AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 98

DOGFIGHT | EXPERIMENTAL VERSUS STANDARD
Editor at Large Tom Horne and Senior Editor Dave Hirschman have a lot of things in common: lots of ratings, lots of experience in lots of airplane models—and lots of opinions (as well as similar haircuts). We last turned them loose on the topic of radio communications and standard phraseology (see “Dogfight: Say It Right” July 2011 AOPA Pilot) and the response to two different schools of thought on this topic garnered interesting opinions from a large number of readers (see “Letters” page 22). So we launch them into another “Dogfight”—we hope you’ll enjoy these two takes on a topic, and keep those cards and letters coming. —Ed.

There’s a reason they call it ‘Experimental’
Fly a plane I built myself? No way
BY THOMAS A. HORNE >

P

ilots—most of us, anyway—place a high degree of trust in their aircraft. We all expect aircraft to be built, tested, and certified to safety standards that are worthy of that trust. When you fly an aircraft that’s been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) you can be sure that its materials and manufacturing processes have been approved by a government-sanctioned body, and that test pilots have flown the airplane in virtually every flight regime. That includes test flights to determine the aircraft’s behavior in stalls, dives, and other maneuvers—and to make sure that stability criteria meet FAA standards. That’s not so with airplanes in the Experimental category. While some Experimental-category designs benefit from creators with aeronautical engineering backgrounds, others don’t. It’s entirely possible for an inspired, yet

untrained, individual to come up with an airplane having flight characteristics that don’t meet conventionally accepted safety standards. Does the airplane rapidly roll off on a wing at the stall, or tend to spin with little provocation? Hard to say. But certified airplanes must demonstrate that they don’t. And then there’s the issue of building an Experimental aircraft. A buyer purchases a set of drawings and the necessary parts, or a kit, and then it’s time to start cutting metal and spinning wrenches. Does the builder know how to work with aluminum, wood, or fabric? Does he or she understand accepted assembly practices and standards, electrical schematics, how to build jigs, or how to properly use a torque wrench? Maybe, maybe not. Does the builder even understand how to read the drawings he or she just purchased? Maybe,

maybe n o t . In short, does the builder know what he or she is doing? Often, the answer is “no.” Which is why some companies offer assistance during construction. After all, regulations require that 51 percent of an Experimental aircraft must be built by the owner, and the construction project can take years. It’s a daunting task, so sellers of some Experimental kitplanes make quick-build kits designed for minimal time wrenching—and plenty of handson help from the kitplane company.
Continued on page 100

Piper 6X

AOPA PILOT •

98 • SEPTEMBER

2011



AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011

AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011
Contents
President’s Position
Hangar Talk
AOPA Media
AOPA Action
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Wel
Pilot Briefing
Rally GA: ‘Why Crawl When You Can Fly?’
Above New York
GA Remembers 9/11: Adjusting to a Changing World
B–29 Superfortress: The Lady Has A History
Aerostar 601P: Family Rocket
Saving Airports: Keeping GA at Reno/Tahoe
Renter No More
2012 Tougher Than a Tornado Husky Sweepstakes: This Dog Will Hunt
Going Live
Dogfight: Experimental Versus Standard
Never Again
Fly-Outs
Fly by Wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Hangar Talk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - AOPA Media
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Fly Wel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Pilot Briefing
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Rally GA: ‘Why Crawl When You Can Fly?’
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Above New York
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - GA Remembers 9/11: Adjusting to a Changing World
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - B–29 Superfortress: The Lady Has A History
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Aerostar 601P: Family Rocket
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Saving Airports: Keeping GA at Reno/Tahoe
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Renter No More
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 2012 Tougher Than a Tornado Husky Sweepstakes: This Dog Will Hunt
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Going Live
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - I1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - I2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Dogfight: Experimental Versus Standard
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Fly-Outs
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Fly by Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - Cover4
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