PPRuNe Forums - Experimental aircraft definitions

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Experimental aircraft definitions

Hello,
Has any idea where an official "experimental acft" definition can be found? If possible civil as well military sources.
Thanks

Generally an experimental certificate is issued for an aircraft that doesn't comply with a type certificate (amateur built, ex-military, research etc).
In US law it is covered under FAR 21.191

In Canada, a reasonable definition of "Experimental" s associated with the application for flight authority:

(2) Flight Permit - Experimental An experimental flight permit is issued for any aircraft, excluding aircraft that are operated under a special certificate of airworthiness in the owner-maintenance or amateur-built classification, which is manufactured for, or engaged in, aeronautical research and development, or for showing compliance with airworthiness standards.

It seems that Canada differs with the U.S., as an amateur built is very certainly not automatically "Experimental" in Canada.To get an experimental flight permit, I must provide a flight test plan, which, is essence, describes the experiment.

The term isn't in any formal use in Britain.

G

In the US, there are several sub-categories, i.e. Amateur-built, R&D, etc.

There is also Restricted, used for aerial photo work, aerial application, - usually modified Standard category a/c.