"Don Hammer" wrote in message
...
Used to be ex military aircraft were in the Restricted category. I
dealt with a Grumman Goose and a Lodestar years ago where that was the
case. Is that no longer true or are fighters and trainers different?


Flavors and trends do change over time. It did indeed, used to be the case
that most warbirds that didn't have a civilian type certificate were
certified in the "Restricted" category with the specific restrictions
determined on a case by case basis.
As I recall there were also some in the "Limited" category, with the
specific limitations also determined on a case by case basis.

At that time it was also true that the "certificate" given to an amateur
built aircraft was only valid for one year. Every year you had to have the
FAA come out and inspect the airplane to renew it. Then the FAA figured out
that they were in the business of giving free annuals for homebuilts and
instituted the present permanent "certificate" that must be inspected every
year by a certified mechanic. Note that a "repairman certificate" holder is
a "certified mechanic" whose "certification" extends only to one specific
airplane. :-)

Nowadays most of the warbirds are finding their certification easier in the
"Exhibition" category. This category generally allows some radius of
operation, of several hundred nautical miles, for "pilot proficiency
maintenance" where you can fly pretty much as you please. Trips outside of
that radius require that the FAA be "notified" prior to the trip. Generally
you can fax the FAA office a "notification." You can also send them a list
of the shows and flyins that you plan to attend once a year.

Much of this change is because of the changing view of warbirds. At one
time they were just big, expensive, impractical airplanes. Now they are
antiques and collectors items and people pay money to see them up close and
see them fly.

I can remember when you could buy a surplus fighter for a couple of thousand
bucks because nobody wanted the headaches. I just wish I had bought a few
dozen of them an stored them in the back of my hangar! :-) I did meet one
older gentleman down in Louisiana who had thirty Stearman trainers brand new
in the crate stored in the back of his hangar. He said whenever he needs a
little extra money he puts one together and sells it. Since that was back
in the sixties, I doubt that any of them are left in the hangar. He was in
his sixties then as well and may not need extra money anymore!

Highflyer
Highflight Aviation Services
Pinckneyville Airport ( PJY )