Towing to the airport

[[email protected]]

I'm looking to tow my plane to the airport. I've seen aircraft towed
on their own wheels. I called the local police department and they
said I had to use a trailer. Does anyone know the "road rules" for
towing aircraft to the airport?

I tried googling for federal or state (Maine) regulations and basically
came up empty. Anyone know the answer or can help?

-Bruce

[Dave S]

wrote:
> I'm looking to tow my plane to the airport. I've seen aircraft towed
> on their own wheels. I called the local police department and they
> said I had to use a trailer. Does anyone know the "road rules" for
> towing aircraft to the airport?
>
> I tried googling for federal or state (Maine) regulations and basically
> came up empty. Anyone know the answer or can help?
>
> -Bruce
>

There is no reasaon you cannot license your aircraft as a road legal
"homebuilt" trailer. You will need to affix a license plate and put
brake lights/turn signals on it (you can use temporary ones, like the
tow truck guys put on their towed cars).

Check the Maine regs again, but look at how to register a trailer, or a
homebuilt trailer. I have had two separate trailers in Texas that I've
registered in that manner. None of em were capable of flight or ever
intended to be an airplane.. they were real trailers... but as long as
the state gets their road tax money, and you have the License Plate and
lights displayed, shouldnt be a problem.

Remove em before flight.. and go.
Dave

[[email protected]]

But of course! I already have a homebuilt trailer license for the
homebuilt trailer I made for the glider... Hmmm, funny how it up and
changed shape and color.

BTW, this is 1 mile on small roads, Sunday morning, I dont have any
gyros, 20 mph the whole way, no pot-wholes.

-Bruce

Dave S wrote:
> wrote:
> > I'm looking to tow my plane to the airport. I've seen aircraft towed
> > on their own wheels. I called the local police department and they
> > said I had to use a trailer. Does anyone know the "road rules" for
> > towing aircraft to the airport?
> >
> > I tried googling for federal or state (Maine) regulations and basically
> > came up empty. Anyone know the answer or can help?
> >
> > -Bruce
> >
>
> There is no reasaon you cannot license your aircraft as a road legal
> "homebuilt" trailer. You will need to affix a license plate and put
> brake lights/turn signals on it (you can use temporary ones, like the
> tow truck guys put on their towed cars).
>
> Check the Maine regs again, but look at how to register a trailer, or a
> homebuilt trailer. I have had two separate trailers in Texas that I've
> registered in that manner. None of em were capable of flight or ever
> intended to be an airplane.. they were real trailers... but as long as
> the state gets their road tax money, and you have the License Plate and
> lights displayed, shouldnt be a problem.
>
> Remove em before flight.. and go.
> Dave

[Dave[_5_]]

wrote:
> But of course! I already have a homebuilt trailer license for the
> homebuilt trailer I made for the glider... Hmmm, funny how it up and
> changed shape and color.
>
> BTW, this is 1 mile on small roads, Sunday morning, I dont have any
> gyros, 20 mph the whole way, no pot-wholes

There is a guy who flys a Kitfox out of Fortuna, CA who tows it to and
from the airport behind his pickup. It has big balloon tires, and a
special (removable) fixture to attach
the tailcone to his trailer hitch. Seems to work just fine - and I
don't remember seeing
any lights or license plate. I think he lives pretty close to the
airport.

David Johnson

[Ernest Christley]

wrote:
> But of course! I already have a homebuilt trailer license for the
> homebuilt trailer I made for the glider... Hmmm, funny how it up and
> changed shape and color.
>
> BTW, this is 1 mile on small roads, Sunday morning, I dont have any
> gyros, 20 mph the whole way, no pot-wholes.
>
> -Bruce

The Dyke Delta is designed to be towed on it's own wheels. One of the
builders, lives in Conneticut, had problems getting it registered as a
trailer. Seems they don't allow trailers to have their own propulsion
system. YMMV.

