Flash!
01/29/08 - Received emails from Bob Fabian with first person account of the crash of Hannaford A-4 S/N A4-01, N34253 on 4 September, 1961, plus photos! Click Here

Above - Rose Parrakeet Illustration
Illustration by Tony Weddel. Note N-number in illustration is ficticious, but everything else is pure Parrakeet. Note: the line of the engine mount and thrust line appear to be for A4C w/ 65-100 hp engine rather than lower A-1 thrust line w/ 40 hp engine.  Reprinted from Aviation Quarterly, Volume 6, Issue 1, cover.

I first met Dan Rhinehart via email because of a picture of his father, Doug Rhinehart with Rose Parrakeet NC14881 at the Alameda airport (Alameda, NM) on the internet.  My initial focus was to write an article about this interesting biplane for our local EAA Chapter 179 in Albuquerque, NM. Then Dan asked me to help him track down pictures, articles and memorabilia of Doug and his "Keets".  I have had some success at that, but the "TV film footage" Dan remembers from the early 70's still eludes us.  I subsequently contracted "Parrakeet Fever", joined the Antique Airplane Association and the Parrakeet Pilot's Club.  I have recently bought plans to review.  The Parrakeet, the people and the history fascinate me, hence the attempt to document the whole story in one place.  However, there is no doubt that this web site still reflects my on-going effort to help Dan. If you have any photographs, articles, memorabilia, anecdotes or film footage of Doug Rhinehart, please send it to me at dgillmor@rt66.com and I'll send it on to Dan.  I hope that a side benefit of the web site is to create new or renewed interest in building and restoring Rose Parrakeets.

See the "History" links to learn more about the fascinating story of the development of the Rose Parrakeet, Hannaford Rose Parrakeet, Hannaford Bee, Rhinehart Rose Parrakeet and experimental reproductions as well as the people (People Index) who designed, built and flew all versions of the Rose Parrakeet (Aircraft Index).  There is also an incomplete Bibliography of Parrakeet Articles.

To support current Parrakeet owners, we have provided a "Parrakeet Pilot's Club" section which features information about the Antique Aircraft Association's  "Parrakeet Pliots Club" and "The Parrakeet Pilot" newsletter by Editor, Barry Taylor (See Newsletter Index). 

For those individuals who are interested in building a Rose Parrakeet from plans, we have included the "Construction" section moderated by Larry DeCamp, Parrakeet owner & restorer (Rose Parrakeet S/N 106, NC14866).  Also plans and parts available are listed under "Aviation Links/Classifieds" .

If you own a Rose, Rhinehart-Rose or experimental Parrakeet and would like to send photographs, anecdotes or historical information, please send them to me at the email below.  Thanks, Don Gillmore