The GP-5Sweet Dreams was a Super Sport Class racing airplane designed by George Pereira, owner of Osprey Aircraft. It was originally built by Gary Childs, who sold it to another builder, who in turn sold it to George Backovich. Backovich enlisted the help of designer Pereira to complete it in 2007, after changes to its automotive engine conversion, and switching the propeller manufacturer.
Sweet Dreams
Other name(s)
Osprey GP-5
Type
Unlimited/Sport/Super-Sport/Sport-Gold class racing aircraft
Manufacturer
George Pereira, Gary Childs and George Backovich
Registration
N501GP
First flight
2007
Last flight
8 September 2014
Fate
Crashed, killing pilot Lee Behel, due to structural failure of a wing
The aircraft was specifically built to race in the Unlimited class at the Reno Air Races.[1] Changes to the Unlimited class rules made the GP-5 no longer eligible for that class, so it was entered in the Sport class instead. Further rule changes excluded the GP-5 from competing in that class until the Super Sport class emerged. The Super Sport class was merged with the Sport class becoming, effectively, an Unlimited class for aircraft with engines less than 1,000 cu in (16.39 L) displacement.
Sweet Dreams was entered in the Reno 2010 Sport class, but engine failure during practice runs resulted in the need to find a better engine/propeller/gearbox combination. Eventually the GP-5 competed in the 2012 Sport-Gold class at Reno finishing fourth.
On 8 September 2014, during a qualifying heat at the 2014 Reno Air Races, pilot Lee Behel was killed when Sweet Dreams crashed due to an inflight wing failure.[2][3][4][5]
Specifications (GP-5)edit
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Powerplant: 1 × Hasselgren_Engineering,_Inc SBC , 625 hp (466 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 315 kn (363 mph, 584 km/h)
Referencesedit
^"The GP-5: Reborn, Refined, and now, Tragically Lost". 25 September 2014 – via epi-eng.com.
^Accident description for N501GP, GP-5, Reno, NV on 8 September 2014 at the Aviation Safety Network
sweet, dreams, aircraft, sweet, dreams, super, sport, class, racing, airplane, designed, george, pereira, owner, osprey, aircraft, originally, built, gary, childs, sold, another, builder, turn, sold, george, backovich, backovich, enlisted, help, designer, pere. The GP 5 Sweet Dreams was a Super Sport Class racing airplane designed by George Pereira owner of Osprey Aircraft It was originally built by Gary Childs who sold it to another builder who in turn sold it to George Backovich Backovich enlisted the help of designer Pereira to complete it in 2007 after changes to its automotive engine conversion and switching the propeller manufacturer Sweet DreamsOther name s Osprey GP 5Type Unlimited Sport Super Sport Sport Gold class racing aircraftManufacturer George Pereira Gary Childs and George BackovichRegistration N501GPFirst flight 2007Last flight 8 September 2014Fate Crashed killing pilot Lee Behel due to structural failure of a wingThe aircraft was specifically built to race in the Unlimited class at the Reno Air Races 1 Changes to the Unlimited class rules made the GP 5 no longer eligible for that class so it was entered in the Sport class instead Further rule changes excluded the GP 5 from competing in that class until the Super Sport class emerged The Super Sport class was merged with the Sport class becoming effectively an Unlimited class for aircraft with engines less than 1 000 cu in 16 39 L displacement Sweet Dreams was entered in the Reno 2010 Sport class but engine failure during practice runs resulted in the need to find a better engine propeller gearbox combination Eventually the GP 5 competed in the 2012 Sport Gold class at Reno finishing fourth On 8 September 2014 during a qualifying heat at the 2014 Reno Air Races pilot Lee Behel was killed when Sweet Dreams crashed due to an inflight wing failure 2 3 4 5 Specifications GP 5 editGeneral characteristics Crew 1 Powerplant 1 Hasselgren Engineering Inc SBC 625 hp 466 kW Performance Maximum speed 315 kn 363 mph 584 km h References edit The GP 5 Reborn Refined and now Tragically Lost 25 September 2014 via epi eng com Accident description for N501GP GP 5 Reno NV on 8 September 2014 at the Aviation Safety Network NTSB report WPR14FA369 National Transportation Safety Board via faa gov Reno Races Wrap 8 September 2014 via avweb com Clifton Guy 9 September 2014 Air Races 1 dead in plane crash at Reno Stead Airport Reno Gazette Journal External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Osprey GP 5 Coverage of the crash via kathrynsreport com includes NTSB report in much more readable format than official link at faa gov GP 5 debut at Reno via eaa org archived copy 2014 article and 2013 video interview with pilot Lee Behel about the aircraft via avweb com Photos of Sweet Dreams via aerialvisuals ca Genesis of the GP 5 permanent dead link EAA Sport Aviation article may be available to EAA members by searching past issues Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sweet Dreams aircraft amp oldid 1126752411, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