[Denny]

Seems like 1 mile at 4AM on a Sunday would not need much more than a
light...

denny

[Convair]

On 17 Aug 2006 16:38:23 -0700, "
> wrote:

>I'm looking to tow my plane to the airport. I've seen aircraft towed
>on their own wheels. I called the local police department and they
>said I had to use a trailer. Does anyone know the "road rules" for
>towing aircraft to the airport?
>
>I tried googling for federal or state (Maine) regulations and basically
>came up empty. Anyone know the answer or can help?
>
>-Bruce

I'm getting ready to tow my Glasair 3, and I'm using one of those
cheap, $200 trailers that Harbor frieght and Northern tools sell. It's
rated at 1100lbs, has a 4X8 bed, and since I carry the wing, fuselage
and engine in separate trips, I'll never get close to the weight
rating. I had to modify it by using a longer tongue for the length of
the wing. .
On a plane like that, where the wing contains the main gear, and the
wing and fuselage are carried separetly, there's no way to road
trailer the plane. Only the Glasair taildragger could be carried that
way, since it's gear is mounted to the fuselage. But then a trailer
would be needed for the wing. The guys mentioning towing their planes
backwards on it's gear, how are you carrying the wing? Rooftop?
Must be using trailers for those, unless you build something like a
T-18, or Mustang II with folding wings. Which I wouldn't mind doing
next! I'm tired of paying hanger rent, and having your plane towed
home would be like living in an airpark.

[Tri-Pacer[_1_]]

>
>>I'm looking to tow my plane to the airport. I've seen aircraft towed
>>on their own wheels. I called the local police department and they
>>said I had to use a trailer. Does anyone know the "road rules" for
>>towing aircraft to the airport?
>>


Does your state issue temporary permits for unlicensed vehicles?

If so then that's your answer.

I've towed airplanes over the roads several times in Washington State.

Cheers:

Paul
N1431A

[Dean A. Scott]

> ... in Conneticut... Seems they don't allow trailers to have their own propulsion
> system. YMMV.

Wonder if you could argue that the "propulsion system" has no transmission to
or is not in any way connected to the wheels, as I would think that's the intent
of the law... to prevent such a transmission from in any way interfering with
the towing vehicle's use of its own power, as in loss of sync btwn a powered
trailer becoming something that pushes a towing vehicle or an inadvertent engaging
of a transmission, locking up the trailer's wheels, etc.




Dean A. Scott, mfa
---------------------------------------
School of Visual Art and Design
southern adventist university
---------------------------------------
http://www.southern.edu/~dascott

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[Montblack[_1_]]

("Denny" wrote)
> Seems like 1 mile at 4AM on a Sunday would not need much more than a
> light...


Here's some lights that might work:
http://www.projectresponder.com/images/x/pr_ts_ani.gif


Montblackandwhite :-)

[quietguy]

There used to be (and may still be) a guy named Hardy Prentice who
flat-towed his race-prepped Triumph TR-3 to Sports Car Club of America
races -- even from California to Georgia when the National
Championships were held there, as recently as 1992. (He towed it
behind an E-Type Jaguar; how's that for eccentricity tinged with
masochism?) There was no way that car was street-legal as a
self-propelled vehicle, but as a "trailer" all it needed was a trailer
license, an approved tow-bar and wiring from the Jag's taillights to
the TR's.

The only possible snags I can see in doing that with an airplane are
that an airplane's non-DOT tires may not be legal trailer tires in some
states and that some of the heavier airplanes, in some states, may
require brakes as "trailers". A solution to both problems would be a
DOT-tired, brake-equipped dolly with a long enough tongue -- shouldn't
cost an arm and a leg to cobble together.

[Jim Carriere]

quietguy wrote:
> There used to be (and may still be) a guy named Hardy Prentice who
> flat-towed his race-prepped Triumph TR-3 to Sports Car Club of America
> races -- even from California to Georgia when the National
> Championships were held there, as recently as 1992. (He towed it
> behind an E-Type Jaguar; how's that for eccentricity tinged with
> masochism?) There was no way that car was street-legal as a
> self-propelled vehicle, but as a "trailer" all it needed was a trailer
> license, an approved tow-bar and wiring from the Jag's taillights to
> the TR's.

I think there is a possibility that he may not have been legal passing
through some particular state or county, and not been pulled over by
luck. A cop might glance at such a setup and assume it is an emergency,
not a cross-country tow, and not really give it a second thought.

In some areas, you more than occasionally see some pretty amazing things
on the road: cars pulling other cars, wooden bumpers, hand signals for
stopping and turning, pieces of paper with the handwritten words "tag
applied for" instead of a license plate... an E-Type pulling a TR-3
wouldn't raise too many cop eyebrows where I live... it would raise my
eyebrows though, 10 cylinders, 8 wheels, and 5 SU carburettors :)

Anything pulling an airplane is rare, which makes it sure to get attention.

