Steve Campbell
Elite Veteran
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
| The TwinStar was Ewald Heim's bid to re-enter the heli market. He and Dieter Schluter were THE two early pioneers, and both sold out to conglomerates in the early 80s; Heim to Graupner, Schluter to Robbe. Apparently, the patents or whatever on the use of their names expired, and they were eager to get back in the game. Schluter even appeared at Nurnberg (Europe's version of Toledo; much bigger, actually) in '99 or so, with some new designs. But he vanished too.
I saw Ewald (and the TwinStar) at the 98 Jamboree. It had two gyros. He flew it, but I never saw it get out of the hover. He had plans to market the ship here. He disappeared from sight shortly after that. I heard he and his American (he's German or Austrian) wife split the sheet, and he went back to Europe.
BTW, I also saw him flying an old Heim Lockheed 286 that week-end, and it was poetry in motion. I have never, before or since, seen anyone fly so smoothly and precisely. He is a true master of the skill.
Both of these gentlemen are well into their 70s now. I hope ill health is not the reason for their absence.
Steve |
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