You left???

 

Yeah, I questioned my sanitiy at the time but 18 years as a partner in a firm that we built from scratch was enough...even the free airplane can't cure it when you don't want to be in the same room as your business partner. It was time to move on.

I am only single engine rated so I could fly the heavier iron (Chiefton and later Turbine commander) only with our corporate pilot. Still missed the C 182's and the P210 but the commander was a blast to fly if you could make it to the runway. Nosegear hydraulic steering was REALLLLLY touchy

Sounds like we have quite a few MINI fans that fly.....

 

Been there, done that--withOUT the plane.

Our Yankee had a touchy nosewheel, too. Caster steering, no toebrake. Pretty effective, though it could easily shimmy.

 

Terrafugia probably?

 

Hadn't heard of it, but it looks nice. Bit pricey for the speed, but beats standing in line at Avis...

No, I was thinking of something in the "old days." MY old days, that is...

 

Is this old to qualify? Looks like pretty simple concept. Burns etanol.

 

Hmmm, nope, but it's another interesting design. I'm thinking of something that was from the post WWII boom, in the same era of the original Aerocar.

 

Waterman Aerobile maybe?

 

Got several hours in a Grumman Lynx and really enjoyed flying a Grumman Tiger a bit. That castoring nosegear sure makes parking easy! I loved the direct control feel of the push rods.

 

It occurs to me that I was a little inaccurate in my description. Yes, it had toe brakes, but no brakes on the nosewheel. As long as you were above about 15 mph, it steered just fine.

Bravo Kilo, that wasn't it, either. Maybe it was just in my head (there's a lot of stuff buzzing around there). I'm intrigued by the photo, though. Where was it taken--Duxford, maybe?