I'm with Randy....my RV8 includes more than a few mods and I've laid out all of them here at one time or another. They are subject to review by any reader. You'll have my respect and thanks if I've done something unsafe and you object based in physics, engineering, or realistic test.
There are very smart people here.....
As for the FB article, I understand Van's frustration. To pick just one thing, I can imagine hundreds of copies of the rudder pedal mod following that SA article. Heck, I can imagine a vendor popping up next week selling the parts. It would become a popular mod. Some knowledgeable folks would object. They would be blown off because nobody had died yet. And so on.....if you've been around this game long enough you know how it works.
Someone mentioned judging standards. The official standards make safety a very high priority. Please see Section H, Judging Criteria, pages 11 and 12, and note subsection #1:
http://www.airventure.org/awards/judging_manual10.pdf
The seat belt and rudder pedal issues should result in a loss of points if observed by the judges.
Here's the problem. Judges are volunteers, great guys, willing to work and generous with their time. However, they are not necessarily engineers, and not all are as observant as they could be. And you can say the same about magazine writers.
This is valuable information on how aircraft are judged. . .
At the EAA Airventure airshow/fly-in.
However, this particular example of an RV10 was judged at Sun n Fun. Sun n Fun is not an "official" EAA airshow. EAA has no direct involvement in the operation of Sun n Fun. As a consequence I am not too sure Sun n Fun judges are following the same judging standards as the EAA Airventure judges. Someone tell me if I am wrong on this thought and I will stand (aside) corrected and voice no further opinions on the subject.
I would also like to comment on the posts concerning the manner in which this article from the mother ship has been presented.
Having no engineering degree or background I will only offer my opinion on the subject only as a fellow builder and as a fellow modifier of my own build. To those who feel it "wrong" to openly call out, by name, a builder who has made some alterations to design that can have some dire consequences I say: Sometimes we as individuals need someone to call us out by name. Often times it is the only way to get our attention. "Hey, Steve, you should not be doing things "that way"!"
Look fellas, we are all grown ups (well, at least we should be). For those who feel Greg was unduly chastised, I see this like a person who does not want parents, preachers or God knowing about his/her personal transgressions. Perhaps, if the transgression only ends up hurting oneself we can hide behind anonymity and, therefore, feel vindicated in hiding the transgression from the world. On the other hand, if our transgression will end up hurting others the transgression should no longer be hidden behind closed doors. It should be "outed" for what it is: a violation of fundamental truths that we all must live by. Physics and basic aerodynamics are the fundamental truths that will ultimately be the tell for the mentioned transgression(s).
We all know this feeling we see in this story. We have experienced it first hand. This is the reason many have posted their objection to the "offender" being named outright. It is too bad too many of us refuse to accept guilt as a proper teaching tool. It is a very powerful one if we would allow it to do its work.
Greg, Sun n Fun judges, Sport Aviation editors, EAA all contributed to "outing" Greg on this issue. Now comes the "Piper" to say that some serious transgressions have occurred. Not only does Mr. V (RV parent, RV preacher and RV deity) have the right to do so, he most assuredly has the justification in doing so.
We can be cynical in our belief that he is only saying these things to look out for his "Cash Cow" of a product but the truth, I am convinced, is much more basic than that. He does not want any individuals hurt from his creation. It is as simple as that.
I, myself, feel the terrible weight of guilt when I am individually named for some transgression. However, bad it makes me feel though, I hope in my personal life to be able to be man enough to accept the exposure and learn from it in order to better myself.
I wish this for Greg as well. He has shown he has the skills and the fortitude to build exceptional quality machines. I hope he is also exceptional in his character to accept direct criticism for his actions and become a better builder and a better man for having experienced it.
Live Long and Prosper!