This is why Mike Patey is nearly as legendary as Draco was. Kudos to Mike for not hiding behind excuses. We can all learn from this.

@doncooper3946

4 жыл бұрын

Mike Patey for PRESIDENT!

@hoah

3 жыл бұрын

You can’t learn anything from this because you don’t own a plane and simping for millionaires won’t make you one

@BakerStudiosIndy

3 жыл бұрын

@@hoah Nice try, troll, I'm in my 43rd year as a pilot. Commercial. ATP, CFII and so on. My daily driver is a PA28-180. But one need not be a pilot to learn from Mike's example. Probably why he is a millionaire and you are not.

@hoah

3 жыл бұрын

@@BakerStudiosIndy I suppose you think you live in a meritocracy. You worked hard for everything you have? So did mike, right!? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@BakerStudiosIndy

3 жыл бұрын

@@hoah The harder and smarter you work, the greater the rewards. That's life. Nothing was given to me. When I did well, I was rewarded. When I did poorly, I paid the price. If you know the history of the Patey brothers, you'd know that they earned what they have. Perhaps that could have been me, had I chosen a different path. I may not be wealthy, but I what I have is sufficient. And I have wonderful, healthy children and grandchildren.

RIP Draco. Glad that Mike is the kind of guy who'll own up to being human. Sad to see Draco go, but thankful that nobody was hurt.

@davidduffy9806

4 жыл бұрын

His responsibility and ownership goes a long way to explaining his business success

His piloting wasn't the fault....his DECISION to fly was.

@angelreading5098

4 жыл бұрын

'Dieing to get back home' a version of 'Dieing to get there'

@MrRipple123

4 жыл бұрын

Thats, like, a big part of piloting.

@toetz4491

4 жыл бұрын

Dying to get home...yup. Its getthere-itis syndrome struck again

@bebo5558

4 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately our decision making is a big part of "piloting"! Glad everyone is OK!

@emilopffer1069

4 жыл бұрын

as he said, going back to the hanger was the night choice

Takes a REAL pilot to roundly assume all responsibility on camera right after!! Major bummer for Draco!

@f900ex5

4 жыл бұрын

I like him for all the reasons people have mentioned, he might have a bruised ego, but more important a lesson learned with been able to walk away and I'm sure he will be back with a V2 version at some point.

@johnorabone6112

4 жыл бұрын

NO , IT TAKES A REAL MAN NOT TO MAKE VERY STUPID JUSGEMENT CALLS. SHOULD HAVE NEVER ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF.

@SunnyDaysRFun

4 жыл бұрын

@@johnorabone6112 Thoughts like that is what keeps greats things from being discovered, this is a bush plane unlike any other, it's power and design pushes the belief that it can take off against such winds, had it made it then for sure this plane would be truly amazing. It is no doubt that Mike is still thinking of the mistakes he made, not in taking off against the wind but it how he handled it believing he could have flown out of it. So your comment is typical of one who had never developed a damn thing and never will. Stay in your pathetic bubble because there it's safe. It's the William Wallace's of the world that discredit your stupid comment.

@bebo5558

4 жыл бұрын

@@johnorabone6112 "REAL MEN" don't yell with all capital letters and spell correctly! You don't need to kick a REAL MAN when he's down. He has the ability and resources to rebuild it, if he wants to, do you?

@Romans--bo7br

4 жыл бұрын

@@johnorabone6112... and it takes an even Bigger man to immediately & undeniably admit when he was completely wrong in his judgement and the results thereof and also take full responsibility for that mistake in judgement.... more than likely, Unlike yourself. I can guarantee you, Mike will Not repeat the same mistake, twice.... and also, that he more than has what it takes in every aspect to come back with an even better plane, whenever he chooses to build it. Draco was the 14th plane that "HE" built himself.... how many have You built from scratch?!!?..... and we all probably know the answer to That question, don't we!

He's a great example and very generous to share his experience so honestly.

I've never came across this channel until now. let me say i love the desk you guys have very cool.

Mike is an amazing human. Honest, Responsible, Humble, fearless in the face of adversity, accepting of reality and willing to see the lessons learned. Marcus Aurelius would be honored.

