Experimental Fly-In at Mojave Air & Space Port at Rutan Field

Provided.

At the Oct. 19 Plane Crazy Saturday, we will be celebrating the return of the Mojave Experimental Fly-In! Featuring all Experimental aircraft, many of which were designed by Burt Rutan. This year MEFI is focusing on best speed modifications.

Mojave Experimental Fly-In is being organized by The Airmanship Foundation, Mojave Air & Space Port at Rutan Field and the Mojave Transportation Museum Foundation.

All aircraft homebuilders are invited to bring their aircraft for display and compete in the speed mod category contest. There will be a Top Speed Award that will go to the best speed-mod per category of increase in aircraft speed as demonstrated by pre- and post-mod flight test data.

Top Speed Award Categories: 1: Top Speed Aerodynamic Speedster: this award is for the best speed mod of aerodynamic experimentation, corresponding to the lift or dray improvements of the mod. 2: Top Power Speedster: This award is for the best speed-mod of pure power of the power-plant improvement, corresponding to the increase in speed associated with a mod. 3: Top Overall Speedster: This award is for the best overall speed modification.

All categories will be rated 1-5 (5 best) based on: 1. Modification build quality – overall build quality, tooling ingenuity, etc. 2. Modification effort – work accomplished over time. 3. Test precision repeatability, statistical relevance, of flight test data. 4. Difficulty – level of build, scope of modification, etc.

Judging – East award is broken into four individual parts, each worth five points, making the total award score a maximum of 20 points. The project with the highest total points wins that award.

Each judge will rate each candidate on the criteria listed. The scores will be tallied and the candidate with the highest overall score will win Best Experimenter. Any tie will be settled by the head judge. In the likely event that the Top Overall Speedster winner also wins an individual category, the next highest score in that category will win the category award.

On Saturday evening, there will be a Pancho Barnes Banquet, complete with Barbara H. Schultz, author of the book, "Pancho!" There will be lots of Pancho memorabilia on display, as well. Also, a Pancho Look-a-Like: contest. You must RSVP at the Airmanship Foundation website, https://www.airmanshipfoundation.org/events where you will be asked to pay online.

On Friday, Oct. 18, the Indoor Fly-In will resume at the Stuart O. Witt Event Center from 5 until 9 p.m. Dan Kreigh and crew are organizing all of the details. The cost is $20 to participate and build your own free flight glider, $6 to be a spectator. Pizza and drinks for participants.

Zack Reeder currently flies the Catbird aircraft that was designed by Burt Rutan and is planning on having this aircraft on display.

According to Scaled Composites website, "The RAF/Scaled Model 81, was a proof-of-concept light plane aimed at replacing the Beech 'Bonanza'. This very sleek little five-place tractor airplane was powered by a single 210 hp turbocharged four-cylinder Lycoming TIO-360 with a two-bladed Hartzell constant speed prop on the front end, and the pilot sitting up front on the centerline. The next row of passengers sat on either side of the pilot but aft about 15", the 4th and 5th passengers sat back-to- back with numbers 2 and 3, facing aft. The airplane had a very low drag, low wing with a forward swept "T" tail and a small canard near the firewall."

The Rutan Model 202 Boomerang is a high performance pressurized five-place light twin experimental aircraft. It was designed and built by Burt Rutan to increase performance, efficiency and safety compared to other general aviation aircraft available. The Boomerang is Burt's solution to a high performance multi-engine aircraft that would not become dangerously difficult to control in the event of a engine failure.

The Boomerang first flew in 1996 and was used by Burt for personal transportation. Currently the Boomerang is being maintained and operated by Tres Clements and it will be on display at MEFI!

Great fun for kids of all ages! Call Mojave Air & Space Port at Rutan Field for more information (661) 824-2433.

Courtesy Scaled Composites.

Boomerang.