Kenya needs an EAA Chapter

[Check 6]

I have to admire this man's spirit and sense of adventure. Maybe Kenya needs an EAA chapter to give him some help. :thumbsup: Wilbur and Orville have to be smiling from above.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=a-_dsNTZch0

[Flyfalcons]

I say the EAA sponsor a trip for him to come out to Oshkosh for a tour and some hands-on training with the 750 project. Would make a much better story in Sport Aviation than talking about the latest production turboprop coming out.

[Floatsflyer]

I say the EAA sponsor a trip for him to come out to Oshkosh for a tour and some hands-on training with the 750 project. Would make a much better story in Sport Aviation than talking about the latest production turboprop coming out.


That's a great idea and would be a superb gesture of goodwill and fellowship. I couldn't think of a better place to throw a little bit of money at. And throw in some free flight instruction before the poor fellow kills himself.

[Bill Greenwood]

I have heard that this story is not what it seems on the surface.
Rumors have it that the guy isn't Kenyan at all, he was really born in Hawaii.
I got that straight from The Donald, so you can rely on it as true.
Has anyone seen his birth certificate?

And his choice of materials seems a bit on the heavy side, looks like something Republic would built, has a slight resemblance to an A-10.
I think he would want to find a cold place with dense air to do his flight testing, maybe Anartica.

[FlyingRon]

If we get into the point of test flight, I'll give him the Samuel P. Langley award for spectacularly failing to achieve flight.

[cluttonfred]

That's a great idea. If anyone serously wants to pursue this, I live in Kenya and would be glad to help facilitate.


I say the EAA sponsor a trip for him to come out to Oshkosh for a tour and some hands-on training with the 750 project. Would make a much better story in Sport Aviation than talking about the latest production turboprop coming out.

[Floatsflyer]

That's a great idea. If anyone serously wants to pursue this, I live in Kenya and would be glad to help facilitate.


Over to you Hal, Chad and Bryan.

Certainly deserves to be rung up the flagpole and pitched upstairs. Spirit of aviation, goodwill, fellowship, all that EAA stands for for a homebuilder and passionate lover of aviation and a great human interest story for the gathered media at AV. "Third world aviator with literally nothing but a dream to build and fly his own airplane comes to Oshkosh to learn how it's done."

[Check 6]

I think this is a great idea. Just a heads up -- Kenya is not a participant in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, so he would have to go through the application process to obtain a visitor (non-immigrant) visa.

[Kiwi ZK-CKE]

If the man is what he says he is, get him to Oshkosh! The man has passion and vision, and would probably love to have some mentoring to actually get his dream into reality. (and hopefully gain some practical knowledge too!)
As someone who designed an aircraft, I commend his vision!

[cluttonfred]

There are no guarantees, but if EAA were to invite him and pay his way, it is likely he would get a visa. I have some experience with this sort of thing.


I think this is a great idea. Just a heads up -- Kenya is not a participant in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, so he would have to go through the application process to obtain a visitor (non-immigrant) visa.

[Janet Davidson]

The video was uploaded to Utube in 2010, so presumably this occurred some time prior to then. Might be worth checking to see if the gentleman is still interested in aviation or has moved on to other adventures first?

[FlyingRon]

A tourist visa for a Kenyan shouldn't be an issue.

[Check 6]

My point with the visa wasn't that he couldn't get one, but that he has to apply for one and that takes time, e.g. appointment in advance for interview; then interview; then processing time....

[Kiwi ZK-CKE]

Well then, 'We' as EAA better get on with it then!... Do we have anyone to volunteer to drive the project?

[Floatsflyer]

The drive needs to begin on the inside, c'mon boys it's well worth the effort to ensure that the right ears hear the pitch upstairs. It's a humanitarian good news story-we need one!

[Hal Bryan]

I know that we (someone here) tried to reach out to this gentleman as well as the designer of a similar project a couple of years ago when we first heard about it, without success. I'll have to dig into some old emails on Monday and see where that ended up. We'd love to have him attend convention this summer and hopefully pick up some pointers!

[Frank Giger]

I personally don't think that particular project will ever get past the driving stage!

;)

[Flyfalcons]

This update was posted less than a year ago; more recently than the first video. I think the EAA needs to keep trying to contact him


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWOyM9Axn-w&feature=player_embedded#!

[Floatsflyer]

I know that we (someone here) tried to reach out to this gentleman as well as the designer of a similar project a couple of years ago when we first heard about it, without success. I'll have to dig into some old emails on Monday and see where that ended up. We'd love to have him attend convention this summer and hopefully pick up some pointers!


Hal, here's some info that might help with your follw-up:

Our intrepid flyer's name is Gabriel Nderitu. He may live in Kambirwe Village in Muranga east district.
The Kenyan TV broadcaster who posted the videos is KTN. Their e-mail may be standardmedia.co.ke
He tested the plane at Kambirwa airstrip. Hope this helps.

More info:

He is not without some tech background. He is the GM for Fincom Technologies, an IT company in Nairobi. Ph: 254-2027311414; email:info@myfincom.com

Ain't the internet the greatest invention since fire.

[Cobrajock24]

It sure looks like it is severely under-powered. When he sorts that out, who knows, it may well fly!

[Mike M]

Hal, here's some info that might help with your follw-up:

Our intrepid flyer's name is Gabriel Nderitu. He may live in Kambirwe Village in Muranga east district.
The Kenyan TV broadcaster who posted the videos is KTN. Their e-mail may be standardmedia.co.ke
He tested the plane at Kambirwa airstrip. Hope this helps.

More info:

He is not without some tech background. He is the GM for Fincom Technologies, an IT company in Nairobi. Ph: 254-2027311414; email:info@myfincom.com

Ain't the internet the greatest invention since fire.

wonder why Gabriel, an IT guy, hasn't bought some plans over the internet? guess he just has a vision and wants to follow it?

[Bill Greenwood]

I see that at least in one aspect that plane is similar to the new Cessna 162. That is the labor is outsourced and non U S to keep the cost down. I don't know about propellor details, but it looks like there is plenty of "push" power.

Personally, I think that plane is about as likely to fly as for me to win Dancing With The Stars.

[RV8505]

I would give him a BIG "T" for trying and a BIG "E" for effort. I think he is doing great for the Spartan tools and materials available to him. We would all be in a similar shape if we were there. I only wish him luck and hope he continues his dream. In the end maybe we can learn something from him.