@berniemccann8935

4 жыл бұрын

... and someone who works 25 hours every day. 😜

Respect your honesty takes a very strong person to admit fault as a pilot we all have done things that aren't always best decisions flew threw a thunder storm in a Cherokee 140 was just extremely lucky I don't tempt fate anymore

Very simple. He’s been showing off for awhile how this thing can take off in any conditions. So he thought, no matter what, he can take her off.. he found the limitations of Draco

@bwinford1561

4 жыл бұрын

Never know how far enough is until you go too far.

Mike, your comment on this video is also great. I feel so bad to see what happened. !!!

All of your video's on you tube are great !!! You are the best. Cheers and Yeeha .

I so wish we had a UK equivalent of Mike Patey, but we don't. His ambition and openness are best in class and as much as it is a shame that Draco is no more the way Mike is dealing with it and publicising his mistake is a credit to him and speaks volumes about his piloting ability, he simply wants to make sure that others can learn from his mistake. The guy is an aviation legend and a true gentleman.

It's hard to know what the demonstrated crosswind limit for take off is for an aircraft like that. Is there an owners manual? Did he test fly in crosswinds and make his own chart? I guess it was too much that day.

I am very happy that nobody was hurt in the crash of Draco. My question is did all the modifications that Mike did to the wing tips ( the giant stinger ) help to protect the wings at all, especially the right wing tip that hit the ground first, I realize that the left wing took the momentum force lengthwise down the wing and probably caused significant damage to the end of the wing.It would be nice if we could see a video of the damage to the plane post accident and what the NTSB has to say if they were involved so other people working on their planes can use the modifications that work and skip the ones that don't.

@matthart4465

4 жыл бұрын

No

Still hurts me really bad to see Draco crashed.... I feel so bad for Mike and I am really sad I never got to see the beast fly.... So glad I got to see it on Display at Oshkosh though... RIP DRACO!!

@berniemccann8935

4 жыл бұрын

It did fly ... many times. And it's coming back.

I’m glad everyone made it out of the plane in one piece!

Hey Mr. Mike! The World Famous Draco, your Beautiful creation, is just resting right now. All Prototypes get bruised on the Path to Perfection. We just wanted to remind you when rebuilding the landing gear, set it up for an extra 100 pounds, PW makes a turbine that's 11 inches longer and 100 pounds more than your 680hp, that puts out "1100 HP"!!! Almost Double! Can't Wait to see it!!! We Love You and your Energy and your Enthusiasm. You are a True inspiration to All aviators. Keep up the Great Work! 👍😁👍

he is coming back bigger and badder, can't wait for scrappy!

So classy, you are the man

Very happy you all walked away ! But think of this because you were rushing to beat the storm you placed your family in harms way ! It's one thing to place yourself in this serious condition but your lack of judgement to place your family into it is a sign you need to stop and gather yourself and admit your getting ahead of logical thinking that is now causing you a problem. This isn't the first accident that a flight crew disregarded safety simply because they were in a hurry to get home. You learned a very important lesson and glad you admitted it ! I was a Air Force flight engineer and crew chief on a C-47 1954- 1959 and I had crews that wanted to get going back to base when I would have a Red X condition , needless to say I would ground the plane till I fixed the condition. Power of the pen ! They forgot my butt was on that plane and my job was to make sure it was air worthy !

@timmorris3056

4 жыл бұрын

"Get-home-itis" That split second decision that says to hurry up rather than wait it out.

@16480287

4 жыл бұрын

@@timmorris3056 I concur !

It was established a long time ago that you don’t fly in the mountains with little airplanes (Draco qualifies) if the surface wind exceeds 20 kts and wind at the ridge tops exceeds 30 kts. That day qualified, especially with the TAF at the time reporting wind shear at 2,000 AGL 26045KTS. He wasn’t in “Kansas” anymore.

Got to respect a man who tells the truth! SALUTE!

A winged legend was lost, but memories remain alive. Now get back to work!

Wow! Nice to see a real man, for a change. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

@johnorabone6112

4 жыл бұрын

WHAT ABOUT MAKING STUPID CHOICES MAKES THIS GUY A " REAL MAN" ?

