Kenyan homebuilt - latest

How about an EAA staff donation jar here at HQs?  I'd gladly contribute! 

Zack

Great story.  I hope he is able to succeed!

I'm going to show these videos at our next chapter meeting.  I could pass the hat for donations.  If you get the chapters involved in the fund raising you could raise the cash in no time.

PS- Adam, forget about housing him at your place- he needs to stay in Scholler for the full experience.  There is a large and loud South African contingent where he might find some countrymen.

Put me down for $100.00.  Let me know where to send the check.  I love this guy's spirit!

Daniel Findling

 Jeff,   I am sure you didn’t mean to sound insensitive but Kenya and South Africa are very much different countries and cultures.   No doubt dreamers of flight live in every country and culture.

Maybe we can direct the aero club to mentor this hard working dreamer. 

http://www.aeroclubea.com/

I wonder how many black members they have?  

On third viewing I note the aft tandem wing to be at a dramatically different angle from the front (main) wing.  I doubt any nose gear could deal with the pressure.  Innovative design though.  

Jim,

No insensitivities intended.  The point of my post was not geographical, it was 1) to offer an idea to get the chapters involved in fund-raising for this, offering my own chapter as a starting point and 2) point out that staying in Scholler would be a better way to experience Oshkosh.  No offense meant to any Kenyans, South Africans, or Adam for his generous offer to house this gentleman for the show.  I was just adding my $.02 to the brainstorming.  I'll take the F in geography though.  That's what I get for posting at 2:50AM.

A huge tip-of-the-hat for his enthusiasm, work ethic, and tenacity.

However... I really hope someone, with some real aircraft know-how, would take this man aside and teach him some basics. Before he hurts himself... or someone else. I'm not worried that this "air"craft will ever get off the ground. But there are other ways to get injured.

Having said that... I, too, support the idea of bringing him to Oshkosh. After all, where better to learn the basics?

So where do i send my check?

http://www.atdforum.org/spip.php?article132  

How about this guy?

Adam.. and everyone...  I think you have a great idea.  What I have done every year to make the Indiana Aviation Safety Seminar possible was to get the Aviation community and suppliers involved and they have always been more than helpful. Aircraft Spruce, Wicks, California Power Systems,  King schools.. etc. etc.    They have been incredibly supportive for the safety seminar and I imagine if they were approached to help further the aviation education and safety of this gentleman from Kenya they would be more than supportive.  I would like to see one of the chapters close to Oshkosh start this ball in motion. I say close to Oshkosh since that is where aviation Heaven is located.    A second idea would be to ask EAA members ( or anyone for that matter ) to donate training materials, flying magazines, training videos, etc etc to this gentleman.  I have years of  EAA, Sport Aviation, Flying, Kitplanes etc that I will gladly mail out along with some King GA trainging videos.  If anyone would like to take on this task I will gladly do whatever I can to help. I would take on the whole thing but I'm currently stuck in a wheelchair following an automotive accident and not sure how useful I can be... but I will do whatever I can.  Let's show that the spirit of aviation is more than just flying... it's getting someone new brought into our sport and doing so safely.  Just look at the support the gentleman had trying to get his plane in the air. Imagine if we joined in.  I'm game!!   Anyone know how to find a mailing address on this gentleman? The video came out of there so someone knows where it is.   Lets do this!!

Lets get the e-mail for this guy and send him some cash.  I feel for his passion and enthusiasum for flying.  Lets buy him an aircraft kit and let him go.  I am sure there a re a couple of hundred people that would like to have him live his dream ,like a lot of us priveledged  people have had. 

John

I will offer an X-Air kit at cost price if you can get the funds...   www.xair.com.au    he is going to need a Rotax 582 or 503 as well.

Michael Coates X-Air Australia

Count me in. This guy is awesome. Just let me know where the jar is.

Like Mike Dean must have, I had flashbacks to early films of flight attempts that ended in tears.  The airplane this man has built looks to be made of cast iron and has no chance of leaving the ground.  I would not like to see him injured or killed in the effort, and hope that the wave of enthusiasm shown in the posts-- so shortly after the message was received-- is a sign that the global aviation community can embrace him and help him find the training and resources needed to fly his own aircraft over his home country.  What a hero and inspiration he could be!

Here's my commitment for $100 to get him to Oshkosh!  He speaks English pretty well and would get a great deal out of the visit.  I'll be at AirVenture next year and hope to shake his hand.

Hunter Heath

EAA 37802

That's a pretty scary looking plane. Copnsidering what he had to work with, it's pretty impressive never the less. It would be nice to see what he could do with the proper tools, materials and some guidance. He's certainly got the fire in his belly.

The most immediate thing we could do for this man, and in my view the BEST thing, would be to send him the set of Tony Bingelis' books. He really could use this right now.

What a great opportunity for the EAA.  Sky-Tec's in for a donation if someone can organize the "jar."  And if someone can figure out how to get a care package to this guy and his men, we'd be happy to donate a welding helmet for those guys using their eyelids for eyesight protection in that video!!!???  - Rich

I think we all know in our hearts that even though this mans efforts are aircraft shaped, it will never fly. I stand and applaud his innovation and dreams, and he is the spirit that we all share in aviation.

I actually figued out that the 500,000 shillings that he has into this plane converts to $312.00 U.S.. To a man like this thats a fortune.HIs heart and soul went into this project. He deserves to fly.

Isn't this the true, true spirit of EAA? Isn't this how it all began? What an inspiration Let's bring this chap (& his airplane??) to Oshkosh. You have my commitment for $100 as well. EAA, start adding up the pledges and organize this please. Thanks.

Am I the only one completely appalled by this video for several reasons?? 

It is not flattering to aviation, African's, the EAA, or anyone associated with it.

The only thing I admire is the single-minded dedication of the person pushing the project through.

This video would make Orville and Wilbur roll in their grave.

When one (if not more) of these guys gets killed, and it's only a matter of when...not if... I don't want the EAA anywhere near it.

They have no scientific approach, no technical skills, no raw materials... They don't need donations, they need an education.  I admire their desire, but throwing money at this project is NOT what is needed

There are lots of educated African's, unfortunately none of them seem to be working on this project.  I"m embarrassed that people on this page are endorsing this approach.

You folks may think this is funny... but I think joking at throwing money at a bunch of well meaning but uneducated people so they can kill themselves on a improperly conceived project is not the standard we should hold ourselves to.