Who doesn't like a good Quickie! ;)

The mission of Rutan Aircraft Flying Experience is to “Preserve and promote Burt Rutan’s Homebuilt designs”.  How we accomplish that mission has many facets. One is acquiring at least one flying example of each of these airplanes. We’re pretty close to that goal. 

This year at Oshkosh RAFE will be celebrating our 10th anniversary. In the span of those ten years we’ve acquired quite a fleet of LongEZs, Variezes and Cozy’s. We completed Lady Vi, an unfinished VariViggen which is as far as we know the only flying VariViggen in the world. We acquired two Solitaires, both flying aircraft. We have numerous aircraft in need of restoration back to airworthy status and unfinished projects that could become flying aircraft. Among those are the last two models we lack to complete our fleet of flying examples of Burt’s Homebuilt designs so technically we have a representative of each model, we're just short a flying Quickie and Defiant. We appreciate them all and they are all special, but during this journey we’ve discovered the best fit for RAFE are the most significant aircraft in each category. Lady Vi really drove this point home for us. The story of LadyVi and how RAFE Volunteers made it a flying airplane makes Lady Vi the third most famous VariViggen around. First and second being Burts and Mike Melville’s VariViggens, two of the finest examples ever built. One of our Solitaires is a 1990 Oshkosh Lindy Grand Champion award winner.  Each LongEZ and Varieze has some symbolic tale of accomplishment or historical connection to the Rutan community and the spirit of EAA Homebuilt aircraft. Our quest to complete our flying fleet came two steps closer in the last few weeks! Memorial Day Weekend, Leif and Diane Johnson pulled up to the Ellington RAFE hangar with a Quickie loaded on a trailer, and not just any Quickie!

Leif Johnson, George Choquette and Ryszard Zadow accepting the Masal Quickie into RAFE

The Johnson’s moved onto an airpark in the Dallas area and as they got to know their neighbors they met Mrs. Mary Masal. Her late husband Jim's Quickie and his history silently rested in her hangar. Leif, a longtime RAFE Pilot who led last year’s airshow demonstration at AirVenture, shared the mission of RAFE with Mary Masal. In short order, Jim Masal’s Quickie is now part of the RAFE fleet and awaiting restoration and we’re thrilled at the concept of preserving and promoting Burt’s Homebuilt designs with this great airplane and legacy of Jim and Mary Masal.

The Jim Masal Story

In the Quickie world the name Jim Masal is well recognized. Jim was not just a Quickie fan

and builder, but a technical expert on the breed, founder and author of the Quickie newsletter. After all the possibilities of acquiring a Quickie, this one has an     inspiring story and we're excited to get it restored back to flying status.

We’ve had a couple other Quickies donated to RAFE previously. None are as close to flying as Jim Masal’s is, but are still important. In 2017 “Solar George” Newberry donated his unfinished  Quickie.

Jorge Newberry donates his Quickie project in Key West, Fl.

Longtime LongEZ Pilot ad builder Mike Toomey built a Quickie once then sold it. In 2018 it’s new owner Jacob Havens donated it after experiencing engine problems with it. Later that year Tom Wright found one advertised near him and acquired it for RAFE. It came with a unique custom trailer. One of our constant challenges is storing donated airplanes and projects.

Scott Kearby, Floyd Webb and Tony Wornock Load up the Quickie.

We have stuff stashed all over the country and hangars are RAFE’s biggest expense. RAFE member Tony Warnock, based in St Elmo, Alabama volunteered to store the Tom Wright Quickie and its trailer and he’s been hosting it for years. We owe Tony a bunch of gratitude. Following the excitement of getting Jim Masal’s Quickie, last Saturday RAFE members Scott Kearny and Floyd Webb made a cannonball run from Houston to St. Elmo and brought the Q and its trailer to Ellington.

Projects and aircraft in need of restoration often come with inventories of parts and materials. With all these Quickies we have Onan engines in various stages, parts, plans and pieces. What RAFE lacks is time and funding. Our operational priorities are keep the flying airplanes flying and when time allows work on the restorations. It’s an undeniable truth that in volunteer organizations like RAFE ten percent of the people do 90% of the work. Our volunteer workforce is small but the amount of hours they put in is awe inspiring.

A common rule of thumb for volunteer organizations is 10% of the members do 90% of the work. To get Jim Masal’s Quickie flying again we need more members. You can’t expect more out of the 10%. What can be done is make that 10% larger. We’re on a membership drive! No matter where you live, the skills you have can help RAFE. Technology these days shrinks geography so there’s no excuses! If you can’t help in person, please consider supporting us. Our biggest expense is hangar rents and that has to come from somewhere! One way or another, YOU can be a part of the only aviation 501c3 non-profit dedicated to preserving and promoting Burt Rutan’s great aircraft designs!

Let’s get some Quickies going! 😊

Sincerely

Ryszard Zadow

Founder and President, RAFE