My Aviation Image Galleryver.2

For my Aviation Blog
Russell Smith Aviation Art here

Personal Experience highlights are restoring antique classic airplanes. Flying with my father Tom Olson and son T.J. I am Young Eagle Pilot #4 and enjoy the freedom of flying Young Eagles and the responsibility volunteering for Young Eagles Chairmen Cliff Robertson, General Chuck Yeager and Harrison Ford. I have won 3 awards at Oshkosh for Best-in-class aircraft and my Ercoupe won First Place & Peoples Choice at the National Ercoupe Convention in Ames, IA.

I have flown 25 different types of old classics, warbirds, and newer high performance airplanes and have flown sail planes, Hangliders, Powered Hangliders and Ultralights. I started as a hanglider pilot in the 1972 interested in efficiencies and structure. I'm knowledgeable in some electrical and mechanical processes, tolerances, safety, reliability and quality. I own a 1972 Jobe Rogallo Hanglider, Icarus V, (predacessor to the modern day ultralight), and 1946 Ercoupe(s). Many famous people started out flying in an Ercoupe including John Travolta, Johnny Carson, Sam Walton ,and Pappy Boyington (Pappy's first GA airplane). I have my own aviation social network where you can post comments.

History of Powered Hangliders . . .I was there!

Above photo captured in July 1977. Pictured above is me taking my first flight of day (notice the flags in background and shadow below me) in my plans built Mac 101, straight drive 24" propeller powered Icarus V Hang Glider. Motor mount was designed by me after visiting with John Moody in Milwakee and copying ideas from his Icarus II motor mount. If you look close enough on the tail you can see my FAA Regristration N96375. I have a kill switch in my mouth for full throttle only and it appears I forgot my harness.

Pictured to from left Taurus Kicinuick - designer of Icarus V, Fred Klien from Washington - stabilizing wing tip, G.Nikaros - journalist from Greece (tried to recruit me to move to Greece to sell and build Icarus V kits) launching left rudder, someones girlfriend, Ted Ancona on scaffolling - Hang Glider Champion, me - pilot in command and Jim Mc Cormick (true father of ultralights) not pictured behind Taurus. This meet was held in Brooks Field (farm) Near Detroit and there were a total of 7 powered hangliders including Jim McCormicks PTerodactyl, Taurus' Icarus V, Easy Risers and my Icarus V.

Did you know? a near by photo of George Herbert Walker Bush notes that he was the first military pilot to become president but the caption doesn't report that he first soloed at Wold-Chamberlain Field in an open-cockpit biplane during a frigid Minnesota winter in 1942

Favorite Link: Web2Aviation Landings EAAWeb NASA FAA EAA AAA Left Seat Scaled Composites Web2Aviation Fun Places to Fly	Maverick T. Jefferson Olson Aviation History, Movies, Art, Museums
Tauras Kicenuik invented the Icarus I, IcarusII (Easy Riser) and Icarus V Hanglider. I bought his plans in 1973 and built My Icarus V
T.J.'s Favorite Airplane!	U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Team
"Dad with Paul Poberezny"	"Dad with Bob Hoover" at Spruce Creek Fly-In Community

More AVIATION Links $100 Hamburger General Aviation Amelia Earheart AOPA MNDOT Aviation Smithsonian NASM Owls Head, Maine Alaska Be a Pilot Airplanes.com Tennesee Air Museum Aieroplane Heaven Flight Journal	http://www.airventure.org/