Homebuilt UK to USA Non-Stop

David O wrote:

Ron Wanttaja wrote:

Yeah, it's kind of funny...so many people are making a big deal about this
most-recent flight, when Insitu did it five years ago.

The TAM aeromodel crossing remains a "big deal" from my perspective
for a number of reasons. Kudos to Maynard Hill and the gang.

Not that I disagree, but would you mind elaborating on your "number of
reasons?"


--
Frank Stutzman
Bonanza N494B "Hula Girl"
Hood River, OR

Frank Stutzman wrote:

Not that I disagree, but would you mind elaborating on your "number of
reasons?"

That such a small group and small airplane could do it, even if
they weren't the first, is remarkable.

Dave 'long legs' Hyde

Frank Stutzman wrote:

Not that I disagree, but would you mind elaborating on your "number of
reasons?"

Scaling to FAI recognized aeromodel limits (11 lb max weight and 10 cc
max engine displacement) was extremely challenging. The TAM effort
was more than four years in development by a small group of dedicated
unpaid volunteers. Team Leader Maynard Hill is 77 years young and,
over a period of almost 40 years, established 23 FAI recognized
aeromodel world records. His pioneering endurance work gave the TAM
project a jump-start. Mr. Hill has done much to further the art of
aeromodeling and this was his crowning achievement (to date). It was
a big deal for him, a big deal for his team, and a big deal for the RC
aeromodel community. The Insitu "Aerosonde" weighed about 29 lb and
was not an FAI recognized aeromodel. Its development was a commercial
effort by engineers under sponsorship from US Office of Naval
Research, L3 Communications, and Boeing.

David O -- http://www.AirplaneZone.com