N. Las Vegas Plane Crash

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By Ryan McAfee

Friday, Aug. 22, 2008 | 12:21 p.m.

An experimental plane crashed into a home Friday morning in North Las Vegas, killing the pilot and two people on the ground.

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1. By Doug_Rodrigues

   8/26/08 at 5:23 p.m.

   Suggest removal

   There have been a few comments about “that piece of junk” airplane which just happens to be of a more modern and efficient design than most factory built airplanes. The term “Experimental” is a misnomer. It applies to most airplanes not factory built. The construction of kit airplanes (also mis-named “homemade” airplanes or “not real” airplanes) is usually as well done or better than most factory built airplanes. The vast majority of “Experimental” airplanes are made from precise plans or from engineered kits. A good analogy would be if you were able to purchase a highly priced automobile in kit form and save yourself thousands of dollars to bolt it together yourself. The people with the mechanical ability would take advantage of the savings and do exactly that. Same with kit airplanes, except that everything has to be assembled perfectly. The FAA inspection prior to first flight confirms the quality of assembly just like they do with a factory made plane. The people working in the factory have no more skills than the kit plane builder, contrary to what non-aviation people think.

   Randy Walker and a few others have expressed their negative opinions about banning “Experimental” airplanes and Flight Instruction from North Las Vegas Airport because he considers them dangerous? That would analogous to banning automobiles and anyone without a Commercial Driver License from using Freeways because innocent people are killed each year on Freeways. Interestingly, Flight Instruction and solo student flying has the lowest of accident rates, so why even consider banning them? I’m thinking that perhaps Randy Walker’s ideal airport is one for show only, but not for use! If a Boeing 767 crashed after taking off from McCarran International and plowed through a residential neighborhood, should McCarran International ban jet Airliners? Such a disaster can happen, you know.

   North Las Vegas Airport, like every other airport in the country, was once located away from development. As the years went by the airport became enclosed by residential housing, Casinos and other businesses. Why do City planning commissions everywhere always fail to plan for parks or other open areas on approach and departure ends of runways? Where is the logic in it all? Remember, the airport was there first, before anything else was built.

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