Ever since my last post about the problems I perceived with the Q1 Templates that I saw for download on the Q-list, I have been working like mad to attempt to find original documents that might help me recreate a set of LS1 templates for the Q1.

Well, in that time I was able to make contact with several people who might be able to help the effort.  The very last newsletter published by Quickie Aircraft Corporation mentions that the original development of the LS1 canard for the Q1 was done by Lanny Rundell.  As it turns out, Lanny is still alive and well and currently is the owner and operator of Legend Aircraft in Winnsboro, Louisiana.  More importantly Lanny returned my call last night!

Come to find out, Lanny doesn’t remember finishing the Q1 with the LS1 canard, despite what the final newsletter stated about there being flight issues with the plane.  He reported to me that he sold the unfinished Q1 shortly after QAC went bankrupt.  Since the death of Bob McFarland in a now infamous Q2 accident, this brings into serious question the validity of anyone claiming to own a set of “original” LS1 templates for the Q1.  It also calls into question, anyone claiming to have created their own template set based on an original set.

Lanny indicated that he might have some other Quickie related materials that he would be interested in sharing with me, but that he would have to dig around his shop a bit first.  However, he seriously doubted that even he would have a set of Q1 templates since he had to cut them out and use them to create the foam core templates and female jigs for the new canard.

Well this brings me back to the drawing board a little bit.  If there are any Q1’s that have been built with LS1 canards, I haven’t found them yet.  So for now, I maintain my air of skepticism.  My hope is that someone will prove me wrong, and help me produce a working set of templates.

On a side note, Lanny also provide me with some background into what it was like to be a Quickie dealer.  He told me that his agreement with QAC required that he buy three kits with at least one of those being a complete kit with engine for distribution within his sales region.  In addition, he was required to buy several sets of plans, and various other bells and whistles for the kits.  Perhaps this might explain why the initial sales numbers were so high for the Q designs!  Interesting stuff.

If you’d like to disagree with my assertions above, I invite your feedback by leaving a comment below.