Many of you know Ron Frieberger from the KR world. I just saw this on the Mustang list. Sorry to have to pass on this bad news.
Brian Kraut Engineering Alternatives, Inc. www.engalt.com -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Kirk Harrell Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2007 12:21 AM To: [email protected] Subject: M.Aero: Ron Freiberger Ron Freiberger died of cancer Wednesday, April 11. He was the original builder of N22YR. He started the project in 1975, and in two years of scratch building had most of the sheet metal work completed. He did a fantastic job! He lost his medical due to some health issues and sold the project to another fellow who stored it in a hangar and never touched it for ten years. Ron eventually got control of his health issues and got his medical back, and started another KR-2 project. I obtained the project in late 1994 and had it flying in late 1998. Once the plane was completed, I looked him up. We became quick friends. He was pleased with the finished bird. His daughter cried and walked around and around the plane saying, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it!" When she was a little girl, she would go out in the garage with him and buck rivets. She could get her little arms in tight places. We went for a ride. I forgot to get the passenger stick out and we couldn't reach it in flight, so he reached over and flew with the pilot's stick. After flying for awhile, he said that if I ever decided to sell it, he wanted to buy it back. I did my first (and hopefully LAST) groundloop that day when we landed. He just sat there calm as could be holding down his side of the plane. When we came to a halt, he sat there for a few seconds, then very matter of factly said, "That was interesting. Now you know why I had the landing gear professionally welded." What a hoot! I was sitting there feeling like a bronc rider that made it eight seconds on Old Killer. Except for minor damage to the wheelpants, the plane was unhurt. Have to say again that Ron did a fantastic job with the metalwork on N22YR, especially the fuselage. With .032 skins and 3/32 countersunk rivets, the fuselage is absolutely straight and smooth and even though I didn't fill the rivets when painting, you cannot see them, without very close inspection. I am often asked if the plane is made out of fiberglass or wood. His craftsmanship has carried me on many great adventures, and I will do my best to keep the bird as pristine as I can as a tribute to Ron. I'm sad that I didn't get a chance to give him a better ride. Couldn't let him pass away without some kind of tribute. I'm sure you all will understand. Kirk __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: mailto:[email protected] Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity a.. 3New Members b.. 3New Photos Visit Your Group SPONSORED LINKS a.. Mustang b.. Experimental aircraft c.. Mustang engine d.. Experimental jet aircraft e.. Experimental aircraft for sale Boxing Greats Who's the best? Share and vote on Bix.com Health Zone Look your best! Groups to help you look & feel great. Yahoo! News Fashion News What's the word on fashion and style? . __,_._,___
