It does not mean that your airplane is an experiment. It is an FAA category of aircraft that are so named because they do not possess a Type Certificate issued by the FAA that certifies that a particular design meets all of the requirements set forth under one of the FAA’s Standard Categories. In the case of a General Aviation aircraft like the Veloce Planes, that would be Part 23. Instead they are governed by “Special Category” regulations of which “Experimental- Amateur Built” or E-AB is one of several. The name is unfortunate in that there is nothing untried, untested, or unsafe about the Veloce designs. The Experimental designation arose when in the 1930s there was a great deal of experimentation and innovation going on. At that time the CAA (later to become the CAB, and finally the FAA) felt the need to regulate this “homebuilder” experimentation and created the category. Not much happened during WWII in this regard but after the war, in 1947, the CAB took another look and created a structure for citizens to build their own aircraft “for education and recreation”. The idea of a “kit” soon followed and the new FAA (1958) formulated a series of requirements for such kits. One of these requirements is the “51% rule” requiring the owner/builder of such a kit to “assist or complete” more than 51% of the established 131 or so tasks of manufacturing, fabricating, and installing the components of an aircraft.
There are three primary reasons. Most important is lower cost, then the ability to focus on engineering without compromise, and also freedom to customize. The roughly 1-3 million dollar cost differential between your Veloce Planes and a (not even) equivalent certified aircraft exists because you are not paying for a factory and all that entails. Production Certification costs tens of millions of dollars, most of which is administrative, regulatory, and recurring non-engineering costs. You don’t pay for that.
For safety and your confidence we use the FAA Part 23 regulations as guidance, but there are areas where they may over-regulate and we can avoid that while still producing an efficient and safe design. Customization is not possible in a certified design. In an E-AB aircraft you are free to change many things within reason to accommodate your desires. Your Veloce Plane is a Custom, “Hand Built” aircraft. The resultant superior craftsmanship is rarely seen in a certified aircraft.
It is not the fabrication of the majority of the parts, or the majority of the hours, or the majority of the assembly operations. It is the majority of the “effort” spent accomplishing a list of the tasks that the FAA has listed as being pertinent to the construction of the aircraft. This is spelled out in an FAA Advisory Circular; AC 20-27G. One must follow the guidelines of this AC to legally build his own aircraft. It is a clear-cut process that is easily followed and one that we have made sure can be accomplished through the build process of our Kit.
Yes, you can. The commercial assistance shops that specialize in this type of assistance are well versed in legally guiding you through the process. Keep in mind that major portions of the assembly process are not covered by the FAA required steps, like avionics, interior, paint, engines, and many other systems and options.
No, many very complicated parts of the construction process are not enumerated in the AC and “don’t count”. Many of these very time consuming processes such as wiring, instrument panel fabrication, actual molding, laying up, or shaping of the airframe components, body work, painting, and upholstery are not part of the process. It is an assembly process, not a manufacturing process and much of that can be completed by our factory build assist program.
A record (photographic and written) called a “Builder’s Log” is kept of the time you spend with Veloce Airplanes (4 weeks) and at your assistance shop in Brazil. This is usually 2-4 more weeks, non-consecutive, over about 6-8 months. It is a very enjoyable and rewarding experience and one that we urge you to discuss with other owners.
You not only can, but you will have the time of your life. Owners report that have gone through the building process with the professional guidance was one of the most rewarding things they have ever done. The very complete understanding of your aircraft invaluable and unattainable any other way.
Absolutely. The only requirement is that he (or she) be an amateur and an “owner” of the kit being built. An owner is any legal entity, an individual, LLC, S Corp, C Corp, partnership, etc. Ownership can be from 1 to 100% of the entity.
The timeframe depends on the plane and its availability. It could range from a month to several years.
No, Veloce Airplanes supplies, at no charge, a complete inspection of your aircraft prior to the FAA’s inspection to issue your Certificate of Airworthiness and a test pilot for first flight. Many owners keep this pilot under contract for the full FAA mandated Phase One fly-off period (40 hours) where the aircraft must be flown in a designated area and distance from the airport continuously expanding the flight envelope.
Every plane is flown and tested against the entire flight envelope (Vne, all CG configurations, stalls, etc.) and all squawks are addressed before you start flying the plane. This is a big advantage over the certified world.
There are only two restrictions on the use of E-AB aircraft. You may not fly the aircraft for hire (charter, lease, rent, etc.) You may, however share expenses. Also you will not have the ability to secure a Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) certification as this is a Supplemental Type Certificate or STC. Since you do not have a Type Certificate you cannot supplement it. You can however install the same equipment on the aircraft that a FIKI equipped aircraft would carry in order to protect you from inadvertent flight into un-forecast icing.
The manufacturer of your engine (Aeromomentum) covers the engine with a 1000 hr. “no calendar” warranty. Dynon covers your avionics with a 24 month warranty. Various other components are covered by their manufacturers warranties. Your commercial builder warrants his workmanship, and Veloce Plane warrants the airframe components that they manufacture.
Depending on the component needing attention, you would go to any commercial service shop that offers service to that component. Special airframe issues or issues with Veloce Planes manufactured parts would be attended to at Veloce planes or one of our commercial assistance shops.
Carbon composite airframes are virtually maintenance free. Aerovolare engines require almost no maintenance beyond simple 100 hour oil filter cleaning and visual inspections. (First overhaul is at 1000 hours for first few engines to make it there) The airplane is “opened up” and all components and structure is inspected. Veloce does this two day process for a flat labor fee, currently $2500. As the builder of the aircraft you are able to sign off your own maintenance work and annuals if you wish. This is a significant saving over even a simple 4 place certified aircraft.
Fiberglass and Soric have been used in high performance boats for decades. for the same strength – it is only slightly heavier than carbon fiber, but much cheaper. composite structures are considered the strongest structures used anywhere in the world today. Formula One racers, Indy Cars, Americas Cup Racing Yachts, million dollar Supercars, 10 G aerobatic aircraft are almost 100% Carbon Composite. No General Aviation manufacturer has the high level of expertise in this manner and method of construction as does Veloce Planes.
The airframe comes from a line of over 150 similar flying planes from the same designer with a 30 year proven track record
Veloce planes can arrange training into your aircraft or most any flight instructor can train you, as it has very similiar flight characteristics of many other planes.
Insurance is straightforward. There is no “penalty” or surcharge due to the E-AB Category. Rates run at 1.25% to 1.75% of named hull value. 250 hrs. of retractable gear time is a plus but this can be offset with special requirements by the insurer.
While there are many insurance options for our aircraft, we recommend Falcon Insurance Company (through the EAA) as they have the most experience with our airplanes. Falcon can be contacted at 1-800-880-4545.
Make sure they know this is the generation 3 plane of Rich Trickle – he did the pulsar 150, then the KIS TR4 – and now this plane. Just improvements to his old designs.
The G1 and G2 planes were spun 3 complete turns in both directions and recovered.
The G3 plane has not had spin testing for recoverability done yet.
We will be using an electronic supercharger – which is exactly how all the new modern planes are pressurized.
We will be using an electric pressurization system. So an over pressure cut off is very simple and it will also light a big red light on the panel.
as well as automatic pressure relief valves.
