RIP Dale “Snort” Snodgrass

[TequilaChaser]

He also has written some damn good novels.

Yes he has, I am surprised I even posted that much about him, I am a person that keeps certain things and people I know and have known for years kinda to myself

He and I have discussed all my journals I kept and wrote down every evening what all the day consisted of... Ward has encouraged me several times to write a  book or 2 using my journals but I  haven't pulled them journals out and looked at them since 1990....been saving them for both of my daughters to do the authoring for me since they  both have already been published authors at their early 12 to 13 years of age and on since then...

All my published articles are within the DOD, EPA and DOE ..mostly dealing with Thermodynamics and nuclear physics and 1 off Custom Design Build HVAC and Refrigeration systems I did when I had locked in contracts with the  DOD and Navy and Army etc... also designed a few custom designs for a few casinos/ hotels in Vegas...my license covered the entire 50 states and Puerto Rico back then....

Is why I was refusing going on disability and pounding my fist on the Judge's desk telling them I didn't want it and didn't ask for it that I was being forced into disability by my doctors, neurologist and mental doctors....what bs...but  12 years later,  I'm still angry about it.......

Sorry for rambling...went off on a tangent,  heh

TC

[Maverick]

He was my friends neighbor in Idaho.
Dale had just returned from FL, picked up his recently overhauled Marchetti and was leaving the airport to land it on the runway he shares with my buddy.

Paul suspects it was heart attack or stroke on takeoff.

That would have been a kinder end than the youtube video implies. That also includes his last radio transmission which was the typical thing a pilot says when they make a mistake, the OH ****! The best bet is he forgot to remove the elevator lock. Video shows a very steep climb to stall then quick right wing over into the ground near vertical.

[mikeWe9a]

Along with taking off from a 3 point attitutde, there doesn't seem to be any indication that he ever did (or was able to) push the stick forward.  Is it standard in a STOL taildragger to take off like that or to fly the tail off first?

From the video's I've seen, it *should* be impossible to take off with the control lock engaged, as it seems to be designed such that it applies the brakes as well (carried over from the Cessna Bird Dog, from which the design was derived).  I have seen some speculation that the rear cockpit stick may have been tied off or restricted by the seatbelt.  It is apparently not uncommon for pilots to do this as an impromtu gust lock, but I'm unsure why it would be used in preference to the built in device.

Mike

Edit- the Blancolirio Youtube channel has an update on this today.  He talked to some owners of that model aircraft and the owners seem to believe that it is not actually possible for the rear seatbelt to reach the stick due to the way it is installed (the seatbelt "gust lock" was a generic light "stick" controlled aircraft thing apparently used in the Bird Dog).  It is also confirmed that it is pretty much impossible to taxi the aircraft with the gust lock engaged, as it locks the rudder in place as well.