European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 20, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Doil Magazine homemade and they Fly by David Nicholson associated press he legend on Mike Melvill s Belt buckle happiness is flying Home built tells the Story. And Melvill s decision to build his own air plane was just Fine with his wife Sally who said i m not one of those wives who just sits Back. It was a family affair she said. We were All involved in it and it was built in the family  both Melvill sons 16-year-old Graham and 13-year-old Keith helped she said adding that Keith was very Handy because he could reach into Small places for the  once Melvill 37, and a Pilot for eight years decided to build he sent to California for blueprints for the Small Var Viggen sports plane. We decided that we really wanted to build something ourselves said mrs. Melvill 34, and we really liked the  the Melville interviewed at the experimental aircraft new York times about 1,100 of the More than 8,000 planes that attended the experimental aircraft association s annual Fly in at Oshkosh wis., were built from scratch kits or plans. Association s annual Fly in at Oshkosh wis., joined some 8,000 americans who have built their own planes eat said. The organization estimated that 15,000 others Are in the process. Eat officials said about 1,100 of the More than 8,000 planes at the annual aircraft show and Conven Tion were Home built from kits or plans sold by design houses or designed from scratch by the builders themselves. A machinist and shop Foreman at Davey manufacturing in Anderson ind., Melvill already had most of the skills needed to construct the plane of aircraft certified Spruce plywood and steel All guaranteed flawless and Able to withstand tremendous stress. Your life s on the line when you go up in something you built he said. If you buy a piece of cheap steel you May regret  plane was finished this Spring three years one month and 22 Days after the family started work he said. He said it Cost about $12,500 including $4,000 in sophisticated radio and electronic equipment to allow night flying As compared to $30,000 or $40,000 for a similar factory built plane. Early this summer Melvill and his wife who is also a Pilot took it on a 3,000-mile trip from Ander son to Portland ore., with stops in Phoenix ariz., and Laramie Wyo. The aircraft performs like a dream Melvill said adding that people seem to think it flies  because of the unusual rear propeller nose mounted Forward Wing design. The first thing that leads you to do it is that you think it s going to be cheaper he said explaining Why he chose to build his own aircraft. When you finally get it there the feeling is something you can t describe. It s the biggest ego Booster in the  what s next for the Melville of just flying and enjoying the plane for awhile mrs. Melvill said. But i Don t know i think he wants to build another  it does t upset Bryan Allen that his first Ever human powered flight failed to create the stir of the Atlantic balloon crossing. He s got his eyes on France As Well a human powered flight across the English Channel. Allen is the muscle behind the designs of Paul Mccready of Pasadena whose team picked up an $85,000 prize for the first human powered flight in August of 1977. Fame is neat but we be gotten quite a bit ourselves said Allen who peddled the Gossamer Condor to a place in the smithsonian institution. It s neat having worked on something that got into such a place of  and the 20-mile Channel crossing will draw More Atten Tion than the Condor s flight at a Rural Airport near Bakersfield calif., the 25-year-old bicycle racer and hang gliding enthusiast said. The England to France flight is pretty easy to understand he said. You take off Here and land  the flight of the 70-Pound Gossamer Condor was More complicated a mile around in tight figure eight turns reaching an Altitude of at least 10 feet above ground near the Start and finish. It took Days of trying. A pedal powered plane More sophisticated than the Gossamer Condor is being readied for next May s Chan Nel attempt Allen said. Tentatively dubbed the Gossamer Albatross the plane will be made of More exotic stuff than the Condor s aluminium tubing plastic and cardboard construction he said. The prize for the Channel crossing is $200,000 from the London aeronautical society. Pedal powered flying is perceived As being an Odd Ball event which not Many people understand Allen said. Flying a balloon across the Atlantic is pretty straightforward and he s confident he can make it across the Channel if the plane is Good enough and tests indicate the Alba Tross will require Only half the Effort of the Condor. With that in mind it not Only will be much easier than swimming across it will be much easier than running 20 Miles said Allen. Associated press next goal for pedal planes up the Gossamer Condor claimed record for the first Ever human powered flight and now its Crew is getting ready for an attempt at crossing the English Channel. Wednesday september 20, 1978 the stars and stripes Page 13