Flight testing homebuilt aircraft pdf

Ac 9089b amateurbuilt aircraft and ultralight flight. Flight testing homebuilt aircraft book, ebook, vaughan askue. It is also designed to be a handy reference that accompanies the aircraft for future flights. Experimental flight testing for assessing the safety of. Specialising in developing flight modelling software for use in assessing aircraft behaviour and performance. The study also identified that powerplant failures and loss of control in flight accidents were much higher than the same rates for certified aircraft. The quickie followed from jewett and sheehans intention in 1975 for a lowcost, lowpower, singleseat homebuilt aircraft.

Pdf flight test guidelines for homebuiltexperimental aircraft. It allows pilots to have a full understanding of an aircraft s performance, characteristics, and limitations. Flying with and flight testing of an amateur built airplane is one of the most interesting and one of the best. Pdf an aidememoire fo flight test procedures and techniques for flight testing of nontype certificated aircraft in the republic of south africa find, read and. If you would like to take lessons in your homebuilt. The plan should take into account the circumstances and conditions that would make it easiest for. Sikorsky aircraft is located in stratford, connecticut, not england, so its hard to see why this quote which from his title pertains to homebuilt aircraft, proves bias.

The original quickie model 54 in rutans design series is one of several unconventional aircraft penned by rutan for the general aviation market. In the case of a homebuilt aircraft, all aircraft systems should be properly tested in a structured manner during the initial flight test campaign. Airframe and ls2ls3 v8 engine are working very well. Development of a flight test program for a homebuilt zenith stol ch 701 reed danis1 and dave nguyen. The two goals for an amateur builder federal aviation administration ultralight owner should be as follows. Development of a flight test program for a homebuilt.

The author is no stranger to experimental flight testing, having taken formal. Publisher iowa state university press collection inlibrary. The cutaway detail of the popular nontype certified rv7a aircraft, designed by vans aircraft, shows the intricate airframe design and the various systems of a light aircraft. It also provides guidance for experimental light sport aircraft flight testing after modifications to the aircraft. Almost 10% of homebuilt accidents occurred on the first flight and 9% of accidents in aircraft that were sold were on the new owners first flight. Top three causes of aircraft build errors and how to avoid. These schedules are subject to change at any time and without notice. Develop a useable envelope as safely and efficiently as possible. The results of the flight test are forwarded by the owner to the laa engineering office together with the maintenance details and fee, and the results are examined by the laa. Pdf an aidememoire fo flight test procedures and techniques for flight testing of nontype certificated aircraft in the republic of south africa find, read and cite all the research you.

Flight test engineering the year 1903 began what was known as the aerial age, marked by the flight of the wright flyer in. This is the focus of the flight test work presented in this paper. The new flight testing homebuilt aircraft, an updated and improved version of the 1992 edition, is designed to give you the techniques and tools to help you flight test your creation. Aircraft equipped with other automobile engines may be eligible for coverage once the engine has accumulated 100 flight hours in the aircraft. Flight testing your homebuilt aircraft for the first time is statistically proven to be a riskier proposition than normal flight operations. Flight testing aircraft light aircraft association. The experimental aircraft association has published a new flight test manual which brings the processes and procedures of professional flight. Pavlock national aeronautics and space administration dryden flight research center p. Flight test guidelines for homebuiltexperimental aircraft maj. The sum total of all these improvements has been to reduce the simplified flat plate drag area which will be explained from the. Eaa releases flight test manual general aviation news.

Amateurbuilt aircraft and ultralight flight testing handbook. Flight testing homebuilt aircraft paperback july 1, 1992 by vaughan askue author visit amazons vaughan askue page. A key aspect of this testing is the assessment of suas dynamics and contro l characteristics under offnomin al conditions e. Along with this will be a list of operating limitations under which the aircraft is to be operated. It defines flight testing as a fourphase stepbystep process of learning the limitations of an aircraft. Experimental amateur built flight test protocol cozy builders. Flight testing homebuilt aircraft book, ebook, vaughan. Your ability to do so will depend on finding an instructor willing to instruct in a homebuilt, as well as an examiner willing to administer the test in the aircraft. Flight testing is required to support the safety assessments being performed for suas operations. Many thanks to al aitken for his contributions to the falco flight test guide and for all he has done to advance the safe flight testing of homebuilt aircraft.

