"Ron Wanttaja" wrote

That helicopter on E-Bay is licensed in the Experimental/Exhibition
category,
which has become almost as free as Experimental/Amateur-Built. The
helicopter
is probably so certified because it's an ex-military aircraft. This still
doesn't give you the freedom to modify it willy-nilly. It really depends
on how
the operating limitations are written; likely, the limitations state that
the
aircraft must be maintained in accordance to the applicable military tech
documents.

I agree with everything you said.

One clarification, though.

Most, or many, military airplanes never were certified by the FAA. The
exceptions to this are the civil aviation certified aircraft that were
adopted for use by the military.

If a model was never certified by the FAA, then it will have no choice but
to be registered as an experimental of some classification.

One example already mentioned is the L-39, and add to that it was produced
by a foreign maker. Most of the old WWII bombers and fighters fit into this
category, too.
--
Jim in NC