Gabriel Nderitu has a Dream

[MADean]

Would somebody please help this man... before he hurts himself?

http://www.latimes.com/world/great-reads/la-fg-c1-kenya-airplane-builder-20150819-story.html (http://www.latimes.com/world/great-reads/la-fg-c1-kenya-airplane-builder-20150819-story.html)

I mean, if he's THAT determined....

[cluttonfred]

I actually live in Kenya. If folks wanted to donate to help Gabriel, maybe an abandoned, unfinished ultralight kit and an overhauled two-stroke engine, I could help on this end. Seriously.

[cub builder]

The young man is intelligent and motivated, but lacks financial and engineering resources. He builds from the information he has seen and what he has learned from his previous attempts. I am surprised someone here in the US hasn't granted him a scholarship for flight training and/or Mechanical schooling. You've got to hand it to him, he doesn't give up on his dream. If I was getting ready for another build, I'd be tempted to invite him to join me for a few months of flying and building. You've got to admire his motivation.

-Cub Builder

[FlyingRon]

I think he recently attempted to get the thing to fly. Hence, he now qualifies for my Samuel Pierpont Langley Award for failure to achieve flight in a spectacular manner.

[cluttonfred]

I am quite serious about the fact that I am willing to do whatever I can if anyone really wants to help this would-be homebuilder with flying lessons, plans, materials, a kit, an engine, instruments, whatever folks are willing to donate.

[gbrasch]

That was the headline of the story in my Sunday paper. Gabriel Nderitu is on his 14th attempt at constructing a homebuilt airplane. His first attempt ended in a taxi test when the gear collapsed back in 2010. He has never been able to get off the ground. I seem to remember years ago there was a grassroots movement within EAA members to get this man to Oshkosh. Now how cool would that be?

[FlyingRon]

He's a candidate for the Samuel Pierpont Langley award for failure to achieve flight in a spectacular fashion.

[gbrasch]

Come on, EAA, can you help in any way with this?

[Ron Blum]

Clyde Cessna crashed 12 times before he flew. Where would we be without his determination?

[wyoranch]

Clyde Cessna crashed 12 times before he flew. Where would we be without his determination?
Flying Pipers?
:)

[FlyingRon]

Clyde Cessna crashed 12 times before he flew. Where would we be without his determination?

Clyde's major problem was the lack of piloting skills rather than a viable aircraft.
Mine is still a better comparison. Langley through two aerodromes into the Potomac nearly killing the pilot on the second attempt and the Aerodrome had a better chance of flying than this Kenyan contraption.

[Ron Blum]

I agree that Clyde had a flyable airplane (Bleriot), but Langley never put his life on the line to fly his own design as most of the others did ... with many paying the ultimate sacrifice for doing so. Regretfully to some extent, we will never know the answers to a lot of questions about that period of aviation ... especially about the relationships between inventors and their individual thoughts about flight and about each other.

I applaud Gabriel for living his dream. Yes, someone could donate an airplane to him, but what would he learn from that? If we don't learn the "Why things work that way?", how can we improve on them and challenge the norm? The Wrights are even quoted as saying (and I won't get this exactly correct) something to the effect of "You can sit on the fence and watch birds fly all day, but until you attempt to fly yourself, you will never learn."


Go, Gabriel, fly ... safely.

[Mayhemxpc]

How about start by giving him a copy of NAVWEPS?

[Ron Blum]

All the "Flying and Glider Manuals" from 1929-1933 are good and available from EAA inexpensively.

[Mike M]

Fascinating story. After reading this thread I followed the story link. Then searched for more info, videos of past attempts, ect. Mr Nderitu is a college-educated adult fluent in English who makes his career in the IT field and who lives in the same town as an EAAer who's dedicated to publicizing a safe, simple, low-cost, proven, homebuilt, keep-at-home aircraft - and who is willing to help him. Puzzling why Mr Nderitu hasn't availed himself of the abundant information potentially available from just that local source. After all, the Clutton FRED website, this forum, and many other EAA assets are accessible without EAA membership. Hmmm - how can we help, how can we help?

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-813147

[Kim]

Pietenpol

Any basic aerodynamics books and building books.

I would chip in some money.

I think I have seen reports of similar attempts in Afghanistan, China, and some guy in Russia flying his homemade helicopters.

I think he is on Facebook, I am not so cannot check his progress.

[cluttonfred]

As I said before, I live in Nairobi and will be here through summer 2016. I am not going to organize what to donate, but I would be willing to receive whatever is donated and make sure it gets to Mr. Nderitu, even sending a picture of him with the donations. I have a military/diplomatic mailing address, so there would only be U.S. domestic shipping involved. Personally, I would suggest any and all of the these off the top of my head:



A Flying and Glider manual set.
A copy of Kitplane Construction
The Bingelis book set
One or more simple aircraft plans sets for inspiration or to actually build from: Pietenpol, Volksplane, Texas Parasol, FRED come to mind.


PM me if you'd like my mailing address, glad to help.

