The Spirit of Homebuilt Aviation I www.eaa.org Vol.2 No.12 I December 2013 A Tale of 10 Tailwinds Jim Clement’s Pride The Maverick LSA Finding a Ride 30 Years of Challengers Flight Control Forces EEAAEXP_Dec13.inddAAEXP_Dec13.indd 1 112/30/132/30/13 99:00:00 AAMM Tower Frequency EAA Tackles the Big Issues By Jack J. Pelton All segments of personal aviation will face FBOs so it can be available to more pilots. High Cost of New Airplanes: Airplane major challenges over the coming years. Making autogas STCs possible was the manufacturing costs are driven by many At EAA we have programs in place to help crucial fi rst step, and now we need to factors including small production runs resolve the biggest problems. We’re not help create a distribution method. and complex FAA certifi cation rules. EAA miracle workers, but by working together is strongly supporting a revision of the we can make a difference. EAA is participating closely with the avia- FAA rules that govern small airplane certi- tion industry and other aviation associa- fi cation. Simplifi cation of those standards Shrinking Pilot Population: This is the No. tions to help identify and certify a lead- can reduce new airplane development 1 issue because when fewer people fl y, free replacement avgas. The key here is costs. If costs can be brought down, the entire aviation activity—including to fi nd the unleaded fuel that works for production rates can increase, creating airports and infrastructure—shrinks and all piston airplane owners with minimum additional savings and lower prices. becomes less available. transition costs and the least impact on airplane performance. EAA also advocates strongly for sen- I believe our most important weapon sible maintenance and repair standards to fi ght the pilot population decline is Medical Certifi cation: EAA led the way to keep older airplanes fl ying safely at AirVenture Oshkosh. The World’s Greatest in the creation of the sport pilot certifi - reasonable costs. And we also work Aviation Celebration shows more people cate that allows pilots to fl y with a valid almost daily to be sure there is no more facets of aviation than any other. It’s driver’s license as evidence of medical infringement on the rights to fl y all types impossible to visit Oshkosh and not soak up qualifi cation. Now we have joined with of ultralight and other personal aircraft the excitement and passion of fl ight. It also AOPA in petitioning the FAA to allow that offer the lowest cost entry into shows hundreds of thousands of people pilots to fl y to the recreational standard airplane ownership. they, too, can be part of personal aviation. using the same driver’s license as medi- cal qualifi cation. EAA worked hard to help create the LSA In the longer term, our Young Eagles category, and though new LSA prices program introduces many thousands of We believe that the third-class medical have turned out to be higher than we all youngsters to the thrill of fl ight every year. has become a deterrent for many pilots hoped, the industry continues to evolve Those dividends will continue to pay off who want to fl y basic airplanes under and develop. The greater level of free- as the years go by. Our new Eagle Flights daytime VFR. Though it is possible to get dom to innovate offered by the LSA rules program is aimed at adults who have an a special issuance medical certifi cate makes possible some exciting concepts interest in learning to fl y but who haven’t in many health situations, the cost and such as the Terrafugia Transition and the known how to become involved. This complexity of the special issuance is a futuristic-looking Icon A5 amphib. As the program shows them the way. hindrance. This is especially true when LSA category matures I expect to see an expensive and often invasive medical entire range of airplane cost and perfor- High Cost of Fuel: EAA has long been the tests must be repeated every year or two mance offerings. leader in creating alternatives to lower for the FAA, while normal medical prac- fuel cost. It’s been more than 25 years tice does not require or even recommend You can help EAA succeed in these cru- since EAA fl ight testing and research led the tests. cial struggles by maintaining your mem- to STCs authorizing the use of autogas bership and by purchasing a gift mem- in many standard category airplanes. The FAA has not yet responded to our pe- bership for friends. An EAA membership And EAA continues to guard the right of tition, but we and our colleagues at AOPA makes a perfect Christmas gift for anyone airplane homebuilders to use any type of will do our best to keep the pressure on to interested in aviation. You