlanta (also the home of
Aircraft Spruce East) and noticed traffic at about 10 O'clock high. At
first, I thought it was one of the Diamond Eclipse trainers that routinely
fly out of Falcon. Low wings with a high aspect ratio, skinny aft fuselage,
trigear... As we got closer, it was obvious that it wasn't an Eclipse..

Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and had a
V-tail.

What was that thing?

[Scott[_1_]]

UFO??? ;)

Did (or does) Sonex make a V-tail motorglider?

Scott


Kyle Boatright wrote:
> Yesterday, we departed Falcon Field, South of Atlanta (also the home of
> Aircraft Spruce East) and noticed traffic at about 10 O'clock high. At
> first, I thought it was one of the Diamond Eclipse trainers that routinely
> fly out of Falcon. Low wings with a high aspect ratio, skinny aft fuselage,
> trigear... As we got closer, it was obvious that it wasn't an Eclipse..
>
> Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and had a
> V-tail.
>
> What was that thing?
>
>

--
Scott
http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
Gotta Fly or Gonna Die
Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version)

[Scott[_1_]]

Was this it??

http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/xenos.html

Scott


Scott wrote:

> UFO??? ;)
>
> Did (or does) Sonex make a V-tail motorglider?
>
> Scott
>
>
> Kyle Boatright wrote:
>
>> Yesterday, we departed Falcon Field, South of Atlanta (also the home
>> of Aircraft Spruce East) and noticed traffic at about 10 O'clock high.
>> At first, I thought it was one of the Diamond Eclipse trainers that
>> routinely fly out of Falcon. Low wings with a high aspect ratio,
>> skinny aft fuselage, trigear... As we got closer, it was obvious that
>> it wasn't an Eclipse..
>>
>> Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and
>> had a V-tail.
>>
>> What was that thing?
>>
>

--
Scott
http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
Gotta Fly or Gonna Die
Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version)

[Kyle Boatright]

Don't think so. Don't forget the "skinny" aft fuselage I described. It was
wasp waisted, like the current Diamonds or maybe a Lancair.

For what it is worth, I don't think it was a Moni either.

KB

"Scott" > wrote in message
.. .
> Was this it??
>
> http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/xenos.html
>
> Scott
>
>
> Scott wrote:
>
>> UFO??? ;)
>>
>> Did (or does) Sonex make a V-tail motorglider?
>>
>> Scott
>>
>>
>> Kyle Boatright wrote:
>>
>>> Yesterday, we departed Falcon Field, South of Atlanta (also the home of
>>> Aircraft Spruce East) and noticed traffic at about 10 O'clock high. At
>>> first, I thought it was one of the Diamond Eclipse trainers that
>>> routinely fly out of Falcon. Low wings with a high aspect ratio, skinny
>>> aft fuselage, trigear... As we got closer, it was obvious that it
>>> wasn't an Eclipse..
>>>
>>> Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and
>>> had a V-tail.
>>>
>>> What was that thing?
>>>
>>
>
> --
> Scott
> http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
> Gotta Fly or Gonna Die
> Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version)

[Scott[_1_]]

Like all UFOs, I don't suppose you got a good photo! ;)

Maybe a Robin ATL L as in the article below? Doubtful, as it looks
British, but I can't help thinking it approriate with "ATL" in the name
:) I don't think you would have mistaken it for several of the others
listed in the article ;)

http://www.answers.com/topic/v-tail

Scott


Kyle Boatright wrote:
> Don't think so. Don't forget the "skinny" aft fuselage I described. It was
> wasp waisted, like the current Diamonds or maybe a Lancair.
>
> For what it is worth, I don't think it was a Moni either.
>
> KB
>
> "Scott" > wrote in message
> .. .
>
>>Was this it??
>>
>>http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/xenos.html
>>
>>Scott
>>
>>
>>Scott wrote:
>>
>>
>>>UFO??? ;)
>>>
>>>Did (or does) Sonex make a V-tail motorglider?
>>>
>>>Scott
>>>
>>>
>>>Kyle Boatright wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Yesterday, we departed Falcon Field, South of Atlanta (also the home of
>>>>Aircraft Spruce East) and noticed traffic at about 10 O'clock high. At
>>>>first, I thought it was one of the Diamond Eclipse trainers that
>>>>routinely fly out of Falcon. Low wings with a high aspect ratio, skinny
>>>>aft fuselage, trigear... As we got closer, it was obvious that it
>>>>wasn't an Eclipse..
>>>>
>>>>Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and
>>>>had a V-tail.
>>>>
>>>>What was that thing?
>>>>
>>>
>>--
>>Scott
>>http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
>>Gotta Fly or Gonna Die
>>Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version)
>
>
>

--
Scott
http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
Gotta Fly or Gonna Die
Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version)

[Kyle Boatright]

It very well could have been a Robin. The fuselage looks very Diamond like.
The size and proportions look right too.



