Jay A. Jensen of Bountiful, Utah, doesn't think like the average guy. We never talked to him, but his plane, as these pictures show, has a lot to say for itself.

(We tried like the dickens to make contact with him, but Saturday morning he flew on out before we ever connected with him. So this Plane of the Day is based on our photos, our informal chats with Helio experts, public records, and the information that Jensen left for the admiring public).

The plane, N700AA, started life as a late-model Helio Super Courier, a STOL plane developed by the Helio Aircraft Corporation of Massachusetts. In his hangar at Bountiful's Skypark airport, the venerable machine was modified with a Garrett turbine engine (best known as an Mu-2 motor) and an off-road landing gear. Later, wing tip extensions, additional fuel tanks (in full cry the engine burns some 65 gallons an hour, or about 1.1 gallons a minute) and some unique graphics were added. Another addition was the horn - or three air horns, actually.

The airplane was a crowd pleaser at Oshkosh. Independently, EVERY member of the Aero-News staff photographed this exotic ex-Helio. And there always was some kind of crowd around the big plane.

What question would you ask Jay Jensen if you could? Maybe, "Why?"

I bet his answer would be, "What the heck, why not?"

Specs of N700AA "Your Camping Buddy" from the placard:

• N700AA "A Top Performing SUV"
• Payload: 2,000 lb.
• Takeoff: 300 ft.
• Climb: 3,000 FPM
• Cruise: 200 MPH at 20,000 ft.
• Descent: 3,000 FPM
• Landing: 200 ft.
• Mileage: "About What You'd Expect."

That's one of the many cool things about EAA Airventure. Whatever you expect, you are guaranteed to see something you didn't expect at all! 

FMI: www.heliocourier.net, www.etigerrr.com/Skypark/jay_jensen.htm