A loss for the community

Paul Connor, a builder from Mobile, Alabama, was killed this weekend
after a loss of power in his Rotary Engine powered SQ-2000 canard aircraft.

Paul was as active participant in several online forums, but I must
admit not this one. He had owned 7 airplanes over his 30 years of flying
experience. He had made tremendous progress on the SQ in the past year,
with his moving to the airport last september or so, taxi testing in
November, a First Flight on December 11th, and had either completed (or
was about to complete) his phase 1 testing period... and was planning to
attend (driving to) the upcoming rotary flyin at Slobovia Outernational
in Jackson Mississippi.

Paul's aircraft, N2992, an SQ2000, had an outward appearance similar to
that of the Velocity lineage, and had several modifications, most
notably was the Rotary engine. The engine was essentially a Mazda 13B
rotary engine from an RX-7 but had been rebuilt and modified from the
factory auto configuration in several ways. His engine control unit was
not factory, and was a Microtech brand ECU.

Paul had experienced one power-off emergency in his phase 1 flight test
that resulted in him landing on field, but off runway. Extensive
troubleshooting led us (the rotary community with which he corresponded)
to believe that vapor lock was the culprit, and after re-running fuel
and vent lines, as well as firesleeving, the problem was eliminated.
Paul's most recent accomplishment was the addition of VG's to the
underside of his aircraft to improve cooling air flow into NACA scoops.

Paul will be sorely missed by the Canard and Rotary Engine Communities,
and we hope that the NTSB will be able to ascertain a meaningful cause
of this tragic accident.


http://www.wkrg.com/servlet/Satellit...news%21 local

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregiste...210.xml&coll=3
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Longtime pilot dies in crash
Paul Conner was flying experimental aircraft
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
By RUSS HENDERSON and BRENDAN KIRBY
Staff Reporters

ST. ELMO -- An Army flying veteran with more than 30 years' experience
in a cockpit
died Monday when his experimental, rear-propellered aircraft crashed
just west of the
small airport here....



David Staten
Partner in a Rotary Powered Velocity SE