Amateur Aircraft Ultralight

This AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT & ULTRALIGHT FLIGHT TESTING HANDBOOK sets forth suggestions and safety related recommendations to assist amateur and ultralight builders in developing individualized aircraft flight test plans.

Section 1. Homework

Section 2. Airport Selection

Figure 1 - Runway Length Chart

Section 3. Emergency Plans and Equipment

Section 4. Test Pilot

Section 5. Medical Facts For Pilots

Section 6. Transporting The Aircraft To the Airport

Section 7. Assembly and Airworthiness Inspection

Section 8. Weight and Balance

Figure 2 - Empty Weight CG

Figure 3 - Take Off CG

Figure 4 - Additional Equipment Added

Section 9. Paperwork

Section 10. Powerplant Tests

Section 11. Additional Engine Tests

Section 12. Propeller Inspection

Figure 5 - Propeller Tracking

CHAPTER 2. TAXI TESTS

Section 1. Low Speed Taxi Tests

Section 2. High Speed Taxi Tests

CHAPTER 3. THE FIRST FLIGHT

Section 1. General

Section 2. The Role of the Chase Plane

Section 3. Emergency Procedures

Section 4. First Flight

Section 5. First Flight Procedures

CHAPTER 4. THE FIRST 10 HOURS

Section 1. The Second Flight

Section 2. The Third Flight

Section 3. Hours 4 through 10

CHAPTER 5. EXPANDING THE ENVELOPE

Section 1. General

Section 2. Hours 11 through 20

Figure 6 - Climb Airspeed and Altitude Graph

Figure 7 - Best Rate of Climb Speed Graph

Section 3. Hours 21 through 35: Stability and Control Checks

Figure 8 - Static Stability

Figure 9 - Time

Section 4. A Word or Two About Flutter