ENTRY
Ikenga Team
Ikenga 530Z Ikenga Cygnus 21 Ikenga Cygnus 21 T Ikenga Cygnus 21TX Ikenga Cygnus 21P2 Ikenga E.Z. Bird Return icon Ikenga 530Z Ikenga Cygnus 21 Ikenga Cygnus 21 T Ikenga Cygnus 21TX Ikenga Cygnus 21P2 Ikenga E.Z. Bird Return icon

Ikenga 530Z   1988

Permanent Exhibit:
Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum

Grand Champion: Albuquerque Intl. Airshow

Best New Design: PRA Rotorcraft Convention

Reserve Grand Champion:
EAA Osh Kosh International Airshow

Link: The Ikenga Story

Link: Rare Footage of Maiden Flight

In gratitude to: George & Joy Hinson-Rider
 For support and encouragement on this project

In gratitude to: Mark Hallett, Test Pilot
For your dedication, expertise and endearing friendship

The Ikenga 530Z began life in 1987 on a drawing board in an apartment on Alameda St. in Santa Fe, New Mexico. With George's encouragement a group of potential investors, who were excited at the possibilities of such a ship, flew Kia and I to meet EAA staff in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin for an evaluation of the concept. Receiving a very positive response in Wisconsin, the financials were put in place and construction began on the ship. George, an aeronautical engineer, made his home and machine shop available, taught me to use a lathe, alerted me to the pit falls of such a project, and then graciously encouraged me on the development journey.

Ikenga was built over a period of seven months of intense work and received its airworthiness certificate from the FAA in March of 1988. I met Mark, a high-time Bensen gyroplane pilot, soon afterwards. We began ground testing Ikenga after Steve Inoue had fine tuned the Suzuki 95hp engine. Ikenga flew off the deck on a bright June morning at the Espanola, NM airport, elevation 7800ft, under perfect control in a 20 knot crosswind. For those present, breathtaking was an understatement!

Ikenga exceeded all of its performance goals, especially when operating from airfields closer to sea level, and was well received at air conventions around the country. The vision to fly was accomplished.