@mcearl8073

4 жыл бұрын

John Orabone BECAUSE THATS WHAT MEN DO!! Get a bit of testosterone running through your blood for once and maybe you’ll understand. He made a mistake, admitted it and learned from it. That’s what real men do while you’re sitting around acting like a tough guy on the internet acting as if you’re somehow intellectually superior and I can tell from your one sentence in all caps that that is 100% not even within the possibility of being true.

@guytero8812

4 жыл бұрын

@@mcearl8073 Great reply. You deserve not one, but 2 Bells. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

I like the idea of personal minimums. It helps you avoid bad decisions like this.

@TheJustinJ

3 жыл бұрын

There is older footage of him flying in much worse weather off airport. But he was always able to take off into the wind, which is rudimentary simple, as compared to this cross controlled crosswind takeoff. He went into detail about the crosswind component that was reported and he said it felt good on the run-up and taxiing was still doable. There was an absurdly strong gust that came up right as he was lifting off. Look at the storm clouds nearby and you can see a deep divot, inverted dish in that cloud. That's possibly a Downburst, only a mile or two away. Also, the clouds are showing what appears to be mountain-wave effects. Though it's likely not a factor at the surface.

A very lucky pilot. From an old African bush pilot: I've personally known a number of outstanding bush pilots who were killed in airplanes which were functioning perfectly. They were killed by complacency and over confidence. Saving a few minutes to not taxi to the runway with wind on the nose, or land with a tailwind because the runway is "long enough" and i'm "skilled enough" can bite you hard. A rare exception is obstacles at one end making it more dangerous to take off into the wind. In Tanzania you have Ngorongoro Crater airstrip. Elevation 7800 ft and a warm climate 2 degrees off the equator. Wind direction didn't matter, you always took off from west to east due to a very long sloping hill on the west of the strip. It was very deceiving to look up that hill which seemed to be a gentle slope which told you you could easily climb above the hill....but in most light planes the hill exceeded the climb rate of the planes. Every couple years or so a general aviation pilot from another country would attempt it and crash on the hill. I give Mike credit for his no excuses attitude. That attitude will get the most out of a tough lesson.

What a loss >>> After all that hard work !!!

Surprising how easy the wings came off. You can see the starboard wing kind of fall off, and it never even struck the ground.

@SirFloofy001

2 жыл бұрын

It was the torque from the wheels hitting the ground. These kind of airplane wings are very heavily strengthened against forces pushing them up (lift) however the are not strengthened for for downwards forces, when the wheels hit the ground it twisted the whole airframe to the left around the roll axis which meant the right wing was being forced up but the momentum of all the fuel in that wing resisted it, and like i said these kinds of wings are not meant to take that kind of force.

With as popular this plane was, I would hope that Mike should consider making another Draco. A truly Legend of an airplane that has inspired a host of aviators. He could maybe even allow for others to build the same plane.

sounds like weather played a factor there. its like one long micro-burst going on there. what kind of crosswind? 35kn gusting 40? 45? 50? 60? ....

Sitting on the runway, I think his tires were enough friction to hold him there, but when he started to lift off, Draco was at the mercy of the wind?

LOVE IT! Bet you can't do it AGAIN!!

so glad that he wants to rebuild it!!

Draco's ego will never be the same, R.I.P.

What level of engine damage would be expected from a crash like this? I see that all propeller props were sheared off. What internal components would most likely be severly damaged and would the engine be worth fixing?

@easydoz1

4 жыл бұрын

For safety I would ship it off to a turbo prop mechanic get it stripped to bare components and inspect EVERYTHING...

You don't know how much I'm holding back the political commentary......let's just say it's refreshing to hear someone taking FULL RESPONSIBILITY for his actions. We need more of that.

