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  #51  
Old 03-25-2010, 11:40 AM
bryan12 bryan12 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC / Knoxville, TN/ Miami FL
Posts: 31
Default Handling explaining "homebuilt" and "exp" to riders

Just as a general discussion topic I was wondering how all of you handled explaining to your riders the way in which your aircraft was built. We are all supremely confident in Van's Aircraft from a safety standpoint, but I cant help but feel there is a time and place before taking a non pilot up to explain the nature of how experimental planes are built. Many people would be amazed at how a flying machice can come from a garage. A bit of a verbal waiver you might say.

If you dont preface your riders on the building process how you handle the question of when asked what the "Experimental" means behind the seats.

As PIC most of us feel as confident in your Vans aircraft as you would a 172 right off the showroom floor, heck almost definetly safer than a beat up 172 in a rental fleet. So internally if a pilot deems the flight to be just as safe is there a need to bring it up? If you deam "no" how would you feel about one of your riders being appauled to discover they just went flying in a homebuilt aircraft?
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  #52  
Old 03-25-2010, 12:54 PM
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Low Pass Low Pass is offline
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,012
Default

Personally, I explain experimental means it was built by someone other than a factory. That's me in my case - in a garage from a kit actually. That makes it a custom plane - kind of like a bike built at Orange County Choppers.
Next, explain that 6000 of type are flying. Then ask if they've ever heard of an accident with an RV type airplane. Never had anyone say yes. Then ask if they still want to go? Never had anyone decline.
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  #53  
Old 03-25-2010, 01:01 PM
DGlaeser DGlaeser is offline
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Rochester Hills, MI
Posts: 879
Default Simple and straightforward

I typically just say that I built my plane from a kit. Most of the work was done in my garage, with final assembly out at the airport. I get to explain that a lot when I give Young Eagle rides. So far all riders, and their parents, have been just fine with that. Our EAA chapter is pretty active with YE and ususally 3/4 of the planes are experimentals, so they see that it isn't all that unusual - in our world anyway
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Rochester Hills, MI
RV-7A - Eggenfellner H6, GRT Sport ES, EIS4000, 300XL, SL30, TT Gemini, PMA6000, AK950L, GT320,
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  #54  
Old 03-25-2010, 01:01 PM
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Russ McCutcheon Russ McCutcheon is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Vancouver, WA USA
Posts: 908
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I simply never take people for rides that I don?t know, I won?t even take a passenger that I don?t know as a favor to a friend, I get asked all the time. If you know me well enough to be ?offered? a ride then you already know all about my airplane.

The only exception would be with the parents consent to take a kid up that?s out at the airport dreaming of flying, then just tell them exactly what the aircraft is and its service record.
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  #55  
Old 03-25-2010, 01:11 PM
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hydroguy2 hydroguy2 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Townsend, Montana
Posts: 3,179
Default

I like to compare my plane to Apple Pie.

You can get an airplane or apple pie at the store....you know factory made.
OR
you can get your airplane or apple pie from a custom shop....you know like Grandma & Grandpa's house.

In other words, Factory-made doesn't necessarily mean better.
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  #56  
Old 03-25-2010, 01:14 PM
Bob Axsom Bob Axsom is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,685
Default I never explain

I just tell them it was a kit called RV-6A and I built it. All I care about is getting them up and down safely. If you want to really get them upset start explaining it like it is something risky and requires an explanation.

Bob Axsom
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  #57  
Old 03-25-2010, 01:30 PM
bryan12 bryan12 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC / Knoxville, TN/ Miami FL
Posts: 31
Default Apple pie

I like the apple pie refrence,,very nice. Pointing out the number of flying RVs is great too.
definetly trememdously important to not have them scared when they get in the plane, so in depth talking point about accident stats is never good in any plane.

Thanks for the input.
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  #58  
Old 03-25-2010, 01:41 PM
pierre smith's Avatar
pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
Default Invoke the FAA as inspector...

...and tell them that there are FAA designated aircraft inspectors. "They took two hours inspecting mine and found no squawks"....and it was inspected by EAA tech inspectors during the build.

Mentioning an FAA inspection and subsequent approval has placated everyone that asked.

Best,
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RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
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Louisville, Ga

It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
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  #59  
Old 03-25-2010, 02:36 PM
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boom3 boom3 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sumner, WA
Posts: 722
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Would it be fair to say it's the "same" or "equal" inspection that a DAR would do on a certified plane?
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Sumner, WA
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  #60  
Old 03-25-2010, 02:49 PM
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LettersFromFlyoverCountry LettersFromFlyoverCountry is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: St. Paul, MN.
Posts: 4,792
Default

I just ask people "who built the planes that won World War II"?
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St. Paul, MN.
Blog: Letters From Flyover Country
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