RARE Beechcraft Starship departing Addison airport (KADS)

[@NebbyNu]

WOW this video blew up! I just wanna say thank you to everyone who has stopped by to share your thoughts on this fascinating aircraft. Like I said in the description, I saw the Starship after landing at Addison one afternoon, and just managed to hop out of the plane in time to get a video. It's a rarity these days and always grabs everyone's attention when it leaves the hangar. If you want to see more videos like this, let me know by hitting like and subscribing to my channel! Thanks for watching!

[@MabrysDad]

I can always hear this craft in the air when it comes into and out of KADS. Total unique sound.

[@barbaradavis393]

They were a cool aircraft and many owners loved them. A lot of the issues, like being heavy, were because they were ahead of their time and the FAA didn't know how to certify them. It was a dark day when the Beech management bought back as many as they could and then chainsawed them.

[@DPain82]

Structures specialist here. I was selected to put a sawn one back together for display.

[@chucklemasters6433]

being heavy was not a characteristic of being ahead of it's time. new airplanes are lighter due to discovery of new materials.

[@michaelbooher339]

I worked for Beech Aerospace. It was a fantastic design, maybe a little more wing area and a few hundred more horsepower would have made the difference. But very ground breaking at the time.

[@Ryarios]

@@michaelbooher339 why did Beechcraft decide they had to destroy them all?

[@michaelbooher339]

@@Ryarios They no longer wanted to hold the type certificate or continue to support them technically or parts wise. Everything about it was crazy expensive. Plus, composites we’re just coming into their own and very few technicians knew how to repair it.

[@michaelkim3432]

So cool!! I was actually lucky enough to hop on a Starship demo flight out of Santa Monica airport - seemed like we got to Santa Barbara super fast, turned around and headed back. I do recall that there was a decent amount of cabin noise despite the engines and props being out back. In any event, it was a flight I'll never forget! Shame they didn't keep developing it.

[@NebbyNu]

That sounds incredible! Super jealous haha

[@BSmart-wp3be]

I happened to be driving by Cleburne Regional one day when I noticed this unusual plane on a final coming into the airport. I turned my car around and drove directly to the terminal in time to see the pilot entering the terminal. I spoke with him for just a bit and expressed my amazement at the uniqueness of the design. He told me that an oilfield related business out of Houston owned this particular example and he felt very fortunate to be able to fly it. He said that one of the biggest issues is that the avionics, while extremely advanced when it was designed, we're almost obsolete shortly after the planes were produced. Repair parts are expensive and hard to find. I'm just thankful there are still a few in the air.

[@smitty8663]

Growing up as a teenager , I always enjoyed whenever I had to go by Smith-Reynolds airport as Beech had an outlet there and had one on display for several years. I could always recognize it whenever they were flying back to the airport by it’s unique engine sound. It was always an inspiring treat to watch it fly by!

[@gregdcross]

When Beechcraft released the Starship I was working as an A&P for a Beech dealer at BNA in Nashville and we would do inspections on the one based there. A plane way ahead of it's time, but sadly composite delamination cause Beech to buy back nearly all of them and destroyed them. It was to compete against King Airs. Truly a unique sound with the pusher prop configuration. I got to ride on one of the maintenance check rides and it was very quiet compared to a King Air 300.

[@michaelbooher339]

I’m an A&P, previously worked at Tulsair Beechcraft in Memphis.

[@walter2990]

It was the freaking fiberglass problems that ended them! Same problem that many high end boats, RV's, and other fiberglass structures have.!

[@abrahamcasanova9901]

The first time I saw this airplane was back in 2013 when I was studying in Addison. I was instructed to “give way to the Starship and taxi behind it” so I scratched my head and thought “what’s a Starship? Then I saw this very peculiar aircraft emerging from behind some hangars and thought “of course, that’s a Starship!”

[@kscipkkkk]

I hear this plane coming in all the time and know exactly who it is when I hear it. Love seeing this plane , but never knew an engineering firm owned it. I have sat in that parking lot a thousand times with my kids and wife watching planes take off and land. Good Times !

[@paulayala4816]

Still one of the most beautiful planes ever produced.

