What is this a/c?

[eyeofthebeholder]

Hi Guys,

As you have probably seen from my other post I have just come back from holiday in Minorca. Around the weekend of the 23rd, I saw an aircraft that I do think I have seen before.

I was flying from West to East along the south coast (we were at S. Tomas resort) so I assume it was either going to the Mohon or the local field next-door.

The aircraft was black with a pencil-like fuselage with shallow delta-like shaped wings at the back of the a/c. There was at the front of the a/c winglets either side just behind the cockpit in a similar location to the ones on a B1-B Lancer - but the were a lot longer. I assume it had a vertical stabliser - but didn't really see it due to the angle I saw it at.

I would have thought the winglets at the front are the elevators and all other control surfaces are as normal?

Does anyone know what it is?

Cheers

Adam.

[treadigraph]

Hmmm... What sort of size? Jet or prop?

[eyeofthebeholder]

Hi,

I would say it was probably about 50-60foot long - probably enough for 1-2 pilots.

I could tell if it was a jet or prop as there was apparently no sound coming from the craft and I couldn't see any obvious engines or anything. I assume it was a prop - as I would think I would have heard it if it was a jet - even on tick-over.

Problem was it was a bright sunny day so all I saw was silhouette of it against the sky no detail.

Cheers

Adam.

[wub]

could it have been one of these?
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0907721/L/

[eyeofthebeholder]

Hi wub,

Thanks for the reply, but it wasn't one of those - the wing configuration is the same though. What do they call this configuration type?

The a/c I saw also had retractable gear and the main wings were a true delta shape - although quite shallow/thin.

Cheers

Ad.

[bamcb38c]

piaggio avanti?

[wub]

The only other canard design I can think of with that type of wing is the Raytheon Starship (the Avanti has a straight wing)http://www.bobscherer.com/images/Pag...ver_Clouds.jpg
If it was one of these then you are very fortunate, there are only 4 flying in the world!

[WHBM]

Long-EZ ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-EZ

[Oshkosh George]

Well the Spanish have Typhoons (or Eurofighter 2000s),my money is on that.

http://eu.airliners.net/photos/photos/1/5/5/1117551.jpg

[eyeofthebeholder]

Well from the earlier posting today from wub about the Rutan 33 VariEze, I googled it to see if I could find info on the type and found the Beechcraft Starship.

I am sure this is the craft I saw. If it is the Beechcraft/Raytheon Starship and they are only 4 in the world....SWEET ! - only wish I managed to get my camera in time!

Thanks for the other postings tho!

Adam.

[class a]

Starship

Got to sit in the Capts seat of a Starship once in Memphis TN was doing some flying there in a Cessna and it was parked on the ramp got talking to the pilot and he asked me up for a look inside very very nice machine pity i did not have my camera though

[eyeofthebeholder]

Thats cool.

I have just had a quick look on Airliners.net, but there doesn't look as though there is the aircraft I saw on there - so it must be quick illusive. I have also checked around on Google and found none.

The one I saw was very dark/black underneath at least and all ones I have located on the net are white with various markings.

Would be interesting to know who owns it - could be a private billionaire going to their private villa in Mahon or something

Ad.

[wub]

Did you come across this page when you were searching?
http://www.bobscherer.com/Pages/Starship.htm

[treadigraph]

What about a Velocity? There's at least one in Europe, saw it at Shoreham several weekends ago...