Wind was gusting 45mph that day. 🤔

lol. “Vee logger”. It’s pronounced vlogger. All one word. 😂

@baronbrambeus

3 жыл бұрын

Na I like V-logger and no it’s actually video logger or video log. Just everyone just says the short version. I’m gonna add that to the list electronic mail, surf the worldwide web, photopicture, and v-logger

@DeepSkyDude

3 жыл бұрын

Baron Brambeus 😆😆😆😆🤘

@baronbrambeus

3 жыл бұрын

Deep Sky Dude don’t forget to correct people when they say ATM machine. Because they actually are being redundant and saying machine 2 times

@DeepSkyDude

3 жыл бұрын

Baron Brambeus I sure will but saying V Logger is the epitome of hilarious mispronunciations. I’m not sure the two are really comparable. 😂😆🤷🏼‍♂️

@baronbrambeus

3 жыл бұрын

Deep Sky Dude oh you are 100 percent right😆 I actually busted out laughing while my wife was getting her nails done and everyone came in the room to find out what was happening and all I could say was “Veee logger”...but it’s so bad it’s good. Like the song “I fell in well”. But yes it’s terrible and that’s why I love it

Nobody: Old people: Veeee-logger

Watching the video: Before the airplane was rolling the left wing was higher than the right, was the runway not even level?

Draco didn't have a large enough Rudder or Ailerons. The Helio Couriers have interceptors (spoilers) which augment the Ailerons. When flying so slowly, the control surfaces need to be larger. Also, the winds were gusting over 30+ Knots at the time. I didn't see any Aileron correction into the left crosswind on Draco's takeoff. The rotor over the hills can be wicked. I flew my Helio, DC-3s and Britten Norman Islanders in Sierra Mountain Wave conditions, however, I knew my limitations, and I had a lot of knowledge about how winds behave in different terrain. Draco was not designed to handle those conditions.

Mike made no excuses, immediately turned his personal misfortune into a learning opportunity, for the benefit of the entire flying community. Nearly Every pilot has been tempted by “get-there-itis”. This was one they all walked away from, but the aircraft was a total loss... However, this being some 6 weeks later, and Mike being Mike, he has decided to rebuild Draco. The world waits!

Admitted mistake. Heck of an honest guy.rare.beatiful plane.amazing engineering.

If you have too much lift on one wing while standing, it will have even more at you gain speed, and make you roll over.. happened to me on a cherokee, but i kicked the airplane into the wind as I felt the bump of the wing lifted the strut, that saved the day.. ended up on the grass- but with out damages. It is called Lateral Lift. Happens also when airplane spins on runway at speed and winds push the wing up.. The 777 that crashed at St Francisco a few years ago went up about 50 feet in the air after it spun on runway after hitting the seawall. kzread.info/dash/bejne/rIiMpsOlpprRfrQ.html

This accident has made me wonder why computers and digital marquees haven't been adopted to give pilots better wind info than the old wind sock which hasn't changed since the beginning of aviation. The marquee, visible from the end of the runway, would give current wind velocity, bearing, range of bearing variation (how much the wind is swinging), highest gust in the last 15 minutes, lowest velocity between gusts, time since last gust, and average time between gusts. Sounds confusing at first, in no small part because the end of the runway is where pilots have a lot to think about and don't need more. However, I think this info could be read and interpreted at a glance and would be enormously helpful for a pilot to know precisely when to start a takeoff roll or even to cancel the takeoff if they didn't like the odds.

@JoeLinux2000

4 жыл бұрын

Makes complete sense to me. I feel the tower should have advised him that conditions were very poor for attempting a takeoff.

@freakfly23

4 жыл бұрын

It is not our job as controllers to tell you how to fly your airplane. Trust me, you wouldn't want that. Most controllers are not pilots. We do advise the wind and other information pertaining to safety of flight. The choice to land or takeoff is up to the pilot in command, as it should be.

