Hi Stuart,

Stuart & Kathryn Fields wrote:

Don: What happened to the turbine powered pressurized Velocity with
ballistic chutes on the engine and airframe? If you are a direct descendant
of Bill Gates, you may be able to afford the Velocity and a helicopter.

Since you saw my post in rec.aviation.homebuilt, I'm forced to admit
that I'm mostly a daydreamer ;-) However, occasionally I act on
my daydreams when I can get enough energy and cash together at the
same time.

I soloed in 59 in a Cessna 150, an Aeronca 7AC and an Aircoupe. Flew a
bunch of SEL since including a Benson Gyro that I built. I now have my own
Safari helicopter having soloed in it in 97, got my H add-on 4 yrs ago.

Neat. My dad owned an Aeronica Chief(?) when I was about two years old,
and a Piper Clipper until I was a fifth grader. He later bought my
grandfathers 1966 Mooney M20C, and that airplane is still in the family.
There was a fellow with an Ercoupe at the airport where I learned to fly
in the 70's as well. I've got about 30 hours in the 7GCBC (Citabria)
including some upside down time ;-)

The Benson and Safari projects seem pretty neat. Did you have trouble
finding an instructor that would fly in the machine you built? How is
the Safari on maintenance?

can afford to buy a Bell 47 but I can't bring myself to pay exorbitant
prices for parts that I could make myself. Experimental helicopter has been
keeping me entertained for some time. We even now publish the Experimental
Helo magazine (an enterprise not designed to be non-profit, but is
exhibiting all the characteristics)

Took a look at your website and enjoyed it Stuart. Best wishes for your
magazine. My first thought is that it is a thin market, but you know
that. A story idea: The development of the R22 and Robinson
Helicopters. I heard somewhere that the R22 started out as a homebuilt
before it was certified. Is that accurate?

I went on a tour of the Rotorway factory in Chandler, and got .7 hours
of dual in a 162F. After the R22, the Exec feels pretty stable, however
it has some design issues that lead to short maintenance intervals on a
few things. Overall, I was impressed by the employee owned company that
is Rotorway, but I'm still cogitating on the Exec.

I read on your sight about B J Schramm's death in a Helicycle
accident several years ago. Shows how out of it I am.

Definitely afraid of my wife, but she bought me the plans for the Safari as
a surprise Xmas gift. She has 20hrs dual logged in the Safari and does the
major layout and organization of the magazine.

I'm trying to gently coax my wife into getting her fixed wing ticket
with the thought that if she gets interested I'll get to spend more
time at the airport. She has agreed in principle, but is dragging
her feet when it comes to getting it done.

Don W.