Tom,
You say "Experimental." Actually, there are three areas of
experimental, and I don't think you want to be in any of them.
1. Experimental Amateur Built (usually called "homebuilt."): The
aircraft must be at least 51% constructed by the builder. The Ercoupe
could never fit into this classification, since the factory did by far
the majority of the construction of the airplane.
2. Experimental Exhibition: This is usually for some aircraft that
goes to airshows, such as many of the warbirds. As John Savot said,
no passengers allowed, just necessary flight crew, confined flight
areas, day VFR, and any flight outside the designated flight area to a
sanctioned airshow must be applied for and approved in advance.
3. Experimental Test: This is actually more restrictive than #2.
This would be for proving to the Feds that a certain modification is
safe, i.e. you are going to market an STC'd mod to the aircraft. No
passengers allowed, just necessary flight crew, confined flight areas,
day VFR. When the testing is done and all the data is gathered (as
when EAA tested an Ercoupe for the auto-fuel STC) the aircraft can
return to the normal category, though.
Call Joe Norris at EAA to confirm all of this.
Syd
On Aug 4, 2009, at 10:45 PM, THOMAS COOK wrote:
To all the good guys and gals ..............
I want to throw this out for comments:: I am considering changing
my airworthiness cert. to experimental. The local FSDO (FAA) has
said they will not consider any "field approvals" on flight systems,
fuel systes, or interior seating even when I have copies of
previously approved 337's. These changes I refer to are using the
split tail on my CD, gascolator mounted on the firewall, and
installing Forney seats using parts from the Ercoupe parts list.
The local EAA members I talked to say that it would be no problem to
make the change, but impossible to later change it back. My
insurance Co. says no problem.
I don't plan to make any other changes if I go this way other than
installing a 3-bladed composite ground adjustable prop.
What about it guy's. Comments pro and con I appreciate hearing
from you!!!!!!!
Tom