[@protow5178]

I live in northeast Dallas and see one of them from time to time, it appears they are heading east and headed west coming back at the end of the day. The coolest time I saw it was during the height of the Covid lockdown. It was doing a low level flyover right over my house with 5-6 WWII fighters and I think a B-17. Very cool to see the different technology in one formation!

[@scottfw7169]

Oh that would have been something!

[@05rollerman]

Wow, cool! I got to work on NC4 - NC8 while working at Beechcraft Wichita.

[@airdrhotmai]

Ah back when Beechcraft was still a real company and not part of the Textron crap

[@kCI251]

The advantage of the design is clearly less asymmetric thrust problems due to props much closer to center line. I've only seen one in person and it was quite amazing.

[@chefduane3742]

I live in Plano and am under the 45 degree entry to 13 at Addison. I have heard this guy go over a few times and only caught glimpses of the actual aircraft as I run outside to locate him. Quite a sight, quite a sound. There is also a VariEze that I think is based in McKinney that flies over to KADS sometimes. Seen him a few times. Thanks for posting!!

[@richardcarlson127]

There used to be a Starship owned (leased?) by a businessman in Milwaukee that used to fly into PWK often, I think he kept it at MWC. A couple years after it disappeared I saw a P180 there. I was ecstatic that the Starship had arisen from the dead until I came crashing down from earth when it got closer. The P180 is cool but nothing beats a Starship!

[@jackspence1126]

Amateur Radio Supply, which was in the Milwaukee area, had one and a friend of mine talked to them as they flew over our area outside Kalamazoo. If I remember correctly, the plane name was Starship 1.

[@richardcarlson127]

@@jackspence1126 Yep, that was the one!

[@TheRenegadeAV8R]

Great Video, I've sat in that same parking lot watching aircraft launch and recover while listening to ATC.

[@NebbyNu]

Thanks! I used to wave to the people watching as I waited on the run up pad haha its a good spot!

[@json2582]

I had the pleasure of flying in the Starship. My father worked at Beech for 40+ years. Then, I had a brother-in-law that was one of the chief engineers on this project. I also had the opportunity to fly in a Staggerwing. What a combination!!! Living in Wichita, greatest day ever; - a "fly-in" with dozens of Staggerwings in the sky from sun-up to sunset, circa 1970. The good old days.

[@K3Flyguy]

There was a gentleman that owned one of these out of Greater Kankakee Airport in Illinois. About 60 miles south of Chicago. The last time seen or heard it takeoff, was in 2018. I believe the gentleman that owned it passed on since then. Boy it was quite an event to watch and hear this magnificent plane climb out! I knew the pilot and he said he always flew it by the numbers what ever that means. I do know the climb rate seemed slower than the other corporate jets. The sound of the engines were both beautiful and you could tell they were being worked hard but within their comfort level if that makes sense. I'm not a pilot but I grab a ride with friends whenever I can. It have a surprising amount of stick time. I don't think I'm confident enough to ever get training and solo alone but I love to fly. Thanks for sharing the video! Great content!!!

[@donpowlen]

Such an awesome looking plane! I used to live in an apartment near there and loved watching planes take off and land.

[@markpowell8305]

Always loved seeing them occasionally at Hobby Airport in Houston.

[@markw208]

I used to live in Addison and would see that plane flying overhead. It has a very distinct sound.

[@kenmenees5197]

I remember in the mid 80's, during a airshow, the Beech Starship Prototype was coming in for a landing at Addison Airport and a slow 152 was cleared for takeoff, the Starship was coming in fast and aborted landing punched the throttles and climbed out so fast!, then realized that was just part of the show. I worked at Addison Airport in the early to mid 80's for the Airport flying School as a Aircraft Maint. Tech. My Favorite job Ever! 37 yrs later, im at DFW for AA very Laarge AAirline,( sorry, couldnt help myself,lol) been fascinated by Canards ever since.

[@goneflying140]

The Starship is so badass. What a cool plane. Thank you for sharing this.

[@MPi-KM]

There used to be one at Orlando Executive Airport (aka Herndon Airport) It would fly over my house and I remember the distinct sound of the engines.