@christopherpardell4418

4 жыл бұрын

Hs Hs Watch Patey’s video- he knew exactly what the wind was doing. He fully understood it was gusting, and a severe crosswind. He even considered asking the tower for clearance to roll off runway into the wind- since he has the gear to go off-tarmac. He had taken off in crosswinds in this plane before and felt perfectly confident that it would be off the ground within 50 feet and he could point the nose into the wind... the cross wind was severe enough to fully compress his starboard gear linkage- which he noted before committing to take off... but did not necessarily fully comprehend that his port gear was fully extended with nearly no weight on it due to the action of the wind over his left wing. Because of the extreme STOL nature of his plane- he had nearly enough wind over his left wing to fly when he was standing still. But his right wing was shadowed by the fuselage suffering turbulent air and providing no lift at all. Because he had done amazing low speed takeoffs with this plane in all sorts of situations, his familiarity and self confidence got in the way of fully understanding the physics. The moment he rolled forward- his left wing had ample lift while his right wing was generating nearly none, and the left wing lifted off- as soon as the left wing underside was facing the wind- the wind was sufficient to push it over further and initiate a groundloop. Every pilot who corkscrews into the ground on short final had instruments showing him he was in an uncoordinated turn. No amount of ‘information’ nor re-iteration of information is going to fully prevent a bad decision by a good pilot. Patey was complacent in his self confidence, - and EVERYone who is highly skilled at what they do suffers that alike, and he was in a hurry to beat an incoming weather front... so his mission- plus his self confidence led him to make a decision that blew up in his face. Had it not been for the specific timing of the gust that lifted that left wing off the ground- Patey would have very likely leapt Draco into the air and been nose into the wind within a few seconds. Confirming his belief in his own skill and the likelihood that he might try the same thing again in the future- unaware of just how close he came to disaster. Complacency in our skills bites us in the backside when we have that unlucky moment that we have escaped thus far. It is a blessing when we can learn such a lesson without anyone else being hurt.

@angelreading5098

4 жыл бұрын

You cracked it Christopher,I wondered why that leg was compressed it all makes sense now.

@checkeredflagfilms

4 жыл бұрын

@@christopherpardell4418 FAA pilot manuals talk all about these circumstances.

Overconfidence in Flying kills. He is lucky to be alive. Personal Safety 1st, Always. He must build another one soon. Best Wishes

Watch this guy fly that plane for a few years. He is a great pilot. He made 1 bad decision to fly in the crosswind. This plane would take of on very little run way almost as a helicopter. The crosswind flip it but I wonder if he had pushed down on the nose to gain speed before the wheels left the ground could have prevented the accident?

Patey will show us something more astounding soon. I'll bet he will produce something very, very impressive within a year.

@angelreading5098

4 жыл бұрын

Scrappy will keep him busy for a while then I bet the search is on for another Wilga to heavily modify,Draco was too good a machine to not develop further.

@SnowAndrews

4 жыл бұрын

@@angelreading5098 AFTER Mike builds SCAPPY. ! Doner Wilgas are getting rather thin on the ground there days, so maybe not. SADLY most Wilgas were retired prematurely, and dismantled/wrecked, because European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) had no appetite for ironing out the bugs left from the PZL (Polish Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze) era.

@angelreading5098

4 жыл бұрын

Yes I know they had a piano wire trim problem that was never properly resolved,you could be right there Snow.

Is it still considered a takeoff if one of the tires never leaves the runway?

@HoundDogMech

4 жыл бұрын

It's a TO ounce you enter the runway for purposes of take off and a landing till you exit the runway environment.

Looking at how the clouds are coming in, listening to the wind. Um yeah... Uh duh.

Bet the insurance company was glad to hear that confession out of the pilot.

@angelreading5098

4 жыл бұрын

Like Kermit Weeks who uses 'Self insuring' seems to be the only way forward for the future especially display flying where they would not insure him,that is why it sat on the ground during Oshkosh & Reno.

@mcearl8073

4 жыл бұрын

Iowarail I doubt that really matters. It’s not like he hit another plane or anything so there’s no way around it really, it’s his fault. I certainly can’t say for sure on his airplane insurance situation but I can speak for cars, if I wreck my car I can call my insurance company and say “it’s my fault, the weather was terrible and I should have not driven but I did anyway and slid into a wall and totaled my car” and they’ll still pay for it. That’s pretty much the point of carrying comprehensive insurance. There’s a big, like really fucking big difference between being at fault for an crash and crashing intentionally and he clearly didn’t do it intentionally. If he said “I did that on purpose because I didn’t want this plane anymore” then the insurance would be glad to be hearing that confession.

