FFF - From the CAA's viewpoint (and you may as well see it from theirs, since they write the rulebook), any aeroplanes has to be built by an approved company. The PFA and BMAA are approved companies, Supermarine Australia aren't. And take-it from me, if you were to build a new design under supervision of either, a few hours chat with an inspector is somewhat less than you can expect - months writing reports for the Chief Engineer, many days with your inspector, and weeks assisting a test pilot are a little closer to the mark.
FNG - am I right in thinking that the Mk.25 is the single seater and the Mk.26 is the 2-seater? They may be doing aeros in Oz under their deregulated ultralight regs, but anywhere in Europe you'll need JAR-23 certification for that, which I think is a tad optimistic. At best, I think you can expect JAR-VLA non aerobatic approval. However, I'd love to be proven wrong. I've read the alleged TP's report on the company site, tells you virtually nothing unfortunately.
IHC - You may be right, although nobody stops you climbing mountains. I'd venture that the philosophy is more to stop people killing themselves doing something that they don't understand, and I have some sympathy for that approach.
If anybody out there want's the services of an airworthiness
Engineer and little aeroplane test pilot in exchange for a share in one, I'm open to offers.
G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 14th May 2002 at 11:52.