I rest my case .

Paying the $400 is the right thing to do. That is why I always maiden my airplanes because I would never want a mishap to occur and then blame someone else or have someone that was doing a favor feel guilty. I always said if I can't maiden my airplane for whatever the reason is, then I should not own it. Last year I maiden a used TamJets F16 and the main landing gear failed to come down. I knew it was bad, first flight and no main wheels. But the key to that is to stay calm, plan all the "what if" before the flight, and always get the mindset that you have control until the very moment it impacts the ground and crashes. The F16 landed down the center line and made a very smooth touchdown with only minor scrapes to the belly.

Ravi, I love you man! You got me into the jets and I will always be thankful despite of almost giving me a heart attack during that landing.

How are you gonna start a story like that and then not explain how a waiver flight cost you a jet?

You the man Gonzalo! We will both have A-10's soon!



Well, the cliff note version:

I bought a jet to get a waiver with and set it all up to maiden/fly/waiver. In that order. I meet up with the CD at a field of his choosing. Folks at the field think I have all my factory inputs wrong and change them. Most notably, they reduce the elevator inputs. The jet is a delta, btw. My CD takes the jet off (barely), yells "I've got no elevator!" and crashes. Total loss.