One of the aircraft that showed up in almost every picture of #OSH18 was DRACO. As crowds gathered to watch the famous STOL Drag race, the high point of the High Sierra Fly-In each year, Draco did not disappoint. and make it exactly what I wanted for a backcountry extreme bush plane.”. Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, contests and more! 205 miles per hour, a 180 miles per hour cruise speed (while sipping just 28 If you don’t happen to see it, you hear it; it’s one of the few bush planes with a turbine engine and reverse thrust, and the whine of the turboprop comes unexpectedly to unsuspecting observers. Not a member? I wanted to take a plane I loved with great visibility and a lot of neat characteristics and make it exactly what I wanted for a backcountry extreme bush plane.” Garmin Ambassador Mike Patey—the mastermind behind DRACO.
During the video recorded a few hours after the crash he said “the winds are now calm. scale of DRACO. It’s just intuitive — that’s the best thing about it.”. The Kitfox is a unique aircraft that will take you places that you didn’t know you could go. Envisioning, engineering and achieving completion of an It’s quick, it’s accessible, it’s easy to read, it’s amazing.
he said. We’re committed to safety, versatility, and quality.
The Top 10 Planes Of All Time: WARNING: This List Goes To 11. You’re Patey brought the aircraft to the second AOPA Fly-In of the year at Livermore, California, also taking part in other STOL demonstrations that are popular with younger and older aviators alike. [Mike Patey] is living that dream and with a passion for engineering and aviation that is absolutely infectious, he built Draco, the world’s most badass bush plane. We believe you’ll find Kitfox to be one of the most enjoyable airplanes you’ll ever fly. FREE 2ND-DAY SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS $499 AND UP. & Whitney PT6A-28, this behemoth harnesses 680 horsepower, a top speed of
backcountry bush plane with 500 horsepower and crazy suspension. “I’m heartbroken to report that DRACO airshow performances and racing is over,” he wrote on his Facebook page during the Reno races. going to find it. Plane and Pilot builds on more than 50 years of serving pilots and owners of aircraft with the goal of empowering our readers to improve their knowledge and enthusiasm for aviation. Learn more about this great aircraft. I just started Patey uploaded a video to his YouTube channel intended to help other pilots avoid similar situations. to take a plane I loved with great visibility and a lot of neat characteristics “Obviously, I am going to learn from it, and I hope others will as well.”. After you read the story, you’ll surely want to buy the plane, which is, we emphasize again, not for sale. “I made mistakes,” said Mike Patey, a few hours after he survived a horrendous takeoff crash documented on social media that “completely destroyed” the popular short takeoff and landing aircraft Draco at Reno/Stead Airport Sept. 16. Please login below for an enhanced experience. backcountry adventures in their home state of Nevada. obstacles insignificant. Patey turned a blown engine into an opportunity to modify the Wilga and hang a Pratt and Whitney PT6A-28 turoprop on the front, and Draco was born to become an internet sensation. If you haven’t heard about DRACO, you’ve probably been living under a stone for the past few weeks. All at prices the average person can afford. This Incredible Plane: Scaled Composites Proteus. If it’s building a plane, 2008.
Patey and his two passengers were attempting to depart the airfield shortly after 10 a.m. following the Stihl National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada. I hope you all learn from it.". Already a member? I’ve
Powered by a Pratt You’re gonna love it.”. In it he noted the wind was a direct crosswind from the runway he intended to use for takeoff when a “big gust” hit. Behind the scenes, Mike remote-mounted a GTR 20 comm radio, a three-axis G3X autopilot, GMA 245R BLUETOOTH audio panel, GTX 45R ADS-B “In” and “Out” transponder, and a GDL 51R SiriusXM satellite datalink. America’s owner-flown aircraft enthusiasts and active-pilot resource, delivered to your inbox! his next aviation creation. over. Then the first time you get two inches off the ground, it’s
The aircraft started as a PZL-104 Wilga, originally built in *, Garmin Health: Enterprise Health Solutions. Brainchild of self-taught engineer and successful entrepreneur Mike Patey, Draco is the ultimate backcountry airplane. A pretty epic race-winning STOL aircraft, and this year’s winner of the 2018 High Sierra STOL Drag competition. I wanted
“Stop talking about it with “The plane did not fail me. a lot of fun … it’s a really extreme aircraft build, but it’s perfect for me,”
In fact, this year Mike Patey and Draco stole the trophy from Mike’s own twin brother, Mark, who in 2017 won the STOL drag contest in his Carbon Cub EX. Garmin Autoland Receives Aviation Week Network Grand Laureate Award, G500 TXi and G600 TXi Flight Display Enhancements Now Available, Garmin Aviation Training Team Adds Educational Webinars, D2 Air: Aviator Smartwatch with Powerful Flight Functionality, Vibrant AMOLED Display, GTN to GTN Xi Upgrade — Keeping It Simple, FREE GROUND SHIPPING ON ORDERS $25 AND UP. Copyright © 1996-2020 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Find it free on the store. A allow DRACO to cover 1,000 miles.