"Scott" > wrote in message
.. .
> Like all UFOs, I don't suppose you got a good photo! ;)
>
> Maybe a Robin ATL L as in the article below? Doubtful, as it looks
> British, but I can't help thinking it approriate with "ATL" in the name :)
> I don't think you would have mistaken it for several of the others listed
> in the article ;)
>
> http://www.answers.com/topic/v-tail
>
> Scott
>
>
> Kyle Boatright wrote:
>> Don't think so. Don't forget the "skinny" aft fuselage I described. It
>> was wasp waisted, like the current Diamonds or maybe a Lancair.
>>
>> For what it is worth, I don't think it was a Moni either.
>>
>> KB
>>
>> "Scott" > wrote in message
>> .. .
>>
>>>Was this it??
>>>
>>>http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/xenos.html
>>>
>>>Scott
>>>
>>>
>>>Scott wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>UFO??? ;)
>>>>
>>>>Did (or does) Sonex make a V-tail motorglider?
>>>>
>>>>Scott
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Kyle Boatright wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Yesterday, we departed Falcon Field, South of Atlanta (also the home of
>>>>>Aircraft Spruce East) and noticed traffic at about 10 O'clock high. At
>>>>>first, I thought it was one of the Diamond Eclipse trainers that
>>>>>routinely fly out of Falcon. Low wings with a high aspect ratio,
>>>>>skinny aft fuselage, trigear... As we got closer, it was obvious that
>>>>>it wasn't an Eclipse..
>>>>>
>>>>>Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and
>>>>>had a V-tail.
>>>>>
>>>>>What was that thing?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>--
>>>Scott
>>>http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
>>>Gotta Fly or Gonna Die
>>>Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version)
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> Scott
> http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
> Gotta Fly or Gonna Die
> Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version)

[GTH]

Kyle Boatright a écrit :
> It very well could have been a Robin. The fuselage looks very Diamond like.
> The size and proportions look right too.

Kyle,

Not really sure there are Robin ATLs your side of the Atlantic.
But as you said the aircraft was slow, it may well be an ATL after all ;-)

Best regards,
--
Gilles
http://contrails.free.fr

[Ron Wanttaja]

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 18:18:02 +0100, GTH > wrote:

> Kyle Boatright a écrit :
> > It very well could have been a Robin. The fuselage looks very Diamond like.
> > The size and proportions look right too.,
>
> Not really sure there are Robin ATLs your side of the Atlantic.
> But as you said the aircraft was slow, it may well be an ATL after all ;-)

None listed in the 2 November 2007 FAA Registration Database. Just for S&Gs, I
looked in the July 1997 database; wasn't there, either.

Curiously, though, the type is listed in the FAA Aircraft Reference File (Type
05619IM). It's listed as "not Type Certified," which generally means
Experimental category. I'm not sure how planes end up listed in the ARF, but my
suspicion is that someone has to at least start the paperwork to get an
N-number. It wasn't in the January 2005 ARF, but was in the January 2006
version.

The plane Kyle saw may still be carrying its French or British registration
pending completion of its US registry process.

Ron Wanttaja

[Paul Hastings]

Perhaps this http://corvaircruiser.com/ ?


"Kyle Boatright" > wrote in message
. ..
> Yesterday, we departed Falcon Field, South of Atlanta (also the home of
> Aircraft Spruce East) and noticed traffic at about 10 O'clock high. At first,
> I thought it was one of the Diamond Eclipse trainers that routinely fly out of
> Falcon. Low wings with a high aspect ratio, skinny aft fuselage, trigear...
> As we got closer, it was obvious that it wasn't an Eclipse..
>
> Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and had a
> V-tail.
>
> What was that thing?
>

[wright1902glider]

> > Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and had a
> > V-tail.
>
> > What was that thing?


