[ARC5] WW2 Aircraft

[Richard C. Grosser]

I must add a reality check to this thread. Airplanes are registered by the
FAA in several categories, for example:

Experimental - very limited use - no passengers Limited Exhibition. No
passengers for hire (make a donation to the foundation & get a free ride) No
more than 15 seats Standard Category - The same as an airliner. 

 

We have a C47 that is a standard category airplane and a PBY that we are
restoring to standard category. Nothing can go into this aircraft that is
not FAA certified for that particular aircraft except cargo. We could not
even change the wind-up clock to a different one that was in the plane
without obtaining a STC approval from the FAA. All radio equipment in that
plane must be certified for that plane. Every nut, bolt, washer, wire and
even crimp lug must be certified and carry a current AN, Mil or NAS code. If
any component is added or removed, the aircraft must be weighed and a new
weight and balance table calculated. Everyone who works on this aircraft
must be in a drug and alcohol testing program and under the direct
supervision of a FAA licensed A&P mechanic. The aircraft and all of its log
books (engines, propellers and airframe) must be certified by an independent
inspector (IA) Admittedly not everyone follows the letter of the law, but if
you do not and something goes wrong, you will be in deep do-do.

 

Additionally, the FAA is imposing new regulations on experimental aircraft
that are very onerous. The rules are much more stringent for aircraft
weighing over 13,500 pounds. If the Collings foundation has working WW2
radio equipment in their aircraft, it is probably illegal depending on
registration type and STC status. 

 

We have 32 military aircraft of which six are flyable at the present time,
at least 20 of them have flown in the last 10 years. The FAA just shows up
without warning and asks to inspect our aircraft.

 

Working on aircraft is very different from working on anything else. I
recently told a Doctor at a party that I was attending, "You can only kill
one person at a time, I can kill hundreds".

 

Richard Grosser

 

 

 

Richard C. Grosser

Palm Springs Air Museum

745 N. Gene Autry Trail

Palm Springs, CA 92260

(760) 778-6262 X231

Cell: (760)-898-6888