We Check Out Bill Scheltema's BEAUTIFUL Aircraft At AirVenture 2008!

Meet Bill Scheltema... a Michigan man who spent 20 years building his own airplane, and is justifiably proud of the result of his hard work.

Last month at AirVenture 2008, Aero-TV Video Producer Nathan Cremisino was walking through the homebuilt area... and stopped to shoot some B-roll footage of a pretty low-wing plane with a beautiful "pegasus" painted on its tail. Bill soon came over, and started to point out some of the special features of his airplane... so Nathan handed Bill a microphone, so he could give us all a guided tour!

Bill's Mustang II shows incredible attention to detail, and sports better fit and finish than we've seen on some far-pricier certified planes. From the well-organized engine compartment housing an IO-360... to the all-leather cockpit, fronted by a wood-finished instrument panel, and the "escape hatch" Bill designed himself... to a lockable tailwheel connected to the plane's flaps through a special linkage Bill also fashioned... the end result of Bill's efforts is an aircraft any of us would be proud to have in our garage!

Yes, we said 'garage.' Bill says he considered other aircraft, including certified planes like Bonanzas... but opted for the Mustang II in part due to its folding wings that allows him to "putter" with his plane at home, with A/C in the summertime and heat in the winter. He then trailers the plane to his local airport.

Bill's handiwork was recognized in Lakeland earlier this year, where he took home the Grand Champion award for plans-built aircraft. That follows the Bronze Lindy he received at AirVenture 2006.

Click Here To Join Aero-TV As We Admire Bill Scheltema's Mustang II! 

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