Cheers,

Matthew

PS--For any EAA staff reading this, perhaps EAA could donate an EAA membership for the Sport Aviation subscription, or at least a stack of back issues?

[MADean]

Matthew,

Check out "Copyright free aircraft plans" at yahoo-groups. They have plans for all sorts of aircraft. Some are complete, others are not. And all are free.

https://ca.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/cfair/info; https://ca.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/cfair1/info; https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/cfair2/info; https://ca.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/cfair3/info; https://ca.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Cfair4/info

[Kim]

Matthew,

Not sure what you all consider a 'set', but it looks like a lot of these books are available on abebooks.com, some at very reasonable prices.

I could:
-order a few of the books
- have them shipped here
- then ship them to you
OR
- send you (Matthew) some money (paypal), how far would $30 go??
- you order them and have them shipped to your address

Second option is easier for me.....

[Kim]

3rd option is I order some books and have them shipped to YOUR address. Let me look into if abebooks allows that

[gbrasch]

Why is the EAA staff so quiet on this thread?

[Bob Collins]

Why is the EAA staff so quiet on this thread?

I'm with you, Glenn. This is a total no-brainer for the EAA community. It's awful that some simple help from the homebuilders over here couldn't be directed to him. What a great story that would be.

Heck, what a great hero he'd be for all of us if, after he flies, we get him to Oshkosh to fete him.

God, what a missed opportunity!

I've got all the Bingelis books, since EAA isn't interested. Someone give me an address and I'll put 'em in the mail.

[Kim]

Bob, cluttonfred a few posts back offered up his address. I sent him an e-mail. If you are sending the Bingelis books, I try for several of the others from abebooks.



I'm with you, Glenn. This is a total no-brainer for the EAA community. It's awful that some simple help from the homebuilders over here couldn't be directed to him. What a great story that would be.

Heck, what a great hero he'd be for all of us if, after he flies, we get him to Oshkosh to fete him.

God, what a missed opportunity!

I've got all the Bingelis books, since EAA isn't interested. Someone give me an address and I'll put 'em in the mail.

[cluttonfred]

I have sent my mailing to address to Kim and Bob Collins and I am happy to share it with anyone else who would like to donate. To avoid duplication, I suggest posting to this thread the titles of the books you are sending.

And yes, I agree completely that the EAA Staff should be jumping on something like this to show some goodwill for a homebuilder on the other side of the world with big dreams but modest means. A box of back issues of Sport Aviation would be a nice start. EAA is supposed to be about people first, "Airventure" second.

Cheers,

Matthew

[Bob Collins]

I have sent my mailing to address to Kim and Bob Collins and I am happy to share it with anyone else who would like to donate. To avoid duplication, I suggest posting to this thread the titles of the books you are sending.

And yes, I agree completely that the EAA Staff should be jumping on something like this to show some goodwill for a homebuilder on the other side of the world with big dreams but modest means. A box of back issues of Sport Aviation would be a nice start. EAA is supposed to be about people first, "Airventure" second.

Cheers,

Matthew

I didn't receive your address (I've changed my email recently) so if you can send it again, that'd be great. Send it to bcollinsrv7a@centurylink.net.

I have all the Bingelis books, but I think the only one that would really help him is "The Sportplane Builder", which I'd be happy to send to you.

[cluttonfred]

Bob, I didn't sent it by e-mail but rather by personal message in this group.

[Kim]

Ok,

Books 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933 Flying and Glider Manual (five books total) and Kitplane Construction have been ordered thru abebooks.com and should be shipped directly to address Matthew Long sent me in PM.

Someone suggested sending a copy of 'NAVWEPS', perhaps I am paranoid, but sending any books that has 'weapons' in the title to a developing country may not be a good idea. If I am looking at the correct book(s).

[cluttonfred]

Thanks, Kim, I'll be on the lookout and yes, let's stick to books that are clearly for recreational aviation. Does anyone have an unused set of plans to donate, maybe something simple like a Volksplane?

[cluttonfred]

Kim, the Flying and Glider Manual volumes (1929-1933) arrived in two separate packages today, thanks very much. No sign of Kitplane Construction yet.

Let's set a deadline of say, November 30 (mail to Kenya is not fast) for any additional donations that anyone would like to make. Books, plans, etc. If anyone has an unused set of plans to donate, preferably something simple like a Volkplane or Pietenpol or a scratch-built ultralight like a Sky Pup, that would make a great addition.

EAA staff, this would be a great time for someone to jump in from HQ.

Cheers,

Matthew

[Charlie Becker]

All,

Full disclosure, I don’t read the Hangar Talk forum. I’m more of a HB Corner person so this was news to me.

Now that I’m caught up, I echo Mike M’s review of the situation “Puzzling why Mr Nderitu hasn't availed himself of the abundant information potentially available from just that local source. After all, the Clutton FRED website, this forum, and many other EAA assets are accessible without EAA membership.”

That being said, EAA would be happy to provide any of the following books to help put him on a path to success.