Did the original poster contact the Maine DOT?

Last thought, if it was a one-time, one mile, Sunday morning, quiet road
tow, I'm not recommending anything :)

[RST Engineering]

Small town? Do the political thing. Ask if there is an off duty officer who
would like to be the "chase" vehicle for $50.

It is truly amazing how many small town cop shops make their own rules if
their own can benefit.

Jim



"

[Dave S]

RST Engineering wrote:
> Small town? Do the political thing. Ask if there is an off duty officer who
> would like to be the "chase" vehicle for $50.
>
> It is truly amazing how many small town cop shops make their own rules if
> their own can benefit.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> "
>
>

Forget "CHASE" vehicle.. if yer gonna PAY him.. have him drive the TOW
vehicle. No cop will knowingly give another cop a ticket in the
situation described.

Thats essentially what we did pulling our plane to the airport. It was
on a trailer, but it was a wide load (velocity with strakes). Of course,
our cop was free.. he's a good friend of ours.

Dave

[RST Engineering]

The "chase vehicle" was intended to be a cop chop with the bubble gum
machine brightly lit and flashing. Safety, y'know {;-)

Jim



"Dave S" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> RST Engineering wrote:
>> Small town? Do the political thing. Ask if there is an off duty officer
>> who would like to be the "chase" vehicle for $50.
>>
>> It is truly amazing how many small town cop shops make their own rules if
>> their own can benefit.
>>
>> Jim
>>
>>
>>
>> "
>
> Forget "CHASE" vehicle.. if yer gonna PAY him.. have him drive the TOW
> vehicle. No cop will knowingly give another cop a ticket in the situation
> described.
>
> Thats essentially what we did pulling our plane to the airport. It was on
> a trailer, but it was a wide load (velocity with strakes). Of course, our
> cop was free.. he's a good friend of ours.
>
> Dave

[Roger[_4_]]

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 21:24:57 -0400, "Dean A. Scott"
> wrote:

> > ... in Conneticut... Seems they don't allow trailers to have their own propulsion
>> system. YMMV.

I see a lot of the larger motor homes pulling a small car in trailer
fashion. I wonder how they'd view that?

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

[Morgans[_3_]]

> > > ... in Conneticut... Seems they don't allow trailers to have their own
propulsion
> >> system. YMMV.
>
> I see a lot of the larger motor homes pulling a small car in trailer
> fashion. I wonder how they'd view that?

Very good point. He needs to check into, and point that out.

There has to be a way around this.

If nothing else, I picture a basic "T" with two dedicated wheels, like a tow
dolly for cars. Simple, light, and if used often, would save some wear and
tear on the aircraft wheels.
--
Jim in NC

[Jerry springer]

Roger wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 21:24:57 -0400, "Dean A. Scott"
> > wrote:
>
>
>>>... in Conneticut... Seems they don't allow trailers to have their own propulsion
>>>system. YMMV.
>
>
> I see a lot of the larger motor homes pulling a small car in trailer
> fashion. I wonder how they'd view that?
>
> Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
> (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
> www.rogerhalstead.com

If he only has 1 mile to go I would just hook onto it and go. Just have
a car follow close enough to not let anyone else get behind him. I towed
my RV-6 to the airport about 4 miles by making hitch that hooked up to
the tailwheel spring. I used a pickup and a cross piece across the bed
so the tail would be higher than the pickup bed so it would turn corners
with the elevators installed. This actually put the fuselage in about
level flight attitude.

Jerry

[Morgans[_3_]]

"Jerry springer" > wrote

> If he only has 1 mile to go I would just hook onto it and go. Just have
> a car follow close enough to not let anyone else get behind him. I towed
> my RV-6 to the airport about 4 miles by making hitch that hooked up to
> the tailwheel spring.

No doubt, if it is just one trip. If it were a regular happening, sooner of
later, he would wish he was legal! <g>
--
Jim in NC

[Peter Dohm]

"Morgans" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Jerry springer" > wrote
>
> > If he only has 1 mile to go I would just hook onto it and go. Just have
> > a car follow close enough to not let anyone else get behind him. I towed
> > my RV-6 to the airport about 4 miles by making hitch that hooked up to
> > the tailwheel spring.
>
> No doubt, if it is just one trip. If it were a regular happening, sooner
of
> later, he would wish he was legal! <g>
> --
> Jim in NC
>
I could have sworn that someone already wrote this, but here goes:

Unless something has changed dramatically, every state has an approved
method to transport wheeled equipment that is only temporarily on the
roads--obviously intended for farm equipment. Call your friendly DMV and
ask.

