The design of their “telemetry equipment” was also amazing.

The raptor could use about a 900 pound weight reduction

Comparing this guy to to the Wrights is laughable. The Wrights were, in large measure, figuring out the basics of powered flight for the first time ever because there was no previous info to build on. The basics are pretty well understood at this point. Someone who decides the basics are wrong or unimportant should expect some harsh critiquing until they prove they are smarter than those who came before.

Looks like Ed Seguin and a couple other WELL qualified people have been tapped to push it through to the next phase. A video was posted on Wasabi youtube page. We should be able find out the real viability of this project with their involvement.

I'm still unclear if this is just some guy and a home-built, or is he taking deposits? (other people's money?)

1500 deposits have been placed into escrow. That can’t be touched until the milestone has been met. Peter sent out emails asking people to complete the escrow of $2000 and pay in $18,000 and sign a contract. They would get the guaranteed price of $120k, .25% of Raptor aircraft LLC and moved up to the first 100 or so. I think he got enough people to do the deal to get $2.7 million.


The guys released a review of the inspection

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3884065 ... 219136806/

Interesting...
https://youtu.be/Y-JAITRhDQ0

That's the Youtube link to the same thing that's on the FB page in the link above.

I wonder what the list of 8 things are, besides the ailerons and the door?

1. Engine
2. Airframe
3. Wing Spars
4. Canard
5. Main wing
6. Landing gear
7. Flight controls
8. Everything else....

Tim (could not resist)

Oh man, that's a different ball game.

All fun and games building your own. Not when other people's money is involved.

I feel a bit better about the project now that he has some professional help evaluating the airframe. They will either pronounce it safe to proceed, or effectively ground it. I can’t believe anyone would argue with their conclusions. My guess is the project dies before anyone is killed.

Oh man, that's a different ball game.

All fun and games building your own. Not when other people's money is involved.

I don’t think this is where the project dies. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the airframe, and with some qualified engineering talent on board it should be pretty easy to make it fly.

But of course it won’t ever achieve the published performance goals, it won’t be anywhere near ready for mass production, and it will cost way more than projected.

Unfortunately the escrows are likely structured to pay out when the first flight milestone is achieved, which means he’ll get more other people’s money to screw around with for a few more years before it all goes belly up.

True, but once money is involved, both Peter and the investors have new levels of responsibility and ethics that are not at play when an individual is working with their own money.

I don’t think this is where the project dies. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the airframe, and with some qualified engineering talent on board it should be pretty easy to make it fly.

But of course it won’t ever achieve the published performance goals, it won’t be anywhere near ready for mass production, and it will cost way more than projected.

Unfortunately the escrows are likely structured to pay out when the first flight milestone is achieved, which means he’ll get more other people’s money to screw around with for a few more years before it all goes belly up.