Rooster flies

[Arjen]

Found at David Cenciotti's blog:

http://vimeo.com/34227441

Image credit: Daniele Beltrame

 

[shedofdread]

Wonderful! How can one not smile at something like that? Thanks for posting.

 

[Bill Walker]

Is that a loud speaker between the main gear? Anybody know anything more about this interesting aircraft?

 

[Arjen]

Is that a loud speaker between the main gear?

Probably. Hopefully fitted for genuine rooster-like crowing.

Anybody know anything more about this interesting aircraft?

Just these bits:

Text from David Cenciotti's site:

Designed by Italian aircraft designer and builder Ottone Baggio, the “Aerogallo” made its first flight on Dec. 26, 2011. Since then, the Rooster plane, in the hands of test pilot Daniele Beltrame, has become one of the highlights of last airshow season in Italy.

The aircraft features a Rooster head and neck jutting out of the high wing’s leading edge which house the engine, wooden wings, steel tube fuselage covered in fabric, and a proper paint job.

The control systems is as weird as the aircraft itself: the control sticks comes down from the cockpit’s roof and is counter-instictive – you have to pull it back to dive and to push it forward to climb. Hard to believe, still, working, as the above images and following video prove.

Italian text from Vimeo:

A Nervesa della Battaglia, il 26 dicembre 2011, presso Campo Jonathan il Gallo lascia per la prima volta la pista per andare a razzolare lungo il Piave, nelle mani del test pilot Daniele Beltrame, sotto lo sguardo pieno di apprensione del costruttore, Ottone Baggio e dell'autore della livrea, Giuliano Basso. Dopo una decina di minuti il ruspante rientra al suo pollaio... ops... hangar.

Which I take to mean:

In Nervesa della Battaglia, on December 26, 2011, near Campo Jonathan the Rooster leaves the strip for the first time to go and roam along the Piave river, tested by pilot Daniele Beltrame, under the apprehensive gaze of the manufacturer, Ottone Baggio and the livery artist, Giuliano Basso. After about ten minutes the free-ranger returns to his hen-house... oops ... hangar.

Campo Jonathan is home to Gruppo Aerotraino Jonathan. Jonathan as in Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Website.