Inhofe Groundloops RV-8

Sen. Jim Inhofe says he knew there were problems with the rudder of an RV-8 he was flying as he approached Jones Riverside Airport in Tulsa, on a flight from Duncan, Okla., last week. He was right. The taildragger groundlooped and was substantially damaged but Inhofe and his passenger, long-time aide Danny Finnerty, were unhurt. Inhofe told reporters he noticed problems with the rudder on takeoff from Duncan but couldn’t see what the problems were. He asked to land on the main runway at Tulsa, rather than the one normally used by GA aircraft and “prepared for the rough landing,” according to an Associated Press report. The FAA is investigating.