Sport Aviation Loses An Amazing Presence
ANN has the sad job of
noting the passing of a true legend in the rotorcraft community,
not to mention one of the finest men we've ever known. Helicycle
designer BJ Schramm was confirmed lost, by the Gem County Sheriff's
office, in the crash of Helicycle N3275Q in Horse Shoe Bend,
Idaho.
After being reported missing late Tuesday, a Wednesday search
found the the single seat Helicycle, inverted, in the Payette
River, with BJ, 65, still strapped into the aircraft. An aerial
search first spotted the Helicycle early Wednesday while dive crews
recovered it close to noon. Sources report that the Helicycle had
been involved in a video project late Tuesday when the aircraft
went missing.
BJ Schramm was an amazing man, the designer of the original
Rotorway helicopter series and the more recent Helicycle. His
accomplishments span decades of exciting research and development,
and he was one of the few people to whom the word "legend" could be
attached with no question of accuracy. BJ was a dear friend of ours
and a man with an uncommonly strong faith in God. We're going to
miss him tremendously... but we find great solace in his faith and
our belief that he's ascended to heights we can barely imagine. BJ
Schramm was one of the men who made sport aviation a truly exciting
pursuit. We'll have more information as it becomes available.
EAA Remembers Schramm...
"We were very saddened at the loss of BJ Schramm this week. He
was extremely dedicated to the philosophy and mission of EAA, and
his innovative designs allowed many people to pursue their own
individual dreams of flight. BJ was a unique personality in the
homebuilt community and we were proud to call him a fellow EAA
member for more than 30 years. He had gained countless friends
through his many years of aviation involvement. He will be missed
by many, but always will be remembered for his contributions."
-- EAA President Tom Poberezny
** Report created
4/29/2004 Record 9 **
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 3275Q Make/Model: EXP Description: HELICYCLE
Date: 04/27/2004 Time: 2100
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N
Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: HORSESHOE BEND State: ID Country: US
DESCRIPTION
ACFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS
FATALLY INJURED, 6 MILES SW OF HORSESHOE BEND, ID
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: UNK
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Unknown Operation: General
Aviation
Departed: MONTOUR STORE Dep Date: 04/27/2004 Dep. Time:
2005
Destination: MONTOUR STORE Flt Plan: NONE Wx Briefing:
N
Last Radio Cont: NONE Last Clearance: NONE
FAA FSDO: BOISE, ID (NM11) Entry date: 04/29/2004