Ac 9089 describes the faas vision for the flighttesting process for an experimentalamateurbuilt aircraft, and it does so in great detail. Following ac guidance and the flight test plan, test pilots progress from aircra inspec. Aircraft spruce supplies components for a wide variety of homebuilt aircraft and discount pilot supplies. Fly four legs at a constant heading, altitude and airspeed. Kitfox aircraft s john mcbean on the rotax 912 is sport aircraft engine update. The permit renewal test flight fixed wing aircraft page 1 of 6 every laa permit to fly aircraft must be flight tested at each annual renewal of the permit to fly. Homebuilt performance computer a shareware java based utility to help the homebuilder perform calculations to define a homebuilt project. Ensure that the current flight test schedule is used otherwise it may not be accepted. Home pilot supplies flight training practical test stds. Flight standards service afs340 1 at the end of the aircraft s flight test 800 independence ave, sw. Box 273 edwards, california 935230273 6612763209 1. The first element to be found by jewett and sheehan was the engine, which. The flight envelop must be demonstrated, performance measured and documented, and the systems tested. Cx3 flight computer approved for faa knowledge exams and the cockpit.

Homebuilt aircraft drag reduction case study with a. The following information is not crash course on how to become a prototype test pilot. The falco is a 2 seat aircraft, with sidebyside seating for pilot and. Homebuilt aircraft drag reduction case study with a lancair iv. Flight test guidelines for homebuilt experimental aircraft maj. Finland is one of those countries were there is or at least was, i dont know what it has now no shortcut for getting approval of a homebuilt aircraft. Flight test guidelines for homebuiltexperimental aircraft.

Test pilots once the flight test plan is complete, a test pilot must be selected. Flight testing is a branch of aeronautical engineering that develops and gathers data during flight of an aircraft, or atmospheric testing of launch vehicles and reusable spacecraft, and then analyzes the data to evaluate the aerodynamic flight characteristics of the vehicle in order to validate the design, including safety aspects the flight test phase accomplishes two major tasks. Flight testing a homebuilt aircraft requires the same techniques and technical scope that we are used to in our professional testing. In all, 24% of the accidents occurred during the takeoff or landing phases due to inadvertent stalls, rolls or veering off the runway, thus 40 to 50% of the accidents seem to indicate a lack of familiarity with the flight. With the mild spring weather upon us, its time to get ready for that first flight of your homebuilt aircraft.

Industrial flight testing, simply put, is about proving a civilian aircraft is safe to fly, and what a military aircraft can do higher performance craft, inherently more. I attended several of the flight test forums at oshkosh this year and it was mentioned by charlie lutz and bill posnett that a new initiative was in the works to provide improved resources for flight testing aircraft. Flight testing your experimental aircraft flight testing your homebuilt aircraft for the first time is statistically proven to be a riskier proposition than normal flight operations. The following current flight test schedules are available for printing. For this reason it is not advisable to save these document on your computer. Inadequate flight testing examples include engine system hookup errors, not calibrating engine information systems, fuel system switch and routing mistakes, inadequate taxi testing, not using the correct hardware or materials on control systems, and not having a first flight plan of action, including a. There are some major differences from what we are normally accustomed to, and they can make it a whole new. Folks, im building a glastar and would like to start preparing my flight test plan for first flight and my overall flight test program. In the united states, in 2003, amateurbuilt aircraft experienced a rate of 21. The test technique assumes constant wind direction and speed, so avoid testing during weather conditions that may give wind shifts such as those that occur near cold or warm fronts. Ntsb accident data show that experimental and amateur. The new p85 had its first flight on 121714 and is currently completing the phase 1 checklist.

We cover topics relevant to anyone who has ever dreamed of building or owning a homebuilt experimental aircraft. Kent, wa abstract this paper describes the phase 1 testing done on a homebuilt experimental f. These races required aircraft with useful loads of 150 lb 68 kg and engines of 80 cubic inches or less and as a consequence of the class limitations most were amateurbuilt. If you have general questions about experimental aviation or are new to homebuilts and have questions about how to get started this is the place. Flight testing homebuilt aircraft tells how to test such aircraft systematically and safely, with professional results. It provides recommendations and suggestions you can combine with other sources on test flying, such as the aircraft plan kit manufacturers flight testing instructions and other flight testing data. In the case of a test flight where the airworthiness of the aircraft is in doubt, the flight needs a bit more than normal planning because it is not a normal flight. Austro control austrian aviation authority department airworthiness and certification, vienna, austria. Neither is automatic, and youll have little recourse if they refuse. In 1992, 14% of homebuilt accidents occurred on the pilots first flight in the aircraft, and 5% on the second flight. Aircraft production flight test considerations civil aviation. All aircraft, including the mans fly baby, had to be tested to, essentially, show the plane met the structural and other requirements of faa part 23.

Time required for flight testing experimental light sport aircraft elsa. The eaa flight test manual provides the guidance and data collection process to bring simplicity to a flight testing program, eaa officials say. Description an excellent book on all phases of flight and performance testing. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.