@mark675

4 жыл бұрын

Some people just never want to admit an accident is their fault and these idiots will never learn cus theyre too quick to point the finger at others, fair play to mike a real man admits when they fucked up

If you're wondering if the weather is a risk, the answer is always yes.

Go figure Draco being forced to take off a runway in a strong crosswind was its demise. Sad.

Reminds me of the story of Titanic

What’s a V-Logger?

Feeling really good about controlling an airplane in a cross wind scenario is one thing but it doesn't mean a dam thing and it is completely secondary to understanding the cross wind limitations of your aircraft, first and foremost you must understand the cross wind limitations of your aircraft.....

That was a great mod to the Polish PZL-104 WILGA. BTW, guys, it's pronounced like " 'veel,gah " , not "wheelgah" ;) (it's Polish for golden oriole, a black-yellow bird).

News for you, After Scrappy is finished Draco is next on the roster for rebuild. These are words by Mike during the Scrappy build. Don't know the time frame. Like your desk!

Is it really totaled? Couldn't they salvage the engine, and maybe some of the avionics? Just asking...

@juanmanuelgomez3927

3 жыл бұрын

they did,

what incredible B/S...that guy could fly Draco between piano-strings...he just made a light descision on a heavy day of wind thats all...too bad he wholesaled the bird tho,1-awesome kraft...he can always build another but not with that series of numbers and Wilgas dont grow on trees in an orchard. everybody AOK is still tops, millionaires learn just like the rest of us do.

Those Sierra's chg. SO fast,I was in an AWD,paralleling them during Mikes incident we were hard pressed to STAY ON THE RD.when it "Hit" Few min's either way outcome totally diff.BUT He Ownned it. The measure of the man," so others" may learn from his mistake, everyone has "What-IF_ed it Inculding himself. Whatever that 'ufo" causing my eye to water some, was quickly dried knowing ALL walked unharmed, I dought you've heard the end of DRACO stay turned after Scrappy is done.....

Key takeaway: Personal minimums for part 91 pilots. No one's telling you that you have to go and no one's telling you can't. Even the wilga's factory cross wind recommendations probably wouldn't have applied after all the wing modifications so ultimately it's up to him.

@islander4986

4 жыл бұрын

I suspect the gear mods were also a factor-doesn't, or didn't Draco have taller gear and a steeper deck/wing angle on the ground than a stock Wilga?

@keithrickson8522

4 жыл бұрын

@@islander4986 good point. I know the tires deffinetly increased the AOA. That and the shock modifications might have increased the wing area exposed to the crosswind.

@johnorabone6112

4 жыл бұрын

SO IT'S UP TO PILOT'S TO MAKE STUPID DECISIONS?

@islander4986

4 жыл бұрын

@@johnorabone6112 Often we do I'm afraid, and Mike was quite forthcoming in shouldering the blame for this one in the video he initially posted. A very public confession, and I find myself admiring him for the way that he's accepted responsibility for the incident without trying to shift the blame.

@keithrickson8522

4 жыл бұрын

@@johnorabone6112 We all make stupid decisions as pilots on a daily basis. I have nothing but respect for Mike in this instance. While he made a dumb decision to take off in those conditions, he was the first person to admit it regardless of the consequences. Not only that, but he's doing everything he can to make sure other people don't make the same mistake.

Draco is the second plane I know of to have a left crosswind incident , in exactly the same location, 30 years apart. The other was a c172, commuting from Stead to near Carson City ( my brother in law). After reviewing your KZread videos and recalling the other incident, there are added factors that pilots should look at. Specifically, surrounding terrain and buildings. The buildings 1/4 mile to the south east are 30 feet lower than where the takeoff roll starts. Additionally, the buildings are about 30 feet high at that low point. The would mean a pretty stiff vertical lift component on the left wing only. The right wing being shielded by the fuselage. I made a quick CFD model to try and highlight that along with added air instability caused by the buildings. My thoughts.. in addition to you comments.... no flap takeoff, if same path down runway 26 is used. Pick different spot on runway such as where the air race start finish line is or taxi back to start of 26, where the vertical wind component should be minimal. Bill Reeder

wow it stayed together in right place took good judgement to tell it like it is same with bikes some times just don't go way to go I'm going to talk to my friends about this some times I just gotta say not today

At least he owned up to it. That being said, he could have requested a cross-runway take-off into the crosswind. In those conditions, his take-off roll would be what... Two feet?