Probably some sort of motorglider. I've seen both pusher and tractor
prop motorgliders with a V-tail with an aft fuselage that looks like
the Diamond series.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.good-deal.com/pitmanair/ulsales/j5marco6.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.good-deal.com/pitmanair/ulsales/j5marco.htm&h=439&w=862&sz=54&hl=en&start=233&um=1&tbnid=hkg3Rdgh0SK5DM:&tbnh=74&tbnw=145&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmotorglider%26start%3D220%26ndsp%3D20 %26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Harry Frey

[rpellicciotti]

On Nov 11, 9:09 am, "Kyle Boatright" > wrote:
> Yesterday, we departed Falcon Field, South of Atlanta (also the home of
> Aircraft Spruce East) and noticed traffic at about 10 O'clock high. At
> first, I thought it was one of the Diamond Eclipse trainers that routinely
> fly out of Falcon. Low wings with a high aspect ratio, skinny aft fuselage,
> trigear... As we got closer, it was obvious that it wasn't an Eclipse..
>
> Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and had a
> V-tail.
>
> What was that thing?

I am going to guess:

http://www.corvaircruiser.com/

Rick Pellicciotti
EZrg N818KD

[Kyle Boatright]

I actually think it was the Robin, as linked in a note from "Scott".

I've seen the corvair cruiser in person, and the aircraft I saw on Saturday
had a longer, narrower wing.


"Paul Hastings" > wrote in message
...
> Perhaps this http://corvaircruiser.com/ ?
>
>
> "Kyle Boatright" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> Yesterday, we departed Falcon Field, South of Atlanta (also the home of
>> Aircraft Spruce East) and noticed traffic at about 10 O'clock high. At
>> first, I thought it was one of the Diamond Eclipse trainers that
>> routinely fly out of Falcon. Low wings with a high aspect ratio, skinny
>> aft fuselage, trigear... As we got closer, it was obvious that it wasn't
>> an Eclipse..
>>
>> Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and had
>> a V-tail.
>>
>> What was that thing?
>>
>
>

[Roger (K8RI)]

On Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:23:23 -0800, wright1902glider
> wrote:

>> > Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and had a
>> > V-tail.
>>
>> > What was that thing?
>
>
>Probably some sort of motorglider. I've seen both pusher and tractor

With a 16:1 glide ratio? My 3100 # Deb is well better than that.

>prop motorgliders with a V-tail with an aft fuselage that looks like
>the Diamond series.

It looks like a fast ultralight that would quallify for sport plane.

Roger (K8RI)

>
>http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.good-deal.com/pitmanair/ulsales/j5marco6.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.good-deal.com/pitmanair/ulsales/j5marco.htm&h=439&w=862&sz=54&hl=en&start=233&um=1&tbnid=hkg3Rdgh0SK5DM:&tbnh=74&tbnw=145&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmotorglider%26start%3D220%26ndsp%3D20 %26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
>
>Harry Frey
>

[Wayne Paul]

I concur with Roger. I don't believe the J-5 Marco
(http://tinyurl.com/38qamk) was ever intended to be considered a
motor-glider. (I believe the official US term is "self-launched glider".)
The wings would need to be extended to 13+ meters.

In order to make the J-5 as efficient as possible, many sailplane design
characteristics were employed. (full span flaperons, single retractable gear
option, spoilers, molded composite construction, etc)

The Flight Design CT is also a very clean aircraft. If your landing
approach is a bit fast, you will float the full length of the runway. I
have often thought that adding spoilers to the CT would solve the this.

"V" tail sailplane designs were common in the 1960s.
(http://tinyurl.com/27esfn and http://tinyurl.com/2w6fuk) I was surprised
to see the design reappear in UAVs.

Wayne
HP-14 N990
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder
W7ADK




"Roger (K8RI)" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:23:23 -0800, wright1902glider
> > wrote:
>
>>> > Why? Well, it was slower than the Diamonds, was relatively small, and
>>> > had a
>>> > V-tail.
>>>
>>> > What was that thing?
>>
>>
>>Probably some sort of motorglider. I've seen both pusher and tractor
>
> With a 16:1 glide ratio? My 3100 # Deb is well better than that.
>
>>prop motorgliders with a V-tail with an aft fuselage that looks like
>>the Diamond series.
>
> It looks like a fast ultralight that would quallify for sport plane.
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>
>>
>>http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.good-deal.com/pitmanair/ulsales/j5marco6.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.good-deal.com/pitmanair/ulsales/j5marco.htm&h=439&w=862&sz=54&hl=en&start=233&um=1&tbnid=hkg3Rdgh0SK5DM:&tbnh=74&tbnw=145&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmotorglider%26start%3D220%26ndsp%3D20 %26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
>>
>>Harry Frey
>>

[Tom C]

Davis DA 5?

http://www.airbum.com/photos/DavisDA-2AandDA-5.jpg


Tom C