John,

AMA means amateur built, which it is not, but that is the default in
the FAA registry's computerized recordkeeping system, so it will not be
changed. Your experimental airworthiness certificate will not say
amateur built. Don't worry about this.

Engine model is always unknown in the database when there is no engine.
Some motorgilder entries in the database say unknown as well because,
well, the FAA just doesn't know. Don't worry about this either if you
have no engine. If you dio have an engine that is unknown, don't worry
about it, noone really cares.

What you should worry about is if your registration status says
"unknown" or "in question". If your registration status says that, you
have a problem (and many gliders do, just search under Schleicher or
Schempp Hirth for instance).

Go he
http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certific...TOKEN=57737891
and click on the link
http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certific...ration_status/
and search for your N number.

An "in question" status means you have not reported the sale of your
glider, the purchase of your glider, or you have not returned the
tri-ennial report the FAA sent you. That means your registration is "in
question" and that is not good.

Recently the FAA sent a message stating, in effect, that if an aircraft
attempts to enter the "National Airspace System" with a registration
status that is in question, that aircraft will be denied access to the
National Airspace System. 'Cuz I'm an air carrier airworthiness flavor
fed - owning an aircraft with a registration status that is not in
question - I did not give it a second thought. However, out of
curiosity, I searched for Schweizer and Schempp-Hirth, etc. and there's
are quite a few gliders that *may* be denied access to the National
Airspace System - whatever that means, don't ask me, I'm not an Ops
guy. I suspect it has something to do with controlled airspace, etc.
but I'm not planning on getting anywhere near any of that in the near
future.

I recommend, if you plan to enter the NAS at any time in the near
future, or maybe just want to stay slightly on this side of the legal
fence, you check the database for your N number and see if you're on
the list.

Just so you know that I am not holier than the Pope, I got a letter
from Oke City saying I had not done something right (they were wrong,
of couurse!!! ;-) BUT, I did send the guy a letter explaiing that I did
send the form in, etc. and when, etc, just to keep my records straight
and it was all taken care of in the end after they dug my form out of
somebody's in box over there in Soaring Sooner land.

By the way, I've had an opportunity a while back to fly with the
Soaring Sooners at Hinton, Ok while I was doing some hard time at the
FAA school in OKC and they are a great bunch of folks with a nice
1-26E, well worth a visit if you find yourself in the area.

Rgds,

Jim