What is this a/c?
 

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.

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

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.

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

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.

piaggio avanti?

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!

Long-EZ ?

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

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

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

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! :sad:

Thanks for the other postings tho!

Adam.

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

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.

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

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

http://www.immobilieretournesol.com/velocity/XL_RG1.jpg