ORIGINAL: kingaltair
ORIGINAL: Skylane
Interesting investigative work, for sure. A few years ago Rich Ernst contacted Jim Kimbro and got a letter from him stating that the first Deception flew before 1/1/76. Rich forwarded a copy to Mickey Walker and he approved the Deception. So, if someone were to get a similar letter from Dick Hanson, then the Tipo would go on the approved list I am sure.
Jeff
I would also say that if Dick wrote a letter that the plan was finished prior to 1-1-76 the plane would be approved as well, even if it had not flown...a case could be made in that situation, but I'm absolutely sure that the UFO would be turned down, even thought it is clearly understood to be a later, more refined Dirty Birdy. The model name is different, and the plan clearly came after 1-1-76.
Where things start to get ''iffy'' is when someone starts talking about the ''concept'' of a plane being prior to 1-1-76. From my SPA experience, and how the process works, that is talking it a bit too far, and ''that dog won't hunt''.
Looking back, Mickey unintentionally opened a ''can of worms'' when he made the decision to allow ancestors of legal models such as the P8 and TT4. I'm pretty sure, (knowing Mickey), that a lot of that had to do with the name being the same...plus a friend really wanted that P8...it was only a number change in a series....right? I'm not saying that makes it OK...I'm only saying that was probably the rationalle at the time.
Interestingly, Mickey was also the one who first allowed certain seemingly innocent ''mods'' from the established plans in order to improve flight performance. He is now trying to reign in the mods that have gotten out of hand in some cases. Once the ''toothpaste is out of the tube'', it's hard to put in back in.
Duane