On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 01:15:23 -0400, "Juan Jimenez" wrote:

"Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message
.. .

BTW, I'm presuming you're shooting for Experimental/Exhibition so the BD-5
can be used for airshow work....

Well, yes and no. Regardless of what I want to do with the plane, I don't
have a choice. The original builder in Australia did not keep a builder's
log nor did he compile photographs of the work in progress, so I cannot
submit evidence that it was amateur-built. And the only group I fit into in
exhibition is group IV.

Doggone it, Juan, I hate to see you get trapped in Exp/Exh unless that's the
category you want. Will you be able to receive the Repairman Certificate for
the plane? I note that wording of 14CFR 65.104 does NOT limit it to
amateur-built ("Repairman Certificate - Experimental Aircraft Builder") but I
don't know how the local FSDOs interpret it. And there's the more-stringent
operational limitations as well.

How far have you explored the possibility of getting Experimental Amateur-Built
with your DAR? Could you get a letter from the Aussie builder, where he attests
that he did the original work for recreation/education? How much was actually
done when you received it? If I recall your past postings, it sounds like you
did most of the engine installation work, which probably will impress the FAA
guy. ISTR that you did a lot of rework of some rather odd practices by the
original builder, as well.

But from your comments about fighting this since last summer, I expect you
probably have already exhausted most of these channels. But it seems like you
should be able to convince a reasonable DAR.

If all else fails, post the address of your DAR and all us on RAH will write
testimonials to your character. :-)

Ron Wanttaja