My point exactly golfox if there is no data to calculate the performance you are taking on the role of test pilot! Your old boss is exactly the type of character that should not be involved in avaition! That kind of advice is what gets young pilots get killed! "Take a small load and if you feel you can take more try it" absolut B...s..t! Civilian trained piliots with the square root of bug..r all experience are not good test pilots! TIA and sadly will always be so! Until proper standerds are established this type of accident will be a regular thing!