The Beechcraft Starship

**ytzpilot** · 12-03-2009, 06:57 PM

It just seemed fitting to show a video on the real Starship

Hope you enjoy

For full view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vSiiE2cyuc

**aircav1970** · 12-03-2009, 07:23 PM

Damn Matt,that just hurts my heart to watch them destroy those beauties!Thanks to You and the Archangel Team we will have them in FS for some time to come!

**ytzpilot** · 12-03-2009, 07:37 PM

Thanks Gary....Makes you think that the best way to preserve some of these aging relics is to actually 3D Model them right down to every last bolt.

That way there is a digital record of these Planes (or trains and automobiles) that can be replicated in the future in various media formats.

**Ragtopjohnny** · 12-03-2009, 09:12 PM

Good video there Matt - I think I'm going to even order the whole thing through the History Channel.com site. It's very sad that the plane went well before it's time and hats off to the few pilots like Robert that holds onto theirs to to keep them running.

That is a nice plane - it's a shame - and I agree with you on building almost a digital library for it....that would be a good idea....

.

Wonder what they'd say some time if you said you'd take one of them off their hands in the Boneyard to restore....

. (Not that I ever could or would to be able to...)

John Thuot II
Team Lead/Founder/Texture Artist
http://www.captainjohnfsx.net

**angels355** · 12-03-2009, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by Ragtopjohnny

Good video there Matt - I think I'm going to even order the whole thing through the History Channel.com site. It's very sad that the plane went well before it's time and hats off to the few pilots like Robert that holds onto theirs to to keep them running.

That is a nice plane - it's a shame - and I agree with you on building almost a digital library for it....that would be a good idea....

.

Wonder what they'd say some time if you said you'd take one of them off their hands in the Boneyard to restore....

. (Not that I ever could or would to be able to...)

John Thuot II
Team Lead/Founder/Texture Artist
http://www.captainjohnfsx.net

Are they still there? That would be very expensive. On "Pawn Stars" they bought an old Piper I think it was all dilapidated and a bad engine for $7k, it took $15k to revamp it for sale for $25k to $30k.

**ED_4** · 12-03-2009, 11:49 PM

I too am a fan of the legendary Beechcraft Starship that Burt Rutan has made. It is indeed sad that they are scrapping such a beautiful aircraft.

I have that plane set as my default aircraft in FS9. It's the model that was built by Mike Stone and it's an excellent version of the Beechcraft Starship.

To those that didn't see my post on the Screen Shots forum it's on this link here.

Too bad they haven't thought of building a Mk II version of that with upgraded avionics to today's modern glass cockpit. That would make it even more attractive I would think.

**Ragtopjohnny** · 12-03-2009, 11:54 PM

Not sure if they are Angels, but if so, that would be a sweet deal to do. Like I said, not that I'd be able to, but it sure is nice to dream....

.

John Thuot II
Team Lead/Founder/Texture Artist
http://www.captainjohnfsx.net

**ED_4** · 12-03-2009, 11:57 PM

Upon watching that video above, I also found another great video on another pair of Starships in YouTube:

Watch here.

**SPOFF** · 12-13-2009, 03:10 PM

Looking at the video a couple of times, and hearing the "Explanation" as to WHY Raytheon/Beech decided to .."Buy Back The Leases" ....I am confused. Ths Cost Factor mentioned doesn't seem to be enough of a reason to SCRAP 53 apparently airworthy airplanes no matter the cost. I wonder if it has to be a "Liability" issue. I noticed the turbine exhaust exits directly into the propellers. That can't be a good thing over time.

Is there something else I'm not aware of that just wasn't mentioned..? Just wondering. SPOFF

**angels355** · 12-13-2009, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by SPOFF

Looking at the video a couple of times, and hearing the "Explanation" as to WHY Raytheon/Beech decided to .."Buy Back The Leases" ....I am confused. Ths Cost Factor mentioned doesn't seem to be enough of a reason to SCRAP 53 apparently airworthy airplanes no matter the cost. I wonder if it has to be a "Liability" issue. I noticed the turbine exhaust exits directly into the propellers. That can't be a good thing over time.

Is there something else I'm not aware of that just wasn't mentioned..? Just wondering. SPOFF

Now that you mention it if I recall the 7J7 had carbon fiber props directly behind the jet engine exhaust, perhaps you have a good point. There was a Lear single turboprop with that configuration also. That doesn't seem like a good design, kids these days! I think the King Air is also a beautiful plane, half the cost of a Learjet to operate but darn expensive to buy. I've seen Learjets as cheap as $350K US but King Airs seem to start around $1 million, although I'm not an expert on those prices. In our area Lear 35's seem to be starting around $1 million in good flying condition.

A Burt Rutan business jet would have been cool. YTZ and John, what do you think of doing an additional Experimental Starship, w/ two Learjet size jet engines? Same aerodynamics but a lot more power.

Edit: On the other hand there were successful bombers w/ turboprops that had the props in the rear in pusher configurations if I recall. But they had aluminum props, carbon fiber would be a different story because the carbon fiber is held together by resin. Perhaps they have high temp capable resin?