Originally posted by F106A
Hi Bob,
I have a Byron Mustang and there aren't many Mustangs that have a higher weight, with all the 4 blade hardware, etc, and therefore a high wing loading. However it's not very fast, with a Q42 and that prop, which isn't very efficient. Do you think something like that would something like that be acceptable to most cd's?
Bernie,
Notice the word "should", which is a suggestion. If they wanted it a requirement they would have used the word "shall". AMA is not specifying the type of plane, thank goodness, just recommending some features it "should" have.
Jon
Jon,
From my experience, your ability to fly your Byron Mustang safely through takeoff, low passes, loops, rolls, etc., and make a controlled, safe LANDING says more to me about your ability to handle a jet than anything else. Remember that even the sport jets like the 'Roo have wing loadings over 50 oz./sq. ft. as someone else mentioned, and that, coupled with the cleanness of the typical jet airframe makes landings tricky and the most likely place for a screwup. During this demonstration, I would be looking also for any tendency to fly too close to the pits/runway, over your head, etc. or anything else that may make you dangerous to spectators with a jet. Also, even though the Byron Mustang can't do 150 MPH and may be considered a "slow" warbird, it still requires that you think ahead of the aircraft, plan your manuvers, and execute them smoothly - just like a jet. The only difference is that a jet physically covers more gound during the same time, but as long as your vision is corrected to 20/20, what's the difference?
The problem right now, is that AMA *requires* CD's and the applicant to sign off on a form that states that the plane was capable of 150MPH. What I'm worried about is if I sign you off as a CD, and something happens with you flying jets, are they going to come back at me and say "you KNEW a Byron Mustang couldn't do 150MPH, so you were wrong to sign him off for a turbine waiver?" That argument is BS of course because you could have flown *anything* in the world to get your waiver, even a Diamond Dust which would have met the letter of the law, and still screwed up, but in today's legal environment, its a concern in signing someone off.
Bob