21 Planes From Scratch | National Geographic

I’m a tinkerer at heart I’m a mechanical

I’m a tinkerer at heart I’m a mechanical engineer and machinist so as a machinist

engineer and machinist so as a machinist

engineer and machinist so as a machinist you can make the parts you need you can

you can make the parts you need you can

you can make the parts you need you can make the tools you need to make the

make the tools you need to make the

make the tools you need to make the parts you need

parts you need

parts you need I’ve got enough equipment here in the

I’ve got enough equipment here in the

I’ve got enough equipment here in the shop that I can make anything that I can

shop that I can make anything that I can

shop that I can make anything that I can imagine 21 airplanes from scratch to

imagine 21 airplanes from scratch to

imagine 21 airplanes from scratch to flight test and 100% success right

flight test and 100% success right

flight test and 100% success right that’s not bad

that’s not bad

that’s not bad we hope to keep it that way Robert

we hope to keep it that way Robert

we hope to keep it that way Robert clearly knows airplanes but I want to

clearly knows airplanes but I want to

clearly knows airplanes but I want to push him a little bit to see what he can

push him a little bit to see what he can

push him a little bit to see what he can build in just two days I don’t know what

build in just two days I don’t know what

build in just two days I don’t know what we’re gonna make but I know it’s gonna

we’re gonna make but I know it’s gonna

we’re gonna make but I know it’s gonna fly this is a unit that I designed back

fly this is a unit that I designed back

fly this is a unit that I designed back in the late 90s it’s called a para cycle

in the late 90s it’s called a para cycle

in the late 90s it’s called a para cycle that’s good doesn’t have any wings

that’s good doesn’t have any wings

that’s good doesn’t have any wings no no wings

this is a powered parachute unit it’s

this is a powered parachute unit it’s something I just dreamed up one day I

something I just dreamed up one day I

something I just dreamed up one day I love creating something new that’s never

love creating something new that’s never

love creating something new that’s never been done before it’s just ingrained in

been done before it’s just ingrained in

been done before it’s just ingrained in me to build something like this from

me to build something like this from

me to build something like this from nothing you can go fly it is just

nothing you can go fly it is just

nothing you can go fly it is just awesome it’s just one of the best

awesome it’s just one of the best

awesome it’s just one of the best feelings you’ll ever have

feelings you’ll ever have

feelings you’ll ever have you do realize how this show works see I

you do realize how this show works see I

you do realize how this show works see I show up and I look at all your stuff and

show up and I look at all your stuff and

show up and I look at all your stuff and then I challenge you to build something

then I challenge you to build something

then I challenge you to build something we can’t build an airplane in two days

we can’t build an airplane in two days

we can’t build an airplane in two days no I don’t think we could do it that

no I don’t think we could do it that

no I don’t think we could do it that quick but we could certainly make some

quick but we could certainly make some

quick but we could certainly make some modifications to one do something that

modifications to one do something that

modifications to one do something that we haven’t done in the past you know

we haven’t done in the past you know

we haven’t done in the past you know okay well we’re gonna have to think

okay well we’re gonna have to think

okay well we’re gonna have to think about this that’s an ultra-light that I

about this that’s an ultra-light that I

about this that’s an ultra-light that I built back in the late 80s it’s a

built back in the late 80s it’s a

built back in the late 80s it’s a two-seater it’s designed for training

two-seater it’s designed for training

two-seater it’s designed for training purposes if you’d like to go for a ride

purposes if you’d like to go for a ride

purposes if you’d like to go for a ride I’ll teach you to fly the aircraft I’ll

I’ll teach you to fly the aircraft I’ll

I’ll teach you to fly the aircraft I’ll let you fly it yes yes I’m gonna get to

let you fly it yes yes I’m gonna get to

let you fly it yes yes I’m gonna get to fly something I’m gonna fly and

fly something I’m gonna fly and

fly something I’m gonna fly and something this guy made up in his head

something this guy made up in his head

something this guy made up in his head and built in his garage initially it

and built in his garage initially it

and built in his garage initially it started as a rec project that I I took

started as a rec project that I I took

started as a rec project that I I took and rebuilt turn into the flange

so I see the plane move and I see the

so I see the plane move and I see the rudder move and I see the stick move and

rudder move and I see the stick move and

rudder move and I see the stick move and then his hands leave and I’ve got the

then his hands leave and I’ve got the

then his hands leave and I’ve got the stick and I’m controlling it and I can’t

stick and I’m controlling it and I can’t

stick and I’m controlling it and I can’t hear him and he doesn’t know and I’m

hear him and he doesn’t know and I’m

hear him and he doesn’t know and I’m trying to talk to him and he can’t hear

trying to talk to him and he can’t hear

trying to talk to him and he can’t hear me and all of a sudden I’m flying an

me and all of a sudden I’m flying an

me and all of a sudden I’m flying an aircraft I couldn’t hear the instruction