General Aviation News

Because flying is cool

Picture of the day: Youth serum

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Lee Beery, 84, sent in this photo of his Corby Starlet being flown over Clear Lake, Calif. He says flying keeps him young.

. The plane designer, John Corby, is an Australian aircraft design engineer. It is plans built, 14 feet in length with an 18 foot wing span with an empty weight of 588 pounds. Wood and fabric construction. Engine is a Revmater 2100D with a horse power rating of 65. Aircraft is semi-aerobatic being loaded to 4.5 G’s and 6.75 G’s ultimate. Fuel capacity is 18 gallons so with a cruise speed of 108 Kt’s it has a range of a good 400 miles. A very popular plane “Down Under” but only a half a dozen in the USA. I hope you find this suitable for your publication, General Aviation News, which I enjoy reading very much. Just as a side note, having nothing to do with the plane, I am an active pilot, flying my little Corby several times a week, love doing some mild acro and will be 84 in the next few days. I started flying and aircraft ownership in 1955. flying is what keeps me young I think............lb
Lee adds: “The plane designer, John Corby, is an Australian aircraft design engineer. It is plans built, 14 feet in length with an 18 foot wing span with an empty weight of 588 pounds. Wood and fabric construction. Engine is a Revmater 2100D with a horsepower rating of 65. Aircraft is semi-aerobatic being loaded to 4.5 Gs and 6.75 Gs ultimate. Fuel capacity is 18 gallons, so with a cruise speed of 108 its it has a range of a good 400 miles. A very popular plane “Down Under” but only a half a dozen in the USA. I am an active pilot, flying my little Corby several times a week. I started flying in 1955.”

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  1. I met Lee in 2008 after buying a Varga. Everyone said there was a Varga “Guru” on the west coast so I looked him up. He and his wife Pat invited me up to Clear Lake and treated me like a family member. Lee had owned and flown his own Varga for 25 years so he knew a thing or two about the plane. Shortly after buying mine, the tail became loose, necessitating an AD from the FAA. Lee and Pat were were the catalyst in getting this done for all Varga’s in half the time it usually takes AD’s. The man helps everyone. He’s a retired United Airline master mechanic and is a “Guru” on just about anything. My granddaughter took this picture from the back seat of my Varga.

  2. Lee is a friend and neighbor of mine. Busy, he is! Sails a nice boat on Clear Lake, builds and flys R-C model airplanes with the local club. Lee is also a “Gentleman’s Gentleman”, a great guy!