Hughes racer crashed

[keebird]

http://www2.faa.gov/avr/aai/B_0805_N.txt

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 258Y Make/Model: EXP Description: EXP- HUGHES 1 B
Date: 08/05/2003 Time: 0030
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK State: WY Country: US
DESCRIPTION
ACFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY
INJURED, NORTH OF OLD GEYSER IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WY
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: SPECI KWYS 042346Z AUTO 16008KT 20SM BKN040 22/09 A3026
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Unknown Operation: General Aviation
Departed: GILLETTE, WY Dep Date: 08/05/2003 Dep. Time: 0030
Destination: EUGENE, OR Flt Plan: UNK Wx Briefing: Y
Last Radio Cont: UNK
Last Clearance: UNK
FAA FSDO: CASPER, WY (NM04) Entry date: 08/05/2003

 

[flywithastick]

Unbelievable!!! I just saw this plane and talked with (one of) the builders last Wednesday!

Talk about a work of art. I really was wondering why they didn't put that thing in a museum. The skin fits, machined components, finish... what can I saw. it was the most beautifully and precisely constructed plane I've seen in my 37 years.

Very, very sad news.

http://www.wrightools.com/hughes/

http://www.airventure.org/2003/gallery/monday/hughes_racer_600.jpg

http://www.airventure.org/2003/gallery/thursday/hughes_sunset_600.jpg

 

[jbDC9]

Holy crap!

Wow, that really sucks.... I walked around that thing several times at OSH, just taking it all in; no question, it was the most beautiful airplane I've ever seen, just an absolute work of art. Now, gone. And not just a fender bender either, destroyed, fatal... sad.

 

[mattfish42]

sad

Unbelievable. I saw the plane from a distance at Reno and was very impressed. Beautiful lines. I enjoyed reading various magazine articles and websites about it. Two days ago I walked 'round and 'round that plane, marveling at the craftsmanship. The wooden wings were easily the equal of any fine cabinetry. Some of the sheetmetal joints were so close the seam was nearly invisible. Perfect mirror polish. I tried pointing out some of the details to a friend, but he didn't understand why anybody would be interested in a plane that can't fire missiles. Idiot. I directed his attention to the perfect sheetmetal work, and he TOUCHED IT! At least I got the satisfaction of smacking his hand.
Without a doubt the most beautiful airplane I have ever seen.

 

[Beantown]

More info:

http://www.trib.com/AP/wire_detail.php?wire_num=113911

 

[generaltso]

He had problem "switching gears"? Is there something weird about this airplane or is it just the media

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

He had problem "switching gears"? Is there something weird about this airplane or is it just the media

geared prop, maybe? that sounds pretty cool (complex), can you imagine how many pedals it had, if it had been a manual?
maybe a hand clutch and a foot gear shift, like a bike??

 

[mattfish42]

gears?

I never read anything about an unusual set-up with the prop. It looked like your everyday constant speed prop. It sounds like Wright may have been experiencing problems with the engine getting stuck in one RPM, and told the press it wasn't "switching gears" just to avoid the pain of attempting to explain the system to them. Another possibility is that he told them he was taking off "in second gear" just to mock the reporter. It's hard to imagine continuing the flight with any kind of governor problems, though.

 

[JBcrjca]

Oh man, what a waste. I spent 3 days at OSH, and if I'd taken a camera, the Hughes Racer is the only plane I would have photographed. I spent at least 10 minutes just crouched under the wings admiring the quality of the machining and workmanship. The woodwork in the flapwells, the beautifully machined gear doors that also served as the struts, the intricate retraction mechanism...and how about those skin butt joints? So tight that a razor wouldn't fit; and the gorgeous compound curves of the cowling. A tremendous amount of work...I wish it would have flown during OSH, but I guess it would have been better off in a museum, actually. It'll be interesting to see what really happened.

 

[flywithastick]

I sure thought it had a non geared Pratt in it with a normal hydraulic prop. This sticks in my mind, since I thought the original had a Wright (engine). I was looking inside the cowling for a few minutes, because it had something that looked like a TV camera inside. It was either - a TV camera or a tach.

Maybe Mr. Wright was speaking euphemistically about not being "stuck in low gear", i.e., prop gov problem.

 

[RJones]

Was it a geared supercharger? Some of those old radials had geared superchargers and you had to reduce power, switch gears, then apply power again.

 

[enigma]

I sure thought it had a non geared Pratt in it with a normal hydraulic prop. This sticks in my mind, since I thought the original had a Wright (engine). I was looking inside the cowling for a few minutes, because it had something that looked like a TV camera inside. It was either - a TV camera or a tach.

Maybe Mr. Wright was speaking euphemistically about not being "stuck in low gear", i.e., prop gov problem.

According to a write up in a recent aviation magazine, (I'm trying to remember which one), the replica was equiped with an original engine. In fact, it was only airworthy engine in existance.

If I was on my home computer, I'd change my avatar back to the H1. What a shame.

regards,
enigma

 

[A Squared]

I sure thought it had a non geared Pratt in it with a normal hydraulic prop. This sticks in my mind, since I thought the original had a Wright (engine). I was looking inside the cowling for a few minutes, because it had something that looked like a TV camera inside. It was either - a TV camera or a tach.

THe reproduction, like the original, had a Prett and whitney R-1535 twin wasp Jr. I don't know the specific model engine but the twin wasp jrs had either a 3:2 or 4:3 reduction drive.

 

[SPBRIAN]

Godspeed Jim

It has taken me a few days of stopping and starting to write this and be able to do Jim justice. I live in Cottage Grove where he lived and built the H1, and my family and most of the town knowing the man. I had been able to drop by the hanger and watch, as this remarkable and beautiful airplane has been constructed in the past 5 years.

Jim was the type of a man who would very seldom miss an oportunity to share his creation with the world, as he would allow people to drop by the hanger with no notice, and then take time out of his very busy schedule to talk with you. He always had a smile on his face and a passion unmatched for aviation.

After the H1 was constructed he still did not keep it secluded and tucked away from the public from fear of somebody harming it, I had never seen it roped off. Instead he invited people to get close and feel the immense aura that radiated. He was a great man and a very special spokesperson for aviation.

I hope that as a group everybody who reads this post from now on can take a moment out from the contracts and the bickering, to reflect on those very special people who make aviation what it is. I would also request that if you have some special moments to read his website, especially the forum as a tribute. He was a great aviator, I wish I had taken the time to get to know him better.

Godspeed Jim.

-Brian

Website is
http://www.wrightools.com/hughes/

 

[EagleRJ]

The Racer was written up in Air and Space Smithsonian a few months back. If I remember, Jim said there was an issue with the counterweights on the prop. The weights were initially too heavy, and on his first flight, he couldn't go faster than 120 MPH without redlining the engine. The engine began to overheat, but he was able to land successfully.

I saw the plane at Oshkosh too, and I've never seen workmanship of that caliber. It was truly phenomenal. Jim said in the article that he estimated the project took 35,000 man/hours and $1 Million to complete.