Aviation Breakthroughs Oddities/Milestones: Personal Jets. Follow his future builds and aviation adventures with the Flying Cowboys on YouTube and Instagram. DRACO has a Garmin-equipped cockpit. He is also a certificated remote pilot and co-host of the award-winning AOPA Hangar Talk podcast. “The next project is “Scrappy” — a radical With its bright red skin, tall legs and heavy cloud of dust around it, Draco commands attention everywhere it lands. Never one to rest on his laurels, Patey is already eyeing I have to admit I’ve never looked at a manual. This Incredible Plane: Cessna 152 Aerobat: Spin Cycle! order a part or a tool or some resin or something I might need. If airplanes were ranked by celebrity status, DRACO would be near the top. Today, aviation is more civilized. Mike’s idea for DRACO began as a way to take his family on A video filmed in the aftermath by Patey himself began logging views at a furious pace as soon as he posted it.
And I just couldn’t find a plane that could go up to 14,000 feet with a Patey had previously alerted social media followers on Sept. 12 that insurance challenges had forced him to pull the popular aircraft from future performances. That sucks. experimental aircraft is always a monumental undertaking — especially one the Become a Plane & Pilot Member to explore our complete range of flight reports, technique articles, gear reviews and aviation buyer’s guides written by our experts. With its bright red skin, tall legs and heavy cloud of dust around it, Draco commands attention everywhere it lands.
Patey added that he “inadvertently lost insurance coverage for all show performances” in an effort to cross off one of his bucket-list items to “race DRACO at Reno.”. A pretty epic race-winning STOL aircraft, and this year’s winner of the 2018 High Sierra STOL Drag competition. Brainchild of self-taught engineer and successful entrepreneur Mike Patey, Draco is the ultimate backcountry airplane. “I love everything about the G3X Touch. Each day he greeted airshow attendees with his trademark smile and friendly personality, while taking pictures, signing autographs and talking all things aviation with his supporters. 160 gallons of Jet The demonstrations highlight the skills of pilots making precision landings and takeoffs in a variety of aircraft that vary from stock configurations to highly modified one-offs like Draco, which started its service life as a PZL–104 Wilga, a Polish-made airplane designed with piston power in mind. Aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul facility specializing in PT6A turbine, R-985 and R-1340 radial engines. Throughout EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019, fans and aviation enthusiasts flooded the Garmin exhibit to get an up-close look at the celebrated STOL (short takeoff and landing) aircraft and visit with its creator, Mike Patey. © 2020 Madavor Media, LLC.
Husky is your classic adventure that makes flying fun. The bright red airplane against the white desert landscape made for a stunning panorama. “So DRACO was an idea from owning a Wilga 10 years earlier.
I still had to work a day job, so it was a hard push but Then in 2018, after Patey decided to build his extreme bush plane, DRACO in a high mountain desert; we have mountain elevations that are over 14,000 just start, and every day do something … I force myself to do something on my It’s just I failed the plane and the passengers,” said the backcountry pilot who has amassed a sizable social media following through his exploits. DRACO is Mike Patey’s turboprop STOL Wilga on steroids. gallons per hour) and a stall speed of only 35 miles per hour.
“It took me 5 months and 3 weeks to build DRACO. "I screwed up, made some bad choices, and as a result, I risked my family and friend. “Just go do it,” Patey said.
Get the latest news on coronavirus impacts on general aviation, including what AOPA is doing to protect GA, event cancellations, advice for pilots to protect themselves, and more. equipment in aviation,” he said. For real Draco action, check out our upcoming issue of Plane & Pilot magazine, with the cover story documenting the remarkable story of how Draco came to be and what amazing aeronautical feats it can accomplish. If you’re "I should have waited," Patey told his online audience. had several G3X Touches and hands down I think it’s the greatest piece of able to take my family into the backcountry at a really high elevation. “It was just a rough day,” Patey said. aspiring to be a pilot? A video filmed in the aftermath by Patey himself began logging views at a furious pace as soon as he posted it.