My 2 cents worth. The term "Certified" is often used interchangeably when  
discussing factory built and experimental aircraft. It seems to be a 
confusion  of licensing Category versus Manufacturing Standards. Factory built 
"Certified"  aircraft MUST comply with the "TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET"  
(TCDS) 
for  that aircraft, thus the term "Certified" comes into play. A TCDS is 
one of  many requirements to manufacture an aircraft and every aircraft built 
under  that TCDS must be built the same way, no variations. Before anyone 
jumps at that  statement yes new models can be made and the TCDS can be 
modified but only with  FAA approval. An experimental has no TCDS to comply 
with 
hence the term  "EXPERIMENTAL". Another use or misuse for term "CERTIFIED", 
is that  all aircraft are "CERTIFIED" by someone (FAA employee, DAR, etc.)  
to be  "AIRWORTHY" to fly and then can receive a registration. Further,  
"EXPERIMENTAL" is a licensing category in the FAR's not a certifying  category 
or standard. It simply means the aircraft is "NOT BUILT TO A  TCDS".

I worked as a project engineer for a company recently that was doing a  
re-engine program and we had to change a factory built aircraft from "STANDARD" 
 category to "EXPERIMENTAL" or "DEMONSTRATOR" depending on the situation. 
Why,  because the new engine was NOT on the "TCDS". Doing flight testing we 
were  "EXPERIMENTAL" and during Oshkosh and Sun n' Fun we were 
"DEMONSTRATOR". The  difference, "EXPERIMENTAL", only required flight crew for 
testing and 
 "DEMONSTRATOR" we could carry prospective buyers to fly and observe our  
modification. The company recently received a "SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE" 
 for the modification. This means the all aircraft of that specific make 
and  model with the new engine installed according to the "STC" can now be 
registered  in "STANDARD" category as the original was.

Sorry for the extra hot air. Maybe this helps some.

John 
El Paso, TX



In a message dated 6/10/2009 7:34:54 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time,  
ejans...@chipsnet.com writes:

Mike,

And, as long as you mentioned it, FAA regulations do not  actually require 
any kind of instruments - flight or engine - for  experimental category 
airplanes.  However, builders would throw  safety to the wind if they 
didn't. 
You would have a very difficult time  finding an FAA (DAR or whomever) that 
would issue a Special Airworthiness  Certificate to an experimental 
aircraft 
not having at least the basic  instruments.  For example, a compass is not 
required by the regs, but  a DAR might require one before he issued a 
certificate.  In such  case, a compass from the aviation aisle of Walmart 
might get you  by.

Ed



"Just a clarification for those suggesting that  KR are not "certified"
aircraft - KR aircraft ARE "certified" aircraft,  just as Pipers, Cessnas,

etc. are."

Thanks for pointing that out  Ed.  I've been making the mistake of
referring to the "other" aircraft  as certifieds in various conversations,
thus implying that Experimentals  are not.  It usually comes up in
relation to conversations about what  avionics & instruments can be
installed . . . or  not.

Mike


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