dan (12/17/82)
I just received my December 15, 1982 edition of "The Aviation Consumer" which has an interesting lead article. It seems that the nosegear failed to extend on Mike Smith's prototype composite-body single engine Propjet during a recent test flight. Not wanting any delays in the development of this aircraft, Mike Smith at the controls of the plane decided to try something radical. He got his ground crew to chase him in a pickup truck after touchdown with the intention of grabbing the tail. As the aircraft slowed, the extra weight at the tail would hold the nose off the ground avoiding expensive damage to the engine and "plastic" body. Several attempts failed because the pickup could not catch the aircraft before the nose started to settle. Then two brave motorcyclists with two daring passengers decided to give it a try. After some test runs, Mike Smith touched down and the motorcyles came up along either side of the tail. The passengers grabbed the horizontal stabilizers of the T-tail and hung on for dear life as the plane slowed to a stop. The mechanics were able to get the nose wheel down on the runway and the airplane was rolled back to the hangar unharmed! Dan Park ...!decvax!cca!sri-unix!hplabs!hp-pcd!orstcs!dan