Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/142883
Flightline Sonex Introduces T-Flight Sonex Aircraft announced T-Flight, a new transition training program that will offer aircraft-specific familiarization training to Sonex pilots. ity (LODA) "to conduct flight instruction in an experimental aircraft, to include sample documentation and sample training materials." "There are real safety benefits to be gained from ensuring that pilots are familiar with the flying qualities of sport aircraft before they take their first flight or fly solo," said Jeremy Monnett, Sonex CEO. The FAA created a guidance order, and Sonex used that to interact with the Milwaukee Flight Standards District Office to obtain the LODA, which permits Sonex to provide flight instruction to pilots with a sport pilot certificate and a tailwheel endorsement. Type-specific transition training is one of the major National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations outlined in its recent safety study for reducing fatal accidents in experimental amateur-built aircraft. The NTSB encouraged the FAA to develop and publish an advisory circular or similar guidance for a letter of deviation author- "EAA is very excited that Sonex took the initiative to create its own highly tailored training program," said Sean Elliott, vice president of EAA Advocacy and Safety. "This is a significant enhancement to safety for the kit manufacturer community." Learn More About MakerPlane Helping more people to safely and quickly build and fly their own airplanes is the goal of MakerPlane, an online, open-source aviation organization. "Our projects include open-source avionics software to enable state-of-the-art digital flight instruments and display capabilities," its website states. The organization is designing an aircraft that is easy to assemble, quick to build, and that can be built on a computer-controlled mill at home or at a "makerspace." The plans and instructions will be available for free to anyone who wants them. "The mission of MakerPlane is to create innovative and game-changing aircraft, avionics and related systems, and the transformational manufacturing processes to 10 Vol.2 No.7 / July 2013 build them," the website continues. "As a result of this aim, aircraft can be built with consistent, repeatable, and highly accurate processes which create safer flying at lower cost." In a Kitplanes magazine survey in 1998, the following statistics were gathered from its subscribers: • average completion rate of aircraft from kits: 66 percent • average kit price: $20,580 (minus engine and avionics) • average completion rate of plans: estimated less than 10 percent • average plans price: $150 • planning to build or building: 58 percent. Of those: • plan to build single-place: 19 percent • plan to build two-seat: 62 percent • plan to build four-seat: 18 percent • undecided: 6 percent. MakerPlane is hoping to improve those statistics by enabling people to build and fly their own safe, high-quality, reasonably priced plane using advanced personal manufacturing equipment such as computer numerically controlled mills and 3D printers. To learn more about the airplane MakerPlane is designing, its variety of services, or to read the organization's blog, visit www.MakerPlane.org.