Mike was in shock. One of his latest videos now state that Draco is being rebuilt.

@AllanFolm

4 жыл бұрын

The original airframe is too beat up. Too much testing of critical parts has to be done to do that. Instead, he has acquired another similar Wilga donor plane to build DracoX - a new Draco with expanded capabilities.

@wilfstor3078

4 жыл бұрын

@@AllanFolm Don't worry I know that.

Draco represented an emerging evolution of flight. i am old and have been an aviator for most of my life. Draco did things that i have never seen done before. Now that Mike let the genie out of the bottle, i predict we will see Draco inspired knockoffs. The fact that the only injury was a broken fingernail makes the incident an even bigger blessing. Even with the total loss of the aircraft the lessons learned will be far more valuable than the cost. The potential of these new "beasts" calls for a reconsideration of flight operation procedures. If there were an emergency sufficient to warrant attempting a launch in strong, gusty, and switching mountain winds, i would want to have a Draco for the attempt. Here is where Draco's capabilities should cause a rethink. Draco had the potential to taxi "cross country" to launch into the wind. The video of this incident WILL save MANY lives, of that, there is NO doubt in my little bitty mind. My hat is off to Mike for taking one for the team. He demonstrated how a man should take responsibility for his actions.

mas que un problema mecanico,exceso de confianza!!!

It seems that private flying is open slather in the USA. No wonder there are so many accidents. Down here every flight has a filed and approved flight plan, even at an airshow with takeoffs and landings all the time. He would not have been given clearance to take off, period. Too bad if high winds might shut it down. It does not matter. It was a 40kt cross wind. Madness.

Possibly the wings iced up. It will be interesting to read the report when it comes out

I'm glad he and his Family are okay but damn my heart goes out to Draco!! She was my favorite Bush plane. Quite possible the baddest bush plane on the planet. Mike will rebuild her..I hope!!

Now we have Scrappy. A search and rescue fly anywhere plane.

Looks to me he took off in a cross wind

A shame for the plane but glad nobody was hurt.

Hats off to Mike Patey. The honor of flying Draco was his and he was the right man for that rare gem! Applause for the events that caused so many Draco-fan pilots and future pilots to commit to PERSONAL MINIMUMS ! Going forward we can ask our flying buddies how they are doing on their "Dracos" . No other promotion would have got this message to the hearts and minds of the piloting community AS THE LOSS OF DRACO, which aircraft we have all come to know and love for the last year or so.

Are there any bush pilots in the Philippines?

@h.cedric8157

4 жыл бұрын

@Fancy Boy what rubbish Grammar.

Isn't it too early to determine that Draco cannot be rebuilt, and will never fly again? That will take some time to analyze. A donor Wilga, swapping some parts, and a bit of fabrication, and Draco may be able to fly again...??

@ronjohnson9507

4 жыл бұрын

Draco X is coming

One more lesson: It’s pronounced Vlogger, not “Vee-logger” Glad everyone was ok Mike. Just a bruised ego. I’m sure scrappy will be even more legendary!

@PJ-ku5lp

4 жыл бұрын

I had to laugh, it's like when your parents refer to "the internets".

@AV8R_1

4 жыл бұрын

P J 😆

Id just like to say a certain other pilot vloger could learn a thing or two about honesty from Mike.

I betcha Mike has Draco fired up and flying in less than a year! Let's kick the tires and light the fires!

@dean8842

4 жыл бұрын

Uh, maybe in a 'Draco II' but his original Draco is a complete loss (i.e., will never fly again).

@TurkishKB

4 жыл бұрын

@@dean8842 well maybe it's wishful thinking and faith in that guy. But I know nothing personally of the extent of the damage. Mike did say in a post, damage was worse than he initially thought:(

@johnnyboythepilot4098

4 жыл бұрын

Had the prop not struck the ground at full power, Draco may have been salvageable, although that would be impossible when one of the gear legs collapse. In the video of the crash, Draco stayed intact right up until the prop struck the ground and all that torque & vibrations going through the airframe just ripped those wings off.