Alternatively, call the local Cop Shop and ask about an escort. Whatever
they charge is probably less than the cost of an appropriate trailer for a
one-time use, or else you would have already borrowed a trailer, and an
escort should greatly reduce the risk of some idiot trying to cut through
between the clearance lights.

Just my $0.02
Peter in FL

[Clay]

Mount a SMV sign on the rear and keep it under 25 m.p.h.
(Slow Moving Vehicle)
SMV signs are available from most farm supply stores or heavy equipment
dealers.

[Rich S.[_1_]]

"Ernest Christley" > wrote
>
> The Dyke Delta is designed to be towed on it's own wheels. One of the
> builders, lives in Conneticut, had problems getting it registered as a
> trailer. Seems they don't allow trailers to have their own propulsion
> system. YMMV.

"That?? Sir, that is my ceiling fan. It *is* Summer, after all!"

Rich S.

[Montblack[_1_]]

("Rich S." wrote)
>> The Dyke Delta is designed to be towed on it's own wheels. One of the
>> builders, lives in Conneticut, had problems getting it registered as a
>> trailer. Seems they don't allow trailers to have their own propulsion
>> system. YMMV.

> "That?? Sir, that is my ceiling fan. It *is* Summer, after all!"


"You're claiming you got an air brake on that trailer of yours?"

"Um, yup."


Montblack

[[email protected]]

Ernest Christley wrote:
> wrote:
> > But of course! I already have a homebuilt trailer license for the
> > homebuilt trailer I made for the glider... Hmmm, funny how it up and
> > changed shape and color.
> >
> > BTW, this is 1 mile on small roads, Sunday morning, I dont have any
> > gyros, 20 mph the whole way, no pot-wholes.
> >
> > -Bruce
>
> The Dyke Delta is designed to be towed on it's own wheels. One of the
> builders, lives in Conneticut, had problems getting it registered as a
> trailer. Seems they don't allow trailers to have their own propulsion
> system. YMMV.

Well it doesn't have it's own propulsion system for propelling it
down the highway. I'm sure the reason for th erestriction is so
people can't buy trailer plates for vehicles that are supposed to
have different (and probably more expensive) plates.

--

FF

[Peter Dohm]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Ernest Christley wrote:
> > wrote:
> > > But of course! I already have a homebuilt trailer license for the
> > > homebuilt trailer I made for the glider... Hmmm, funny how it up and
> > > changed shape and color.
> > >
> > > BTW, this is 1 mile on small roads, Sunday morning, I dont have any
> > > gyros, 20 mph the whole way, no pot-wholes.
> > >
> > > -Bruce
> >
> > The Dyke Delta is designed to be towed on it's own wheels. One of the
> > builders, lives in Conneticut, had problems getting it registered as a
> > trailer. Seems they don't allow trailers to have their own propulsion
> > system. YMMV.
>
> Well it doesn't have it's own propulsion system for propelling it
> down the highway. I'm sure the reason for th erestriction is so
> people can't buy trailer plates for vehicles that are supposed to
> have different (and probably more expensive) plates.
>
> --
>
> FF
>
To expand a little on Jim Carriere's earlier point, many (probably most)
towing compainies have a more favorable rate for a non-emergency tow than
for on-demand. Life is best for them when they can reduce their amount of
dead-heading. So, you might watch for a carefull driver with a roll-back in
your area and talk to him.

BTW, if your a/c is wider than the truck, I would still seriously consider
an escort--especially after dark, and I would avoid friday and saturday
nights.

Peter

[Ernest Christley]

wrote:
> Ernest Christley wrote:
>> wrote:
>>> But of course! I already have a homebuilt trailer license for the
>>> homebuilt trailer I made for the glider... Hmmm, funny how it up and
>>> changed shape and color.
>>>
>>> BTW, this is 1 mile on small roads, Sunday morning, I dont have any
>>> gyros, 20 mph the whole way, no pot-wholes.
>>>
>>> -Bruce
>> The Dyke Delta is designed to be towed on it's own wheels. One of the
>> builders, lives in Conneticut, had problems getting it registered as a
>> trailer. Seems they don't allow trailers to have their own propulsion
>> system. YMMV.
>
> Well it doesn't have it's own propulsion system for propelling it
> down the highway. I'm sure the reason for th erestriction is so
> people can't buy trailer plates for vehicles that are supposed to
> have different (and probably more expensive) plates.
>

Doesn't matter. Jim had to go home and build a trailer after the DOT
guy said he couldn't get a trailer license for his airplane. That was
Conneticut, I believe. Larry, in Nevada if memory serves, had no
problem and happily tows his all over the place. I wonder what would
happen if Larry flew his Delta to Conneticut and then towed it to Jim's
house?

