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Professor builds airplane with Waodoni Indians and Ecuadorians
Dr. Don Fanning, Chairman of Cross Cultural Studies Department at Liberty University, spent all his free time over the past six months building a high performance kit plane with Indians and Nationals in the Ecuadorian rain forest. The RV-10 is a 200-mph plane with the latest in instruments, radios and a fully-digital panel, satellite weather, three-axis autopilot and beautiful leather interior.
The airplane pictured was the first plane produced in the jungles of Ecuador with the help of Waodoni Indians, Ecuadorian Christians, Steve Saint and his son, Jesse Saint along with Professor Fanning. Don Fanning and Jesse Saint are the builders of record. The fuselage and wings were built in the jungle, then the leather interior and painting was done in Quito, Ecuador, before shipping to the US.
[Liberty University] (More)RV-8 and car collide
A Van's RV-8 collided with a car on takeoff at Boerne Stage airfield in Texas.Steve departed runway 17 at Boerne Stage (5C1). There is a displaced threshold with a road crossing the end of threshold at the beginning of the runway (Look at the picture on Airnav). Standard departure is from the beginning of the threshold. The car passed from right to left. The owners home, gliders and several homes/hangers are on the west side of the runway requiring them to cross the runway to enter/exit. The plane is severely damaged, one or possibly both fuel tanks were ruptured, Steve was pinned in the plane. Bystanders had to pry and cut him free.
As pilots one of our most important responsibilities is risk management. Many times the problem crosses our minds barely noticed or becomes painfully obvious only after an accident. When we see a safety concern it is our responsibility to follow thru and bring it to the attention of whomever neccessary. This accident finds us noticing local problems. Do not let it slide and later regret it.
George Meketa
RV8, N444TX [KSAT]
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