Funny looking aircraft I checked out

daofcmacg · Post by **daofcmacg** » 28 Jan 2008, 15:16

Guys I saw an aircraft that caught my eye, first time I saw it I was at work and it was flying about angels 10 or 15, second time I witnessed it it was taking off from Midway airport about 400 feet off the ground. The best description I can give is forward horizontal nose stablilizers slightly swept wings with prop engines nacelles facing backwards 3 rear verticle stabalizers main at 90 degree's and the outmost stabalizers at atleast 45 degrees with standard horizontal stabalizers (I could be wrong). It looked like a lear jet that has mutated into something else. If anybody knows what this thing is let me know I've been looking and can't find it.

DA

Nemisis · Post by **Nemisis** » 28 Jan 2008, 18:21

How big was it? I have seen aircraft fitting this description but they are usually small and they are usually home built, sort of like home build kit cars but planes.

daofcmacg · Post by **daofcmacg** » 28 Jan 2008, 18:53

This was the size of a lear jet maybe bigger but only private business class or smaller. It was taking off from Midway airport a major hub in the midwest.

DA

Softball · Post by **Softball** » 28 Jan 2008, 20:10

I saw this exact plane flying over my school on Saturday. It looks odd to say the least. I'll do some searching and see of I can find a picture of what I saw.

VEGETA · Post by **VEGETA** » 28 Jan 2008, 20:40

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Starship

This it ??, if so ya this a unsuccessful design years ago called 2000 Starship, but still cool and recently one was used as the chase plane for the SpaceShipOne (first civilian craft to make it space).

Also lear had a pusher prod design as well in the works

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LearAvia_Lear_Fan

Buffalo Six · Post by **Buffalo Six** » 28 Jan 2008, 20:43

sounds like a beech starship. These were built here in Wichita in the mid 90s

here is a link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Starship

VEGETA · Post by **VEGETA** » 28 Jan 2008, 20:51

um buff beat you to it

Softball · Post by **Softball** » 28 Jan 2008, 22:46

Yes, it was very similar to that. The one I saw had more of a tail fin than the one shown above.

I'm not sure what the advantage is having the props behind the wing, obviously you wouldn't get the prop wash blowing over the wing with this design.

EDIT: NM, I found this info at the link you guys posted:

Third was its use of a pusher design, with the turboprop engines mounted facing the rear, pushing rather than pulling the aircraft. This design offers a quieter ride, because the tip vortex of the propellers does not contact the side of the aircraft as with conventionally configured turboprops.

Buffalo Six · Post by **Buffalo Six** » 29 Jan 2008, 06:05

this is true fro the passengers Softball.....but the starships were the damn loudest turboprops I have ever hear fly over...I used to live within the landing pattern of Beech...so I got to see a lot of these

Softball · Post by **Softball** » 29 Jan 2008, 09:40

/agree

Yes, the one I saw was quite loud, and it was on a final approach landing pattern.

VEGETA · Post by **VEGETA** » 29 Jan 2008, 09:55

got to admit tho the pusher props out there are some of the more interesting aircraft ever made, here are some examples

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyushu_J7W
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_B-36
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_21
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P180_Avanti
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_Long-EZ

Here is a wiki linking to a large amount of pusher prop planes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Pusher_aircraft

And here a link for aircraft configuration styles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:A ... igurations

daofcmacg · Post by **daofcmacg** » 29 Jan 2008, 10:32

Same here softball the one I saw had rear stabilizers verticle and 45 degree horizontal. At Angels 15 this thing was loud as hell but at 400 feet taking off it was quiet as a church mouse. Only reason why I noticed it at Angels 15 was the noise, I was leaving to go to lunch and I heard before I saw the aircraft I knew it was a propengine but I was expecting the damn thing to be at Angels 3 getting ready to enter the pattern for Midway but low and behold the jolly ole bloke was up there cruisin along loud as all get out.

DA

Mooseman · Post by **Mooseman** » 31 Jan 2008, 10:46

daofcmacg wrote:... the jolly ole bloke ...

Are you planning on moving to the UK with that kind of terminology?

PanzerMeyer · Post by **PanzerMeyer** » 31 Jan 2008, 11:05

Mooseman wrote:
daofcmacg wrote:... the jolly ole bloke ...
Are you planning on moving to the UK with that kind of terminology?

I think he's still trying to perfect his stiff upper lip.

Mooseman · Post by **Mooseman** » 31 Jan 2008, 17:49

powdered viagra mixed with vaseline applied topically - usually does the trick.

Hammer · Post by **Hammer** » 31 Jan 2008, 18:34

i have to wonder how you would even come close to knowing that Moose...

Mooseman · Post by **Mooseman** » 01 Feb 2008, 08:03

you don't think that all us Brits manage the stiff upper lip at all times without some extra help do you?

PanzerMeyer · Post by **PanzerMeyer** » 01 Feb 2008, 08:33

Mooseman wrote:you don't think that all us Brits manage the stiff upper lip at all times without some extra help do you?

LOL!! Enough talk of stiff upper lips. You got any more pics of those nice looking British female friends of yours? You know, the babes from your Halloween pic. :-)

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Funny looking aircraft I checked out

Funny looking aircraft I checked out