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-   -   Who are the top 10 in experimental aviation? (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=129686)

comfortcat 09-16-2015 05:18 PM

Who are the top 10 in experimental aviation?
 
My wife knows nothing about boxing, but she knows who Muhammad Ali is. I know nothing about golf, but I know Tiger Woods (and Arnold Palmer just to show my age). You may not be a computer expert and know who Bob Metcalfe is but you know who Steve Jobs is.

The true greats of any field rise above the limitations of the "club" they are a part of.

So who are the top 10 true greats of Experimental Aviation?

I think of 5:

* Orville and Wilbur Wright (I count them as 1 because they are the first successful experimental aircraft builders)
* Paul Poberezny - Founder of the EAA
* Burt Rutan - Father of composite aircraft
* Richard VanGrunsven - Greatest designer and manufacturer of Experimental kits
* Jim Bede - First experimental jet and MANY designs.



So, who are the top 10?


CC

krwalsh 09-16-2015 05:26 PM

Kelly Johnson
 
Kelly Johnson, Lockheed Skunk Works (P-38, Connie, SR-71, U2, F-104, F-117A etc)

Wingnut 09-16-2015 05:29 PM

Curtis Pitts
 
Definitely need to include Curtis.

sprucemoose 09-16-2015 05:31 PM

Bernie Pietenpol.

N941WR 09-16-2015 05:32 PM

I would add Greg Richter and John Thorp to the list.

scrollF4 09-16-2015 06:02 PM

Have you seen my RV-7A? I figure I'm somewhere around number 6 or 7. 8 tops. :cool:

chazking 09-16-2015 06:05 PM

Howard Hughes
 
Well known! But less for aviation in spite of his dignify ant contributions!

rolivi 09-16-2015 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrollF4 (Post 1014460)
Have you seen my RV-7A? I figure I'm somewhere around number 6 or 7. 8 tops. :cool:

Once you paint her! :)

sprucemoose 09-16-2015 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N941WR (Post 1014448)
I would add Greg Richter and John Throp to the list.

Greg Richter? I'll see that and raise you Jim Bede.

Vlad 09-16-2015 06:41 PM

:)

Ukraine. Yuri Yakovlev - Aeroprakt
Russia. Boris Chernoff - several models of amphibians.
Bulgaria. Tony Illieff - AeroplanesDAR
Canada. Yvan Desmarais - Dreamaircraft Tundra.


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