Somebody would probably object and get the city council to pass an
ordinance.

But I digress. I've investigate the process here in North Carolina. I
have to get a permit that will allow a State Highway Patrolman
(Patrolperson) to inspect my "trailer". It's up to me to convince the
patrolman to come to the plane to inspect it, which is necessary since
it isn't licensed for me to tow it there. When this is done, I can
apply for a ID plate. Once I have the ID plate, then I can apply for
tags. Each step requires a visit to the DOT, which is generally a
half-day affair for even the simplest issues. Most people build 'farm
trailers' and just pull 'em around, completely skipping the bureaucratic
song and dance. I would do that, but I figure that an airplane rolling
down the street might attract a little more attention than the average
trailer.

[[email protected]]

Ernest Christley wrote:
> wrote:
> > Ernest Christley wrote:
> >> wrote:
> >>> But of course! I already have a homebuilt trailer license for the
> >>> homebuilt trailer I made for the glider... Hmmm, funny how it up and
> >>> changed shape and color.
> >>>
> >>> BTW, this is 1 mile on small roads, Sunday morning, I dont have any
> >>> gyros, 20 mph the whole way, no pot-wholes.
> >>>
> >>> -Bruce
> >> The Dyke Delta is designed to be towed on it's own wheels. One of the
> >> builders, lives in Conneticut, had problems getting it registered as a
> >> trailer. Seems they don't allow trailers to have their own propulsion
> >> system. YMMV.
> >
> > Well it doesn't have it's own propulsion system for propelling it
> > down the highway. I'm sure the reason for th erestriction is so
> > people can't buy trailer plates for vehicles that are supposed to
> > have different (and probably more expensive) plates.
> >
>
> Doesn't matter. Jim had to go home and build a trailer after the DOT
> guy said he couldn't get a trailer license for his airplane. That was
> Conneticut, I believe.

A portable trailer-mounted generator has an engine, a propulsion
system for electrons. Would he have to put it on a second trailer
to tow it in Connecticut? Or would the fact that the engine doesn't
drive the wheels be what matters?

I think maybe he should have talked to more than one DOT guy,
maybe politely asked to talk to a supervisor.

--

FF

[Morgans[_4_]]

> wrote
>
> A portable trailer-mounted generator has an engine, a propulsion
> system for electrons. Would he have to put it on a second trailer
> to tow it in Connecticut? Or would the fact that the engine doesn't
> drive the wheels be what matters?
>
> I think maybe he should have talked to more than one DOT guy,
> maybe politely asked to talk to a supervisor.

Asking to see the applicable portion of the code would not be too much to
ask, and also would help in deciding exactly what other rules might need to
be followed.
--
Jim in NC

[Kyler Laird]

Ernest Christley > writes:

>Doesn't matter. Jim had to go home and build a trailer after the DOT
>guy said he couldn't get a trailer license for his airplane.

So...if you built a trailer that happened to use the gear from the plane
you'd be o.k.? What if it used the gear and the fuselage? Is the
issue just the engine?

--kyler

[flybynightkarmarepair]

wrote:
> I'm looking to tow my plane to the airport. I've seen aircraft towed
> on their own wheels. I called the local police department and they
> said I had to use a trailer. Does anyone know the "road rules" for
> towing aircraft to the airport?
>
> I tried googling for federal or state (Maine) regulations and basically
> came up empty. Anyone know the answer or can help?
>
> -Bruce

http://users.lmi.net/~ryoung/Sonerai/Towbar.html

Here's some details on how Sonerai were towed all over the country.
The Monnetts used to DRIVE to Sun and Fun every year from Wisconsin,
towing whatever version of the Sonerai they were flogging, on their own
wheels.