[@TractorMan104]

That one was owned by Wayne Densch the Budweiser distributor in Orlando. I knew his pilot that flew it and he absolutely loved flying that plane. That same pilot flew in WWII and flew many, many different planes over the years but loved the Starship the most. Beautiful planes.

[@MPi-KM]

@@TractorMan104 Neat!

[@Paiadakine]

Such a unique ship. Much better looking than the Piaggio. Beech was a front runner for composites back in the 80’s.

[@alanmorrison3598]

The Piaggio was the more efficient design by far..Starship had 3 lifting surfaces so drag was more than necessary..

[@ethanwelles]

My brother and I loved seeing the Starship (NC-51?) that was --and I believe still is-- based at Rocky Mountain Metro (formerly Jeffco) back in the early 90s. Got a surprise treat one day as it flew several low photo-style passes before landing and taxiing back to the hangar. We got to hang out next to it and chat with the pilot a bit but I lost all the photos I took that day. Sure was impressive though!!

[@xgtiguy]

I just watched a p180 piaggio avante takeoff in north bend Oregon that has the two engines in back also. Good looking planes

[@superbeetlejosh]

What a cool plane. I live 55 miles from Wichita. When i was a kid we'd see that thing flying overhead on test flights. It has a very distinct sound.

[@butchs.4239]

I've seen the one at Pima, cool to see one actually flying.

[@alonzovillarreal4666]

I ran into one of those years ago when I was still flying. Very cool.

[@mitseraffej5812]

I hope it didn’t hurt too much.

[@Strategic1now]

Got to see and hear one fly over North of Seattle.1990 est. And then saw one at McMinnville about 15 years ago. Always nice to see people thinking outside the Box.

[@2whl4re]

A guy I used to work with owned and flew his own Starship. Beech made him a killer deal on a Premier to get him out of the Starship & take it out of service, a tactic I think they used on lots of those that were privately owned (not leased).

[@kl0wnkiller912]

I live just outside of the pattern. I have seen this thing flying around, although not recently. I see all sorts of interesting aircraft fly over my house since the Cavanaugh Flight museum is at Addison. I have seen Fifi (B-29), B-24, P-51, Bf-109, A/B-26... all sorts of things but the Starship has a very unique sound. If you ever get a chance to visit that museum you should. They have an absolutely beautiful B-25 there. There is a display case with models that I donated from my friend, Phil Stuart, who has passed on. The guy was a wizard with metal foil coverings on models!

[@muddobber6863]

It was awesome when Fifi lived there. Used to see the B-24 flying quite a bit as well.

[@fredferd965]

The most beautiful aircraft Beech ever built! Rutan rules!!!

[@fredferd965]

@@Beechnut985 Thanks! I changed it!

[@TreeTop1947]

No doubt, this is a beautiful aircraft, Fred. But, my choice for the most beautiful Beech will always be the old 1930s vintage Staggerwing Beech! There's just something about the classy looks combined with that throaty sounding radial engine... TreeTop

[@fredferd965]

@@TreeTop1947 Back in the 1960's, when I flew out of El Monte Airport near Los Angeles, there was a big red Staggerwing that would take off once in a while. There weren't any ex-military birds on the airport (T6's and the like) at the time so the Staggerwing was the biggest thing around. You knew when it took off! The thing was just solid power! Some low time lawyer had bought it, but it was just too much for him. He had no business being even near the thing. Eventually someone bought it and it went away. Magnificent!!! It was beautiful!!!

[@TreeTop1947]

@@fredferd965 Thanks for the reply, Fred. I'm so glad to hear that the Staggerwing survived that low time lawyer/pilot. TreeTop ETA: Every time I find myself day dreaming about Staggerwing Beeches, they are always a beautiful bright red in color!

[@fredferd965]

@@TreeTop1947 Well, the whole thing was ridiculous. He was trying to get dual instruction in that thing. I think the plane had one wheel, which you could move from one side to the other. Not going to happen!

[@Porsche4life]

What’s cool is in one of those hangars to the left there’s another flying starship. A guy named raj is the owner

[@GRosa250]

I had no idea the canards could pivot forward and backwards. Such a cool aircraft and I was lucky to see one at TEB a while back.

