I was shocked to hear yesturday that the superb Hughes H-1B Racer Replica that was at Oshkosh was lost on its return flight from Oshkosh Monday evening as was the pilot. Apparently it went down in Yellowstone National Park near Old Faithful.

This replica was immaculate. We had given it a close up last Wednesday there.

Thats a shame. Not sure of the pilots name but our prayers go to his family.

Dave Hamblin
(formerly DaveH on old site!)

• RE: Hughes H-1B Lost...,Ben_Chiu, 17:52z, 08-07-03
  • RE: Hughes H-1B Lost...,DHamblin, 19:23z, 08-07-03
• RE: Hughes H-1B Lost...,padre, 18:25z, 08-22-03
  • RE: Hughes H-1B Lost...,Ben_Chiu, 06:01z, 08-24-03

Greetings Dave:

Is there any information on this (e.g. engine failure, structural failure, weather, etc.)?

If I recall correctly, this is the silver Hughes Racer, correct? That was a sleek airplane. I believe it set a few records back when it the original flew.

Our sympathies go out to the pilot's family.

Ben

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Yes, the Silver one. Haven't heard any speculation yet, but my guess is engine from the way it appears to have come in.

Didn't see the preliminary NTSB report as of yet.

Dave Hamblin
(formerly DaveH on old site!)

Hi
We saw PW fly at Oshkosh after the thunderstorm on Thursday, and it was awesome! My office is at the Aurora (IL) airport, and IAC chapter 1 is hosting their annual comp this weekend, so you can be sure that we'll be thinking about how much better you'd do when we see all of those Extra's and Sukhoi's getting abused!

We also saw the H-1 at Oshkosh, and were shocked like everyone else. I found some good links re H-1 accident:

local newspaper report, includes interview with pilot at last refueling stop:
http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/articles/2003/08/05/news/export10930.txt

Message posted on Jim Wright's (great name for a pilot, isn't it?) company site, with eyewitness accounts:
http://www.wrightmachinetool.com/hughes/

I hope the links are useful. It doesn't appear JW was intending to land when he had his initial problem, but the design similarities between the H-1 and (similarly doomed) Sunami are striking.

pull some g's for me
rw
rick.walker@flightvisions.com

Hi Rick:

Thanks for the links. Gee, from the accounts it sounds like a mechanical failure of some sort. The "gear" system is very interesting (never knew about that) and from what little I read so far, a prime suspect in the cause. I'd like to read up more about that system.

Ben

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