On Nov 19, 9:34*am, Nimbob wrote:

...With regard to Bob K.s reading of part 43, he's right - almost... 43.1
applicability reads "This part does not apply to any aircraft for
which the FAA has issued an experimental certificate, unless (here's
the fun part) the FAA has issued a different kind of certificate for
that aircraft [Amend #39, eff. 01 SEP 2004].

So what that means is that if your glider was a TC'd model with a
standard airworthiness issued and you somehow got an experimental
certificate for it later, well then part 43 does apply to you...

Jim, please help me be sure I understand this:

The way I read the text of 43.1, it states that part 43 does or does
not apply to a certain aircraft depending on the type of airworthiness
certificate issued for _that particular aircraft_.

But the way you are describing your interpretation, you seem to be
saying that 43.1 says that part 43 applies or does not apply to _all
aircraft of a particular type_ depending on whether or not the
manufacturer has obtained type certification for that aircraft type.
Do I understand your interpretation correctly?

This issue is of particular importance for owners of sailplanes where
some units imported into the US were certified as experimental,
racing, and for which a standard airworthiness certificate was never
issued, but for which the factory has obtained type certification for
that model.

Thanks, Bob K.