[@Ebbrush3]

ya, me ether ....i thought they were stationary

[@normvw4053]

Thank you Dick Rutan, the Starship was your Varieze all grown up. See how beautiful she has become. I first heard her siren song on a cloudy day near El Paso, Texas. I've heard a few times since, but like the mermaid I've only seen her from afar, watching her beautiful form and listening to her beautiful song. As an A&P, it warms my heart to know that she still takes to the air. Fly on Beauty, fly on.

[@jfree8184]

Saw a Starship just after takeoff from KSGL pass overhead about two weeks ago. Cool looking aircraft, didnt realize how rare!

[@jfree8184]

KSGR not KSGL sorry

[@steveturner3999]

I got to watch a Starship doing touch and goes at the airport in Destin Florida. I was at the jetties and they flew right over the beach on the outbound leg. Super cool!

[@papalilburn]

Beautiful aircraft! Thanks for sharing the video!

[@av8tore71]

I used to work for Emery Air Charter at KRFD and the Beechcraft portion of the company would have seen 2 or 3 at the height of all the Starships flying before Beech buying them all back

[@triprack]

I live in his favorite flight path and see him all the time. Unique sounding ship.

[@davismontana9307]

One went overhead this past weekend near Houston. Awesome. No other plane sounds like it.

[@walterkersting6238]

I work outside and I’d see one every Thursday. The only reason I’d see it is because I’d hear it; that thing would flat out howl.

[@cuda7133]

Makes me happy that there are a few still flying, I thought they were all scrapped or in museums.

[@godblessamerica5114]

Got my start in corporate aviation at ADS. Loved working at Million Air back when Lou Pepper was the President. Good times at that airport.

[@BradM73]

Such a beautiful aircraft. It's a shame it wasn't more popular, though I'm sure there are reasons for why. Thanks for sharing!

[@markthomas4682]

Had to do with Piaggio

[@donanders2110]

I saw 2 Flying examples about 5 years ago take-off out of Tullahoma, TN. at the annual Beech Party!!

[@jackspence1126]

There used to be one in northern Illinois near where my son lives. That sound was very distinct as was the design of the plane.

[@BRSP1022]

One of these flies over my place every now and then around 1 AM. Wakes me up.

[@OhNoNotFrank]

I have a question that perhaps someone here might be able to answer. As an exchange student in Wichita Ks, in 87-88, a couple of fellow students and myself were invited to Beechcraft's plant to see this very plane. What has me stumped though, is that everybody I told about it was amazed by the fact that we were allowed in, as the production was secret. Some of them said they only had seen it on testflights, but to far away to see any details. My hostfather who was an engineer at Boeing at the time was *really* impressed and very curious to hear what we had seen. I thought the plane was introduced in the early 1980`s though, so I can't see/remember what the secrecy was all about? Do I remember this wrong and the plane was first introduced around 1987-88, or were they perhaps trying other technology like jet-engines on a new Starship? I just can't recall!

[@leewelburn3829]

I know this is 10 months old post but I think I can guess what they were hiding was the composite construction method not the resulting aircraft composite production was very new and the reason they bought them back due to de-lamination

[@Hossman757]

I always thought the Avanti was more pleasing to the eye than the Starship but still the pushers were really cool.

[@WizzRacing]

I see this thing all the time flying. I don't even have to look up anymore..It has a very unique sound...

[@Nemura12]

Back in the early 1990s when I wa a kid I used to those in the Dominican Republic. You can easily recognize the sound of those engines.

[@kevintaylor791]

I hear if you order one from wish, they send you a Piaggio P-180 Avanti.

[@NebbyNu]

Ha!

[@worldtraveler930]

I dearly wish I was rich enough to afford to purchase and maintain one of these beautiful airplanes!!! 🤠👍

[@DB-cc5vg]

This video brought back a trip down memory lane for me. I was lucky enough to go on a demo flight when Beech was doing a North American Tour to promote their new aircraft. Thanks for the memories.

[@andycraig7734]

When you hear one, you won't forget it. Besides being loud, they have a unique tone.

