A 337 can be approved by the FAA dude on their own authority. Good ones will look at the quality of your design/implementation/engineering and its purpose and approve or reject it.
The spacers for the tail up are to return the plane to its designed and certified aerodynamic charisterics. To _not_ raise the tail to 75" is to _violate_ the certified design (IMHO). The double fork nose gear (more than an inch longer than the single fork original-equipment gear), donut compression, tire ply, etc., can make the Coupe's tail droop below 75 inches. If it's below 73 or 72 inches, I think it needs to be improved for safety. Bill Coons from Lombard, Illinois, saw this years ago and approached a smart FAA guy in Chicago. The FAA guy gave immediate approval of his form 337. Bill filed a copy of his 337 with the Ercoupe Owners Club and, if you are a member, you can get a copy from them. Having an example of an approved 337 for a mod helps ignorant and chicken FAA types cover their derriers and feel better. -- Ed Burkhead East Peoria, Ill. N3802H, 415-D
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