can see details appropriate fuel in their airplanes. fi nd a solution. Sport pilot fl ying is build- of how to give a gift of membership ing real-world evidence that the driver’s at www.eaa.org/membership. I wish A high priority for EAA is to help fi nd a license as medical works, and we will use you all a Merry Christmas and happy cost-effective way to store autogas at that data to convince the FAA. holiday season. On the cover: T e angular shape of the Wittman Tailwind is obvious in this overhead view. (Photography by Jim Koepnick) 2 Vol.2 No.12 / December 2013 EEAAEXP_Dec13.inddAAEXP_Dec13.indd 2 112/30/132/30/13 99:00:00 AAMM Contents Vol.2 No.12 / December 2013 I A publication of the Experimental Aircraft Association EAA PUBLICATIONS Features Founder: Paul H. Poberezny Publisher: Jack J. Pelton, EAA Chairman of the Board Vice President of Marketing: Rick Larsen Editor-in-Chief: J. Mac McClellan Homebuilding Community Manager: » » Charlie Becker 10 A Tale of 10 Tailwinds… 16 Challenger Aircraft Editor: Mary Jones/EditEtc. LLC and Counting 30th Anniversary Fly-In Senior Graphic Designer: Chris Livieri Jim Clement’s love affair Honoring Quad City News Editor: Ric Reynolds with square corners and Aircraft Corp. Copy Editor: Colleen Walsh high speeds By By Dan Grunloh Multimedia Journalist: Brady Lane By Budd Davisson Visual Properties Administrator: » Jason Toney 22 The Maverick Light-Sport Aircraft Contributing Writers: Charlie Becker, A roadable powered parachute Budd Davisson, Dan Grunloh, Ed Kolano, By Bruce Moore Bruce Moore, and Keith Phillips European Correspondent: Marino Boric Departments » 2 Tower Frequency » 8 Flightline ADVERTISING By Jack Pelton Industry News Display » 4 Homebuilder’s Corner » 30 Hints for Homebuilders Sue Anderson By Charlie Becker Revised Engine Stand By Michiel Bouwens Mailing Address: » 6 News from HQ P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086 News from EAA Phone: 920-426-4800 Fax: 920-426-4828 E-mail: [email protected] Columns Website: www.EAA.org » 32 What Our Members Are Building Need to change your address or More First Appearances at Oshkosh have other membership questions? Call 800-564-6322 (800-JOIN EAA). » 34 Flight Testing Techniques EAA® and SPORT AVIATION®, the EAA Flight Control Forces Logo® and AERONAUTICATM are registered By Ed Kolano trademarks, trademarks, and service marks of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. The use of these trademarks and » 36 Light Plane World service marks without the permission of the Let’s Go Flying Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. is By Dan Grunloh strictly prohibited. » 39 Hangar Debrief Dished Out By Keith Phillips EAA Experimenter 3 EEAAEXP_Dec13.inddAAEXP_Dec13.indd 3 112/30/132/30/13 99:01:01 AAMM Homebuilder’s Corner Learn, Build, Fly Returning to school William Wynne sharing his knowledge with some of the builders. By Charlie Becker I had an opportunity to go back to school recently. Not a eggs and sausage is a real treat and a rarity where I live. traditional school, but rather a “Corvair College.” It was Barnwell is a terrifi c airport and worth a stop. a three-day event in Barnwell, South Carolina, on how to adapt Corvair engines to power amateur-built aircraft. It The workshop is a fairly unstructured affair. There were did not follow the structured classes of my time at Mar- 12 4-by-8-foot tables that two builders would share to use quette University, but it defi nitely transcended the normal for engine work. I didn’t count, but just about all the tables how-to course. were fi lled with engines. You don’t have to have an engine to attend, but reading the Corvair manuals beforehand is a William Wynne is the driving force behind Corvair conver- big help. sions for homebuilts. He preaches the Corvair “gospel” at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, on the web, and in his printed Many attendees were like me, just coming to do research materials. He has devoted his life’s work to teaching peo- before making a decision. Many who already have fi n- ple how to adapt the Corvair engine for use in their aircraft. ished their engine come back and volunteer to help other Over the course of the weekend, he often cited the EAA builders achieve success. This is important because there philosophy of “learn, build, fl y.” For him, a running engine is only one William Wynne to go around, so having expe- is not the measure of success. He wants people to learn; rienced builders to pitch in makes the whole thing work. not just about the engine and how to operate it, but some The amazing part to me was how long into the night people life lessons along the way.