Whose airplane is it anyway?

I have just been informed by the designer of the aircraft that I am
building that there is a possibility that he may not allow me to use an
alternative engine. Granted that weight and balance, as well as power
requirements must reasonably lie within allowable ranges, what is the
roll of the kit or plans manufacturer in the final homebuilt aircraft?
Will the FAA award him the power to veto my airworthiness certificate?

"Ernest Christley" wrote in message
...

I have just been informed by the designer of the aircraft that I am
building that there is a possibility that he may not allow me to use an
alternative engine. Granted that weight and balance, as well as power
requirements must reasonably lie within allowable ranges, what is the roll
of the kit or plans manufacturer in the final homebuilt aircraft? Will the
FAA award him the power to veto my airworthiness certificate?

No way he can do anything other than stop supporting you, in any way.

Do you have all of your parts from him? Do you think there is anything that
you will absolutely need to ask him, from here on out, that you can not
complete the airplane without his answers?

If your answers are yes and no, then don't worry about it. All his plans
are is a suggested way to build an airplane. How you build it and what
modifications you make are entirely up to you.

It figures he would pull that crap. I always thought he was a primadonna.
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:
"Ernest Christley" wrote in message
...
I have just been informed by the designer of the aircraft that I am
building that there is a possibility that he may not allow me to use an
alternative engine. Granted that weight and balance, as well as power
requirements must reasonably lie within allowable ranges, what is the roll
of the kit or plans manufacturer in the final homebuilt aircraft? Will the
FAA award him the power to veto my airworthiness certificate?

No way he can do anything other than stop supporting you, in any way.

Do you have all of your parts from him? Do you think there is anything that
you will absolutely need to ask him, from here on out, that you can not
complete the airplane without his answers?

If your answers are yes and no, then don't worry about it. All his plans
are is a suggested way to build an airplane. How you build it and what
modifications you make are entirely up to you.

It figures he would pull that crap. I always thought he was a primadonna.

He never supplied parts, and getting him to answer a technical question
has always been like pulling an eye-tooth.

Follow the plans...but the part isn't made anymore...stick to the
plans...but the measurements contradict...just stick to the plans...

I'm going to call the Greensboro FSDO tomorrow and I've sent an email to
the EAA Headquarters. The idea that I can be cut off after 5years of
building really sticks in my craw. Even the insinuation is unbearable.

"Ernest Christley" wrote


I'm going to call the Greensboro FSDO tomorrow and I've sent an email to
the EAA Headquarters. The idea that I can be cut off after 5years of
building really sticks in my craw. Even the insinuation is unbearable.

I'm sure you need to hear it straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak,
so of course, check with those two organizations.

Rest easy tonight, and until you get your answers, that there are no
problems. Carry on, making your airplane, (making your own decisions-so it
sounds) with the knowledge that all is well.
--
Jim in NC

What are you building?

Isn't this the same problem that the sonex builder
had putting in the corvair engine?
His is flying.
Lou

"john smith" wrote in message
...
What are you building?

It isn't me, building. It is Mr. Christley, and he is building a Dyke
Delta.

Here is a hope page of one of the Dyke Delta's builders.

www.eaa27.org/projects/maher/index.html
--
Jim in NC

john smith wrote:
What are you building?

Dyke Delta.

http://www.ernest.isa-geek.org

"Richard Riley" wrote ...

Well, do check with them for your own peace of mind, but there ain't
nothin - and I do mean nothin - that he can do. It's faintly
theoretically possible that if you include his name in the registered
name type of your airplane he could have grounds to sue you, but it's
never happened and probably never will.

Just to be on the safe side, call it something else when you register
it.

Frankly, the big change that needs to be done to your airplane is it
needs fixed main gear and a lower ground attitude. One man's opinion,

Yet, as Lieutenant Edwards found out a great deal of care must be taken when
you're dealing with changes in the center of gravity of flying wings.

Rich

Richard Isakson wrote:
"Richard Riley" wrote ...

Well, do check with them for your own peace of mind, but there ain't
nothin - and I do mean nothin - that he can do. It's faintly
theoretically possible that if you include his name in the registered
name type of your airplane he could have grounds to sue you, but it's
never happened and probably never will.

Just to be on the safe side, call it something else when you register
it.

Frankly, the big change that needs to be done to your airplane is it
needs fixed main gear and a lower ground attitude. One man's opinion,

Yet, as Lieutenant Edwards found out a great deal of care must be taken when
you're dealing with changes in the center of gravity of flying wings.

Rich



I've taken painstaking care not to move the CG or change the airfoil,
sweep or angles of the wings. I have made the nosegear fixed. That
saved me 10lbs, lots of complication, and several failure modes. It may
cost me a couple kts, but I consider them kts well spent. If I knew
then what I know now, the main gear would be aluminum leaf springs.
There's lots of weight in the gear retract mechanism, but its fairly
evenly spread forward and aft of the CG.

As for changing the ground attitude...you've got to get it high enough
to put a prop on there. I do have less than 9 degrees nose-up, which is
the limit. It's just under 8, if I recall correctly.