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1. 11:55 AM - Cowling Update (teamgrumman@aol.com)
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Well, we're getting close. =C2-I can tell by the size of the invoices the
DER/DAR sends me. =C2-
Last week, the DER team met with the ACO in Long Beach, CA. =C2-Of the iss
ues was (1) the FAA wants to do the flight test. =C2-Yep, they want us (me
) to wait around until they get a free trip to Auburn so they can fly the pl
ane. =C2-(2) They want a performance test. =C2-Yep, they want to see if
it meets the factory book speeds. =C2-Gee, let's see, how many stock plane
s meet the books specs? =C2-(3) They want a climb-cooling test. =C2-Of a
ll the requests the FAA has even mentioned, this is the only one that makes
sense. =C2-(4) they want a dive test to 224 miles per hour. =C2-OK, this
might be justified, just to see if it stays together. =C2-(5) They want a
carb heat test. =C2-And . . . =C2-they want it done at 1000 feet, 5000
feet and 10,000 feet at full power. =C2-Then, they want it repeated in 30
degree air at 75% power. =C2-Now, mind you, I have done absolutely nothing
the affect the performance of carb heat. =C2-(6) They want to do their ow
n structural analysis. =C2-Even though I paid a DER structural engineer to
do the analysis and they want to dive it to 224 mph and I've been flying it
for 5 years, they still want to do their own structural analysis. =C2-and
, (7) =C2-the next step . . . =C2-is, they want to do a flame test. =C2
-Since there is NO criteria for a fiberglass cowling to meet ANY burn test
s specifications, they pick the one test that they interpret to mean it has
to be as fire resistant as an aluminum part. =C2-So, do all fiberglass cow
lings have to meet this requirement? =C2-if so, why the hell isn't there a
basis which says, "given this epoxy and this glass/carbon mat, it will pass
the test."? =C2-I mean, I know for a fact that I'm not the only person to
ever produce a fiberglass cowling. =C2-OH, YEA, and, by-the-way, the test
ing HAS to be done at a National Lab. =C2-The minimum cost to do the test
is $3,000. =C2-I need to do at least two tests because some of the cowling
has no foam core and some does. =C2-
So, there you have it: =C2-a minimum of 4 flight tests, a very expensive b
urn test, and waiting for the FAA to get around to doing their own structura
l analysis. =C2-
My DER is working hard to convince the FAA that the structural analysis is g
ood as is. =C2-He is also trying to word the test plan so that we take adv
antage of the best flight conditions when they occur. =C2-That means, we'l
l get to do the flight testing. =C2-
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