[@storm-aircorporation6540]

Great looking airplane. Kudo's to those preserving these aircraft!

[@richardjosephus6802]

I remember see one that was flying out of Charle Brown field just outside of Atlanta, what a wild looking aircraft

[@josephmetzger8648]

I believe one is base out of South Bend, IN. I see or hear coming into SBN several times a year. I'm on the glide path of both SBN and Elkhart airport. I think it is runway 270 on both. Lots of air traffic over the house.

[@richstewart1]

We had one of these land at our airport years ago. I asked the pilot how he liked it. He said, "It's a 5 million dollar King Air."

[@dmc8078]

A bunch of them ended up at Marana Regional Airport.

[@tomthompson7400]

It still looks like the future .

[@badgimp4577]

Beautiful aircraft! I used to love catching the one that flew out of Pontiac Oakland airport in Mi.

[@JustMe-mg6vw]

Absolutely beautiful.

[@iPelaaja1]

I have a Beechcraft booklet type of folder from Paris from year -85 containing actual photographs, one of them is of a ”Beechcraft Starship 1, flying 85% scale model”.

[@billmoran3812]

I recall one coming into HFD with two Beech pilots to do a demo flight for a prospective customer. They ran off the end of a 4000’ runway and got stuck in the mud. Don’t think they got a sale.

[@v1-vr-rotatev2-vy_vx31]

And there was a jet starship also , they were also destroyed in the junkyard, and there was one flying for a long time but you just can't find any information on on it anymore and what they looked like.

[@rdvqc]

One of the first installations with the PT6 the right way around - intake in front of exhaust!

[@PatHaskell]

Good ol’ Burt, what a genius.

[@EstorilEm]

Interesting place for a run-up, with a little citrus right behind you… I’m assuming they checked on the radio first, but still, would seem advisable to use the run-up area or stop half way into the turn for the runway.

[@KDFRxpo2]

Always seeing this bird fly over at home. The aircraft makes a very distinctive whine.

[@zifnab_fizban1998]

wow.. it sure looks likes like the plane I saw yesterday here in Tacoma WA. It was pretty high up, but the engine sound was what made me look. Very similar - sounded like the props were wound up tight. It was moving along pretty good as well. My old eyes don't work like they used to - but my ears are ok pretty much

[@fredferd965]

The only other canard business plane flying is the P180 Avanti made by the Italians. It has a very distinctive engine sound. Maybe you saw one of those....

[@zifnab_fizban1998]

@@fredferd965 yea maybe that was it - turbine powered for sure with the front canards. Sure sounds like a screamer - enjoy the skies!

[@chucklemasters6433]

part of the sound was likely due to power setting/prop speed settings combined

[@fredferd965]

@@chucklemasters6433 You're describing propeller cavitation. I'll bet that airplane was a Pigagio (sorry about the spelling) Italian plane. They always have that sound. High rpm engines, short props.

[@zifnab_fizban1998]

@@chucklemasters6433 yea.. I've been an A&P Mechanic for 29 years. When I was younger and my eyes and ears were better, I could almost tell you what what flying overhead. This was just soo interesting. I've seen all kinds of kit planes and even some of the oddball production types, but nothing quite like this one. It was an attention getter for sure :)

[@robertweldon7909]

7/13/2022 I once saw ne of these planes come into Fulton County (Charlie Brown) air port in Atlanta. I was very impressed with its performance. So sad there are so few left. It's nice to see one flying. ;-)

[@jimmiller5600]

Bleeding edge tech, circa-1980s. Both Beech and the FAA learned a lot from it. Painfully.

[@Soh90]

When you hear this thing, you immediately know that it is not a normal aircraft. First time I heard this my head sprang up to the sky to see what the hell kind of alien UFO was flying over me lol.

[@nocotton]

Awesome! I thought Beech destroyed them all.

[@mothmagic1]

We had one based at my local airfield for a while. Always knew when it was inbound as nothing else sounds quite the same. Beautiful lines just a pity they never ironed out its faults.

