Originally Posted by
PDR1
As a gratuitous judgement - is this a case of an aeroplane "designed" by a dilletante rather than an engineer?
Googling the guy comes up with a couple of CVs:
Elliot Seguin
Scaled Composites
Elliot Seguin is a Homebuilder, Engineer, and Test pilot. Elliot has worked in aerospace for 10 years from restoration of WWII trainers to spaceships, commercial and non-commercial programs, recips to rocket engines, and antique aircraft to record setting aircraft and race planes. He has some 350 hours flight testing 10 different aircraft (from dropping spacecraft to amphibious electrics), this includes PIC on three first flights. Elliot built two airplanes both Reno racers, one of which is his design. Elliot has helped with 24 world record attempts, setting 6 as pilot. At Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites Elliot is a project engineer, and flight test engineer (200 hrs 6 types).
and
Design, build, and test experimental aircraft.
Working in R&D Experimental Aerospace since 2005. Total time 2400 hours in 76 types, 700 hours testing, on >50 programs, in 14 types. 6 World records, 8 first flights.
Built two airplanes both reno racers, one his new design. At Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites for ten years; project engineer, flight test engineer, test pilot (300 hrs 6 types). 2 years as Lead Test Pilot at Mooney aircraft testing the prototype M10.
Dilettante might be a bit harsh.