That thing just came to pieces eh..shame..very cool plane

Haven't heard from Mike since the accident. I wish someone would get in touch with him just to see if he's doing ok.

@GeneralChangFromDanang

4 жыл бұрын

The guy's a machine. I think he'll be ok.

@InitialDsTak

4 жыл бұрын

Check his KZread channel. He's cranking away on Scrappy. I think he misses being out with the Cowboys already...and I really can't blame him.

Too bad for Patey but Draco was an exhibition/ show plane not a serious STOL plane.

Dang

The problem with the AOPA Personal Minimum contracts is that a pilots Personal minimums are constantly change with practice and and currency. Example if I haven't flown a couple of actual IFR approaches in a couple of weeks or so my Minimums for the departure & destination would certainly be going go up. Like wise if I hadn't flown a particular Aircraft in a while all My minimums, IFR & VFR (Wind'Visability) would go up. Personal Minimum are not static they change ever day depending on currency. Signing a piece of paper doesn't change that. Personally I see it as just a FEEL GOOD thing for beginners.

@HoundDogMech

4 жыл бұрын

@Jonathan Obviously you are NOT a pilot and don't have any idea how air craft insurance works. One can not just jump into anyones plane and fly it unless it's for maintenance or instruction ... I had to be put on each friends insurance as a named insured. All Insurance claims are checked to see if you/anyone were current for the type of flight.

@HoundDogMech

4 жыл бұрын

@Jonathan that's why you don't go along with crap like that ... that's for neophytes just like D.A.R.C. or I won't smoke or have sex by 6 th graders.Insurance company's are all happy to collect the Premiums but do every thing to get out of paying rightful claims.

Ivan Draco " I Must Break You "

With that much horsepower and STOL capability, he probably could have pointed into the wind taken off in the width of the runway

@CraigBMM

3 жыл бұрын

i know right .. head into that gust

Sounds like heavy winds. Hear it in camera

Can't wait to see Scrappy

A thirty knot crosswind, gusting to maybe forty? That's a takeoff you do alone, until you're positive you can do it.

@HoundDogMech

4 жыл бұрын

thirty knot crosswind, gusting to maybe forty: IN a Tail Drager yet. Got a buddy with a C-170 that I've been with in a direct 25+ crosswind both Landing and then a Take off. I have done 25 gusting from 320 degrees on an Icy sanded Runway at Terre Haute Indiana But it was a Cherokee 6. No Brag Just fact. Look at his face in the selfi it tell all.

I’ve been told my whole life that if ever in an accident, you never accept blame at the scene of the accident. That is something authorities and insurance companies work out. I guess when you have more money than anyone else on earth, those rules change?

@CatatonicImperfect

4 жыл бұрын

guy's got enough money not to have to worry about that. but yeah, never say anything after any accident, whenever confronted by the police etc.

@bebo5558

4 жыл бұрын

Thom Thumbe. Why not accept responsibility, who is he going to blame, someone standing in the hanger! No other planes involved!

He can parts it out for souvenirs, doubling the money he has invested. He's a smart businessman, he'll be fine.

@FPVREVIEWS

4 жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure it's not about the money for him..

Why not take off into the wind? We know he has no issues taking off on dirt.

gusting winds in front of thundercells hmmmm reread that meterology book you got when you were studying for ppl

Ivan Draco " I must Break You"

WIND -----------------------------------------> + backwards, no matter how much power you have.

It takes a big man, to admit when he's wrong.

@johnorabone6112

4 жыл бұрын

IT TAKES A BIGGER MAN TO HAVE THE GOOD JUDGEMENT NOT TO TAKE OFF UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. HE LET HIS EGO GET IN THE WAY OF SAFETY. LET'S GET REAL HERE PEOPLE .

It's vlogger, one syllable. Not v, logger!

That plane was trying to crash before he started to roll. And......"Vee logger"?? Hilarious.

All this guy wants is attention. Who in their right mind crashed a plane and immediately thinks “I’ve got to capture this on video!”