Was that really a Beechcraft Starship flying over my house in CA?
May 15, 2012 11:41 AM Subscribe
So I regularly see what looks to be a Beechcraft Starship flying over my home in Moraga, CA. Wondering if a) it is indeed a starship and b) who owns it.
So the plane that flies over looks very much like this one two pusher engines, swept back wings and canards up front but from what I read Starships are very rare with only five remaining flying none of which appear to be based near me.
It has a very distinctive sound when flying overhead so I catch it quite often. Anyone know anymore about it?
So the plane that flies over looks very much like this one two pusher engines, swept back wings and canards up front but from what I read Starships are very rare with only five remaining flying none of which appear to be based near me.
It has a very distinctive sound when flying overhead so I catch it quite often. Anyone know anymore about it?
Mod note: Changed the link to a specific image from that page instead of the page itself, which seems like it may have some nasty javascript running on it.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:54 AM on May 15, 2012
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:54 AM on May 15, 2012
Best answer: If you have a pair of binoculars and/or can see it well enough to grab the N-Number, you can look it up in the FAA's registry, which will give you the make/model and owner information.
posted by bondcliff at 11:56 AM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by bondcliff at 11:56 AM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I don't 'think' it's the Piaggio because I'm pretty sure the one I see has swept back wings which the Piaggio doesn't appear to have.
I'll try and grab the binoculars next time though.
posted by zeoslap at 12:01 PM on May 15, 2012
I'll try and grab the binoculars next time though.
posted by zeoslap at 12:01 PM on May 15, 2012
This page says there are five starships that are privately owned and in active service.
None of them are based in California.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 12:06 PM on May 15, 2012
None of them are based in California.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 12:06 PM on May 15, 2012
Response by poster: I guess it has to be a Piaggio - I must be mistaken about the swept back wings. Will double check next time for sure.
posted by zeoslap at 12:19 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by zeoslap at 12:19 PM on May 15, 2012
I don't think it's impossible. None are based in California, but there are several photos of NC-51 in the Tehachapi Mountains and Edwards AFB and some of NC-6 near the Bay Area.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 12:32 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by easy, lucky, free at 12:32 PM on May 15, 2012
I've seen a Piaggio flying over our house here in Cupertino. I initially thought it was a Starship and got excited but it didn't look quite right.
posted by zsazsa at 12:42 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by zsazsa at 12:42 PM on May 15, 2012
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"Many folks have even had false sightings, where they think they see a Starship, but really it is a similarly configured Piaggio P.180 Avanti."
posted by Grither at 11:52 AM on May 15, 2012