[Ernest Christley]

wrote:

> A portable trailer-mounted generator has an engine, a propulsion
> system for electrons. Would he have to put it on a second trailer
> to tow it in Connecticut? Or would the fact that the engine doesn't
> drive the wheels be what matters?
>
> I think maybe he should have talked to more than one DOT guy,
> maybe politely asked to talk to a supervisor.
>

I wasn't there, and they didn't call to ask for my input 8*)

but...

I just looked up the old newsletter article. Here it is, straight from
the <builders's> mouth. Make of it what you will.

"He went back into the building and returned with another inspector.
This one had a big smile on his face and explained that this was the
part of his job that eh loved. He said, "I love to see all these
unusual things that people try to register." (Behind me by a couple of
vehicles was a Hotdog vendor's wagon). He thought that he would need to
take a Polaroid photo of the Delta and fax it to the DOT to get approval.
Obviously he was trying to cover his ass so that he would not get into
trouble. He went to get the camera and when he returned he explained
that he was not going to be able to register it for me. He checked that
statutes and found two that apply.
It seems that in order to qualify, as a trailer, the vehicle cannot have
its own motive power, and since he considered the engine and propeller
motive power he could not allow it. Secondly the statutes specifically
prohibit the DMV from registering aircraft as motor vehicles. So that
was it. He said that if I wanted to tow it on the road I would have to
put it on a trailer. I was, to say the least, very DISSAPOINTED.

[[email protected]]

Ernest Christley wrote:
> wrote:
>
> > A portable trailer-mounted generator has an engine, a propulsion
> > system for electrons. Would he have to put it on a second trailer
> > to tow it in Connecticut? Or would the fact that the engine doesn't
> > drive the wheels be what matters?
> >
> > I think maybe he should have talked to more than one DOT guy,
> > maybe politely asked to talk to a supervisor.
> >
>
> I wasn't there, and they didn't call to ask for my input 8*)

Nor mine...

>
> but...
>
> I just looked up the old newsletter article. Here it is, straight from
> the <builders's> mouth. Make of it what you will.

Thanks for checking.

>
> "...
> It seems that in order to qualify, as a trailer, the vehicle cannot have
> its own motive power, and since he considered the engine and propeller
> motive power he could not allow it. Secondly the statutes specifically
> prohibit the DMV from registering aircraft as motor vehicles. So that
> was it. He said that if I wanted to tow it on the road I would have to
> put it on a trailer. I was, to say the least, very DISSAPOINTED.

Assuming that the Ct DMV defines a trailer as a motor vehicle, then
yes, he was clearly SOL as there was a rule that expressly
prohibitted licensing an airplane as a trailer. The first rule had
some
wiggle room, the second did not. The authorities had considered
exactly that situation and decided to prohibit it.

--

FF

[Drew Dalgleish]

I just towed my plane on it's wheels when it was time to move it to
the airport. I figured if I was stopped I would argue that it is a
federally registreed vehicle so no other registration is needed. Now
that it's on floats I didn't get it licensed as a boat for when it's
on the water. Crop dusters around here sometimes use roads for landing
strips too.

wrote:
>
>> A portable trailer-mounted generator has an engine, a propulsion
>> system for electrons. Would he have to put it on a second trailer
>> to tow it in Connecticut? Or would the fact that the engine doesn't
>> drive the wheels be what matters?
>>
>> I think maybe he should have talked to more than one DOT guy,
>> maybe politely asked to talk to a supervisor.
>>
>
>I wasn't there, and they didn't call to ask for my input 8*)
>
>but...
>
>I just looked up the old newsletter article. Here it is, straight from
>the <builders's> mouth. Make of it what you will.
>
>"He went back into the building and returned with another inspector.
>This one had a big smile on his face and explained that this was the
>part of his job that eh loved. He said, "I love to see all these
>unusual things that people try to register." (Behind me by a couple of
>vehicles was a Hotdog vendor's wagon). He thought that he would need to
>take a Polaroid photo of the Delta and fax it to the DOT to get approval.
>Obviously he was trying to cover his ass so that he would not get into
>trouble. He went to get the camera and when he returned he explained
>that he was not going to be able to register it for me. He checked that
>statutes and found two that apply.
>It seems that in order to qualify, as a trailer, the vehicle cannot have
>its own motive power, and since he considered the engine and propeller
>motive power he could not allow it. Secondly the statutes specifically
>prohibit the DMV from registering aircraft as motor vehicles. So that
>was it. He said that if I wanted to tow it on the road I would have to
>put it on a trailer. I was, to say the least, very DISSAPOINTED.