Tony Bingelis set
Practical Lightplane Design and Construction for the Amateur
EAA Gas Welding
EAA Sheet Metal Building Basics


If CluttonFred (Matthew) can just let me know which ones to send, I’ll get them into the mail for him to deliver. Also, when you deliver the books you can see about whether he would like an EAA membership. This would give him access to all the back issues of Sport Aviation. I'd need his address/email.

BTW, if you ever feel like I should be aware of a forum thread, send me an email cbecker@eaa.org.
Tailwinds,
Charlie

[cluttonfred]

Thanks very much Charlie, I'll shoot you a PM! Cheers from Nairobi, Matthew

One point of order...I think folks living in the USA, Europe and other developed countries sometimes forget that the majority of the population of Earth does not have easy access to the internet and, when they do, it is often slow and expensive. For example, according to the latest World Bank numbers, about 87% of American use the internet vs. about 43% of Kenyans. What that doesn't show is that, with a per capita income of about $1,400 in Kenya vs. about $55,000 in the USA, most people in Kenya are accessing the internet via cheap phones and pay-by-the-MB cellular plans so they are just able to skim the surface, not really dive in. So for Gabriel and most of the rest of the world, the information access that we take for granted just isn't there.

[Charlie Becker]

Matthew,

Thanks for the education on internet usage. The article stated "For years, he restlessly researched experimental aircraft blogs online and trawled NASA's website for nuggets of information." So I had the impression that he unfettered access the internet like we enjoy in the US.

I received your PM and as you suggested will send the following books:
1) Practical Lightplane Design and Construction for the Amateur
2) Tony Bingelis set
3) EAA Sheet Metal Building Basics
4) EAA Gas Welding

Tailwinds,
Charlie

[cluttonfred]

That's great news, Charlie, thanks.

[Kim]

Matthew,

The 'kitplane construction' book order was confirmed, so it should be coming along. Couple other suggestions, possibilities.

- Aircraft construction may use some unusual terms, would an English dictionary be worthwhile to include? Available cheap in any USA used bookstore
- What about something as basic as engineering/drafting sheets? Is this something that would be readily available where Gabriel is at?
- I assume EAA will be including the obligatory t-shirt and/or baseball cap in their care package.

Kim

[cluttonfred]

Kim, Kitplane Construction has finally arrived, thanks. EAA stuff still on the way. I am still looking for a set of unused, simple plans if anyone has any to donate. I thought I had a set of Pietenpol plans that I was going to throw in myself but I can't find them, so they must be in storage.

[cluttonfred]

5439

All,

I am pleased to say that, while it took some time for many reasons, I was finally able to connect with Gabriel Nderitu yesterday and pass on to him the Fly Baby plans and patch, EAA hat and t-shirt, many books and welding DVD that everyone had sent. Thanks to Kim, Ron, Pete and Charlie (for EAA) for the generous donations.

Gabriel has gotten his self-designed aircraft down to 130 kg (287 lb) empty without the engine, so it's still too heavy to fly with the engine he now has, which is a Hirth F33. He has a wooden prop cut down to size for him by Tennessee Props as well as an Ultraprop, so he is happy with his powerplant but is considering redesigning his plane for partial fabric covering to shed weight.

Talking with Gabriel I found an aviation enthusiast with quite a bit of knowledge but also handicapped by a lack of resources and others to bounce around ideas with. I will keep in touch with him and encourage him to join this and other groups that might be able to help.

Cheers from Nairobi!

Matthew

[Bob Collins]

Well done, Matthew. I'm writing up this story for my day job (I'm a blogger at Minnesota Public Radio).

Now we need to get this guy to Oshkosh.

[gbrasch]

I guess this is turning into an international event, along with a song on You Tube, see here: http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/engine-for-gabriel.94189/

[Floatsflyer]

I guess this is turning into an international event, along with a song on You Tube, see here: http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/engine-for-gabriel.94189/

In this brave new world of the Internet and social media, if Andy Warhol was still alive, he'd have to significantly revise upwards his famous 15 minutes of fame colloquium.

[CHICAGORANDY]

I like many have been following this man's dream from afar.

Any news to report from the past year and a half? Any thoughts on a go-fund-me project to get this guy an ultralight kit that would fly with his small Hirth engine? Or do the logistics make that an impossibility?

If anybody deserves to fly? This fellow has to be near the top of the list.

[gbrasch]

Good question Randy, lets keep it going. And word on his current status?

[CHICAGORANDY]

I've sent off a brief inquiry to Matthew and will report back any response I receive.

[CHICAGORANDY]

Sorry for the necro-post but I was thinking about this guy today and a quick search of YouTube revealed this -

Electric vehicle designs by Gabriel Nderitu,Kenya - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvy2WbTeS6-9_JA_Ax-V_XQ)

I'd still willingly contribute a few bucks to a Go Fund Me or something to get him a REAL ultralight airplane kit he could then build and fly?

His YT channel shows an e-mail address of gabrielnderitumuturi@gmail.com ?