Pietenpol-List: Re: A long winded perspective on when to make substitutions
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2002 10:11 am
Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
"Built and run a lot of boats using 250 year old technology"The thing with boats, is that 250 year old technology was proven technologyfor five hundred years before. There are many modern materials that may dothings with less weight and with greater strength, but the old methods wereproven with experience. Common sense suggested what methods to try andexperience proved which actually worked.Our experience with aircraft is somewhat shorter. Also, as with boats, whatappears to be an obvious solution to a problem can be proven to be incorrectwhen tested and the realization that a less obvious factor came into play.A more complete understanding of a problem can vastly change the commonsense solution.My understanding of aircraft comes mostly from books. This list suggestsmany solutions and resources that I never would have found otherwise. OnceI decide that I want to use something alternate to the original design Ilook to AC 43.13 to determine suitability. Within the range of the originaldesign and AC 43.13, I need to determine only that the two are equivalent.Outside of this, I must first prove it to myself that it is a reliablealternative and then I must document so that the FAA inspector can beequally assured. If reasonable proof is beyond my capabilities, then I haveno business making the change.A major part of the thrust behind experimental aircraft is education. Thishas certainly been the case with me. Learning how an aircraft goes togetherand what forces affect it was education that I got with models. Learningabout different construction methods and materials suitable for full sizeaircraft has been a large part of what I have gained so far from myPietenpol.If I wanted to build a Pietenpol quickly and at low cost, I would stickexactly to the plans as the quickest path. Understanding the plans and43.13 is a huge education in itself. Reaching outside of this envelope isan even bigger and more challenging education. If you're not prepared to dothe homework, don't go there.Mike BellPresident and CFOGaston Airplane FactoryGaston, South Carolina________________________________________________________________________________Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 13:23:13 -0500
"Built and run a lot of boats using 250 year old technology"The thing with boats, is that 250 year old technology was proven technologyfor five hundred years before. There are many modern materials that may dothings with less weight and with greater strength, but the old methods wereproven with experience. Common sense suggested what methods to try andexperience proved which actually worked.Our experience with aircraft is somewhat shorter. Also, as with boats, whatappears to be an obvious solution to a problem can be proven to be incorrectwhen tested and the realization that a less obvious factor came into play.A more complete understanding of a problem can vastly change the commonsense solution.My understanding of aircraft comes mostly from books. This list suggestsmany solutions and resources that I never would have found otherwise. OnceI decide that I want to use something alternate to the original design Ilook to AC 43.13 to determine suitability. Within the range of the originaldesign and AC 43.13, I need to determine only that the two are equivalent.Outside of this, I must first prove it to myself that it is a reliablealternative and then I must document so that the FAA inspector can beequally assured. If reasonable proof is beyond my capabilities, then I haveno business making the change.A major part of the thrust behind experimental aircraft is education. Thishas certainly been the case with me. Learning how an aircraft goes togetherand what forces affect it was education that I got with models. Learningabout different construction methods and materials suitable for full sizeaircraft has been a large part of what I have gained so far from myPietenpol.If I wanted to build a Pietenpol quickly and at low cost, I would stickexactly to the plans as the quickest path. Understanding the plans and43.13 is a huge education in itself. Reaching outside of this envelope isan even bigger and more challenging education. If you're not prepared to dothe homework, don't go there.Mike BellPresident and CFOGaston Airplane FactoryGaston, South Carolina________________________________________________________________________________Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 13:23:13 -0500