Self-certification is accepted for the LSA category in the US, but the LAA, for example, insisted on witnessing a SportCruiser loaded to destruction, before granting approval. CZAW, was not happy to sacrifice another airframe, but they knew that LAA approval would make it easier to sell the model in other countries.
All UK home-built SCs had to go through a 5 hour flight test and all of them would have met or exceed the POH figures.
Can't say I enjoyed sitting in my handiwork while it was flung all over the sky by somebody who seemed intent on pulling the wings off
