Test pilot links

19 Jun 2005 Test pilot links

>> This is a great topic. It’s a shame that it had to be triggered
>> by an accident, but if some good can come out of it…
>>
>> I’ve read the articles on the EAA site:
>>
>> http://members.eaa.org/home/homebuilders/testing/articles/articles.html
>>
>> Do you have more suggestions, hints, tips, or other
>> sources of information that would help us future RV8
>> test pilots?
>>

I’ve got a collection of links to flight test info at:

http://www.kilohotel.com/rv8/phplinks/index.php?&PID=1

The FAA has a good Advisory Circular, Amateur-Built Aircraft And
Ultralight Flight Testing Handbook, available online at:

http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/acs/90-89a.pdf

There has been lots of good advice about not doing something new with
a passenger on board. Anytime you expand the envelope, whether that
be in weight, CG, g loading, airspeed, altitude, angle of attack,
sideslip angle, low fuel quantity, temperature, etc, you need to
carefully consider all the various things that could go wrong.
Decide what the best course of action is in case any of these events
happen, and be prepared to execute it. Wear appropriate safety
equipment, and if appropriate, have people on the ground who are
prepared to assist you. Any envelope expansion should be gradual,
i.e, in incremental steps, with a careful evaluation of the
performance, handling, etc at each increment.

We need to be able to learn from the misfortune of others. Too many
people don’t believe something can happen unless it has happened to
them personally. We won’t live long if we have to make each mistake
ourselves.

Fly safe,

Kevin Horton