Steve,

Sir ,

To gain a US Special Airworthess Certificate
it should not be difficult. Yet it takes thoroughness.


Among othersin USA flying Slingsby Capstans, Jan Scott
owns one in Virginia I think. Brian E Evans owns one
in California.

See photo of Jan's at www.wingsandwheels.com/images/HP_T49.jpg



To prepare,
get an
Export Certificate of Airworthiness,
aircraft production documents and original flight test
report ,
aircraft handbook,
operating limits and required airspeed markings,
placards required,
maintenance manual,
evidence of BGA or other foreign de-registration,
transfer of ownership evidence such as by a Bill of
Sale or Transfer.

If not a Type Certificated Aircraft with US Aircraft
Type Certificate of record,
then apply for a US Special Certificate of Airworthiness
- Experimental Exhibition and Racing purposes.

If iit has a US Aircraft Type Certificate (Type Certificate
Data Sheet) then it it would be eligible for US Standard
Airworthiness Certificate.

If it has BGA or English CAA TCDS, but not a US TCDS,
then submit that as back up with your application
for US Special Airworthiness Certificate - Exporimental,
Exhibition and Racing Purposes.


You will make application for US Special Airwothiness
Certificate, Experimental - Exhibition and Racing purposes,
thru your nearest FAA FSDO,

submit in your application packet
a recent A.I. log entry of airworthiness (similar
to an Annual Inspection), and
supporting documents,
and state your use of the aircraft,
and the Operating Limitations you seek
and be careful to ask carefully so as to gain as much
use of the aircraft geographically as you can
(expanded always by using the words:
' FAI Badges, State and National Gliding Record Attempts,
Federation Aeronautique Internationale Worldwide and
US distance flights online contest,
Competition flights at gliderclub and regional
competitions,
Soaring Society of America and gliderclub events,

and
practice and proficiency flights therefor'
without limitation to area of such.

The application form for such will ask you where the
aircraft will be based, and you will be expected to
list that , and such events as you may know of,
and you shall be required to renew such listing annually.or
more often if you desire to add any locations (can
be done annually by fax to FSDO)

Anytime you move the basing of the aircraft from purview
of one FSDO to another, by basing it another place
permanently, you must reapply for a new Special Operating
Limitations and Special Airworthiness Certificate.


Cut yourself as much slack as you may devise by careful
language use.

If you devise carefully witted written language for
your Operating Limitations
such will give you all the slack you need
for where you may fly without notifying FAA.
Devise your language carefully
and be sure all the slack is built into that language.



You must register an aircraft before an Aircraft Airworthiness
Certificate may be issued in USA.

Aircraft Registration and N Nr -

You will also seek a US N Nr from US FAA Aircraft Registry.
You may select and reserve such with payment of 10
dollars per year of N Nr registration from available
nrs. Yes, you may want to pick an N Nr meaningful
to you if it is not already in use or already reseerved.



Good wishes,

Jim Culp USA
GatorCity Florida