[@donaldshaffer9275]

Had a a single bar grounding block for every electrical circuit on the aircraft due to it's composite structure which made it difficult to troubleshoot electrical issues

[@donaldshaffer9275]

Also not as fast as the Piaggio Avanti it's major competition

[@brustar5152]

Is it an optical illusion that the canard changes to a more aggressive angle of attack as it retracts rearward? That would seem counterintuitive.

[@marcmcreynolds2827]

That has to do with maintaining adequate stall recovery characteristics.

[@rbarnes92]

I got to see one up close at Austin Executive a few years ago when a friend was picking me up for a hamburger run.

[@danalaniz7314]

What an amazing and beautiful aircraft. I live just south of the airport and now I'm dying to see one take off!

[@dpbj1957]

Burt Rutan is a really innovative designer and engineer.

[@naughtiusmaximus830]

I heard it was the lightning test on the composite that killed it. Beech was required to more metal or something. Not sure how true that is.

[@kvnkaveman]

It was the first composite aircraft to be certified. The FAA had no idea how to certify it so they went off of what they knew about aluminum aircraft. It was the cost overruns, and lack of performance from all the extra weight of unneeded composites added that did it in. Beechcraft seen that the final certified Starship didn't hold any performance advantages over other models along with they weren't able to sell the first batch so they leased them out and still no interest built up for the Starship so they cancelled the project. Since they had most of the Starships on leases they decided to buy back as many as they could of the few that were sold and destroy them so they wouldn't be required to supply parts and mandates for them. The Starship was about 10 years ahead of it's time, If it would of came out in the mid 90's it probably would of been a huge success.

[@marcmcreynolds2827]

Beech was trying to keep takeoff weight within the 12,500 lb category, but wasn't seeing the weight savings from composites they had hoped for. This was in part from deciding to go with the relatively inefficient "canard" layout. After they passed 12,500 while in development they were in a different certification weight category, with more stringent structural margins regardless of the aircraft. There's a reason(s) why we haven't seen someone take the world by storm with an updated Starship clone in the decades since: It was a collection of bad design choices... which looked kind of cool (or kind of not, to the aerodynamically savvy).

[@aaronlopez492]

Super rare and cool thanks for the treat.👍

[@jimb3137]

Used to see a starship up here in NH around KASH, been a couple years. Idk if it's still around.

[@yhird]

An airplane ahead of its time. Even today it looks futuristic.

[@ScottSmith-dd6iy]

I've seen them fly out of Kansas City many times. I love this plane

[@fmphotooffice5513]

I might be mistaken but I think one of these was operating a few years ago out of the Hayward, CA airport. It sounded like a motorcycle in the air.

[@danielneuenschwander7381]

One of the remaining Starships flew into Rialto Airport in Southern California back in the early 2000s. Quite the site at the time. Too bad like the GM EV-1 they were destroyed without it seems a second thought.

[@bryanh1944FBH]

Years ago now, one operated locally. I saw it in the air several times. You could hear it coming as it was super noisy! I wonder if noise wasn't "part" of its downfall?

[@airdrhotmai]

No sir the noise was behind the plane, it was actually quite inside the plane as the noise traveled backwards

[@Smokeyr67]

@@airdrhotmai noise issues as in noise complaints from residents near the airports.

[@bryanh1944FBH]

@@airdrhotmai Oh, thank you. That's very interesting indeed.

[@marcmcreynolds2827]

At subsonic speed noise travels in all directions, and through aircraft structure (in the form of vibration) one way or the other. People who have flown in the Starship describe it as noisey, much along the lines of what you hear from people about traveling in the back of an MD-80.

[@lutomson3496]

DEA still have a big presence there? Used to work on their aircraft avionics

[@uscitizen5656]

You could always tell them from any other aircraft when they flew over. Sexy Airplane I always thought. Used to fly out of PDK here in Atlanta.

[@silverc4s146]

Very very cool. Thanks

[@markhilken7026]

Is a type rating needed to fly this airplane ? Be cool to have in your logbook

[@beanMosheen]

Heard a weird plane sound and looked up to see one of these flying to RDU a while back.

[@joewilliams4142]

There was one based at my old field GNOSS In Novato CA. Saw it a lot.

[@73honda350]

Stunning plane.

[@jwb2814]

Look at that baby 😍 Good job 👏