I first saw the replica R-4 Firecracker while it was under construction at Meadowlake Airport last year. I saw it again on July 2nd and it was about ready for its first flight. All they needed was a little tweaking and insurance ($250,000 worth). The plane is fabulous! It's tiny, only 19 feet long, but at least the first 5 feet are engine (a big Ranger L-440)! That sucker is going to scream.

They hoped to fly it real soon after I saw it. If they had no problems, they wanted to fly off the 40 hour restrictions and take it to Oshkosh at the end of the month. Ambitious! It may have already flown since I saw it, but I have not heard anything.