Sequoia Aircraft Corporation F.8L Falco Construction Manual Download

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F.8L Falco Construction Manual

5–1

Revision 4, March 1, 2002

Chapter 5

Planning Ahead

The FAA and You

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is part of the United States Department of
Transportation. As a pilot, you are aware of its role in certifying production aircraft, licensing
pilots, operating the air traffic control system, aviation navigations aids, etc. The FAA is also in
charge of licensing aircraft in the “Experimental, Amateur-Built” category.

The inspectors with whom you will work spend most of their time looking over production aircraft
for defects in workmanship, approving repairs, etc. The inspection of amateur-built aircraft is not
their principal mission. Due to the huge growth of amateur-built aircraft in the past decade, the
FAA is swamped with requests for inspecting these airplanes.

All inspectors have seen horrible design and workmanship and can tell you “horror stories” about
homebuilt airplanes. One inspector told us of an experience he had. A mountain man in the
western part of Virginia was building an airplane that he was going to “fly around the world”. The
airplane—if you care to call it that—was appallingly crude. The builder had some idea of what an
airplane should look like, but no idea whatsoever of the requirements for internal structure. Thus,
he built a normal-looking wing, but there was no spar! To demonstrate the need for a spar, the
inspector lifted one wing tip while the builder did the same on the other end. The wing broke
under this light load—even before the wheels had left the shop floor. The engine was something
off of a lawn mower, and the propeller was a single canoe paddle. The builder had made a wooden
ramp down the side of the mountain to use for takeoff.

At the same time, these inspectors will also tell you that the finest examples of workmanship that
they have seen have been in amateur-built aircraft. Thus, you should understand that your
announcement that you are building an airplane may be met with some caution.

The Experimental, Amateur-Built Category

Since the beginning of aviation, there have been homebuilt airplanes. Indeed, the Wright
brothers were homebuilders, and they succeeded while the government-sponsored Professor
Langley never managed to get into the air. As aviation grew, the government became involved in
the approval of aircraft. This was partially because aircraft were being used for public transport,
and also because aviation seems to frighten the general public—as it still does. Accidents are
bound to happen, and even today, it is all-too-common to see a television reporter asking why the
government does not do more to stop such things from happening. The public attitude toward
aviation is the principal reason for the regulation we have today.

We regard the inspection of homebuilt aircraft as one of the prices we pay to live in an imperfect
world. You may, for example, build a boat with a hole in the bottom, and you may set sail with
your entire family on board. No one will stop you, but if you wish to build an airplane, the craft
must be inspected by our federal government.

You may not be pleased to learn that the justification to “give” you this freedom to build and fly
your own airplane is that your talents with aircraft construction may come in handy during time
of war. Thus, you are eligible to have your aircraft licensed only if you are building the airplane
for your own “education and enjoyment.”

Sequoia Aircraft Corporation F.8L Falco, Construction Manual

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