FIFI TO FLY

[bdk]

Brandon,
The Major modifications associated with the powerplant switch likely necessitated the issue of a new special airworthiness certificate and associated (and appropriately revised) operating limitations. As the aircraft no longer conforms to "approved and applicible military technical orders"...

Interesting. Are the operating limitations any different? Is/was Experimental/Exhibition?

[Jack Cook]

Dang...I'd never make a first flight a PR event
I thought the plan was to run the first motor on testiclease for a extendedtime
to check for cooling issues and othe related issues/gremlins before flying:?:

[T-28mike]

The powerplant change (and associated mods) most likely would have required a switch from experimental / exhibition to another sub category of the experimental category such as "flight test". After completing a sucessfull flight test regime, the aircraft could revert back to experimental / exhibition. Lately, it seems that the administrator annoyingly preferres to issue a new airworthiness certificate whenever possible, that way they can issue new (more restrictive) operating limitations. IIRC the aircraft was in experimental / exhibition before. Maybe Dave can enlighten us to the real scenario.

[T-28mike]

Operating limitations (for Warbirds anyway) are pretty specific about how the aircraft is to be maintained / flown... The catch-all phrase is "in accordance with approved military manuals". That statement (in the wrong hands) could negate a lot of the experimental from the Experimental category. If misinterpreted, it could mean you must comply with the T.O's to the letter. For example, if the parts book specifies Mil-6000 for fuel hose, and you installed teflon with integral firesleeve, you could be in violation... splitting hairs, but I have run into some who wish for it to be that restrictive.


"The FAA is the single highest un-lit obstruction to General Aviation"
F.D. Strickler

[Brad]

The testicles idea rightly went away a long time ago. One of the original plans was for the engines to be built up by a few different builders and assembled in Midland. Assembled meaning putting the cylinders, accessories etc on; the power section would come already assembled. The runs would be done on testicles. In the end, for lots of reasons including warranties, this idea was ruled out. The different builders idea went away for several good reasons as well, leaving Anderson as the only builder. All the engines were ran on their test cell and have all been ran thouroughly on the plane.

The delay now is strictly a paperwork issue that will be worked out. The crew has done everything they can do, it's just a waiting game now. Hopefully not a long one. Fifi is ready to go. Of course things will crop up that will need to be tended to but that is the reason for a test program.

It is strictly my opinion that advertising a first flight was the wrong thing to do for many reasons, none of which matter. I know it was done with good intentions and was probably a case of overexcitement. The timeline just didn't work out as hoped. It ended up that she couldn't have flown anyhow because of the weather.

The CAF is in the postion that no matter what is announced about flying Fifi, somebody is gonna be unhappy. If she had flown fifty hours and performed flawlessly beforehand and then lost a starter or blew an oil line just before the "official" first flight, somebody would have been hollering that the plane wasn't ready to fly. They are rushing stuff, not enough time was spent on restoration..etc.

The bottom line is this. Fifi will fly when Dave, Rick, Don and the FAA deem her ready and legal. If it's public that's great. If it's only seen by those that happen to be there that day, or those that are actually involved in getting her back in the air, that's great too. Either way I'll just be glad to see it happen.

[mustanglover]

The powerplant change (and associated mods) most likely would have required a switch from experimental / exhibition to another sub category of the experimental category such as "flight test". After completing a sucessfull flight test regime, the aircraft could revert back to experimental / exhibition. Lately, it seems that the administrator annoyingly preferres to issue a new airworthiness certificate whenever possible, that way they can issue new (more restrictive) operating limitations. IIRC the aircraft was in experimental / exhibition before. Maybe Dave can enlighten us to the real scenario.

Being that the airplane is experimental / exhibition there would not be a change to the A/W certification for "flight test". There is not a catagory called "flight test". There is a Research and Development but I don't think this would apply in this case.

More than likely if there is a change to the operating limitations it would probably be a Phase I and Phase II type limitation. Phase I is the flight testing phase for a specified amount of hours and/or certain conditions and when when complete, a simple log book entry would take the airplane into Phase II which would be it's normal operating limitations.

[Obergrafeter]

If it is registered experimental, wouldn't that preclude it being able to sell experience flights?

[bluehawk15]

My dear Cuz Ober,
No, being experimental doesn't preclude selling rides. The CAF operates under an exemption letter (6802) which sets down the requirements for selling rides for hire. If the plane is standard, one set of requirements apply, including that the rider doesn't have to be a member of the organization. If the plane is limited (like the Yellow Rose) or experimental, there are other requirements for flight crew, and the rider has to be a member of the organization (even a $55/year supporting membership counts, which is usually rolled in to the price of the ride).

[k5083]

N529B is registred experimental/exhibition according to faa.gov.

August

[gary1954]

The bottom line is this. Fifi will fly when Dave, Rick, Don and the FAA deem her ready and legal. If it's public that's great. If it's only seen by those that happen to be there that day, or those that are actually involved in getting her back in the air, that's great too. Either way I'll just be glad to see it happen.

Concur, no need to rush....the airframe is a survivor, and she will fly when she is safe to fly..... I am not in any hurry to see her fly, like the guys and volunteers at the CAF that worked to put her hack together again, a hundred percent flight ready is the standard.
How many times has a rush to fly resulted in smoldering junk, once is to many times. Just when you see a light at the end of the tunnel, step aside, it might be a frieght train.

[T-28mike]

Mustanglover,
Thanks for the refresher. I should have waited to post until after I had refreshed my memory with the proper reference mat'l & regs. I guess I have been away from that area a little longer than I thought.

[Garth]

The testicles idea rightly went away a long time ago.

Didn't you also get the data (or at least a lot of it) you needed by sending the first engine out to fly in RareBear at Reno?

[Jack Cook]

The testicles idea rightly went away a long time ago.

I'm sure selling it didn't help much either. Hope it's not needed down the road.

[Brad]

I'm sure selling it didn't help much either. Hope it's not needed down the road.

Actually, selling it did help. Anderson aeromotive now has a really cool test stand to use for running the engines they are turning out, and the squadron got quite a break on the price of the work that they have done on the engines.

Short of a really cool running display, I can't see it being needed down the road. Very few people outside of rebuilders would have a need for one. The idea of putting one of the old engines on it and running it to destruction was floated and would have been really cool to see. But, smarter people prevailed and that old engine was sold as well; bringing more money to the project.

[Jack Cook]

That would have been cool to see!