REFLECTOR: AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTION NEXT THURSDAY

[Scott Baker]

Hello Tom,
Here are some hints that have been helpful to Velocity builders in 
anticipation of the DAR's arrival -
1.    Be organized.  Have all of your paperwork laid out on a table - neatly 
arranged, ready for review.  Include your photographic builder's log so that 
the DAR can see that you actually built the aircraft.
2.    Print your N-number on the Velocity POH and staple the actual W&B 
information inside the POH.
3.    Make 4-color copies of a sectional chart with your airport home base 
centered in the middle.  Using a highlighter, mark the boundaries _you_ 
would like to see as your Phase-1 Flight Ops Area on two (2) of the charts.. 
If you don't ask for a specific area, the Feds will assign a 50-nm radius 
zone for Phase-1 ... and you will be spending the next 40-hours flying in 
circles.  The DAR will most likely grant you a larger area as long as it is 
over sparsely populated areas.  If there is a popular refueling/hamburger 
airport within a 100-miles, I'd include it inside the proposed "playground 
area".  If the DAR balks, then pull out the other two clean copies and 
negotiate your best "deal".  One copy of the agreed upon zone will be 
stapled inside the POH (the playground for Phase-1 Ops becomes an operating 
limitation) - the other copy goes to the DAR.
4.    Set your Gross Weight higher than what you really expect.  The 
Velocity manual is a _recommendation_.  You are the manufacturer.  You set 
the operating limitations.  Even if you never plan on flying at ...say 
2600-pounds, consider adopting this as your official GW ... I say this 
because ... if you elect to use the 2400-pounds (I can't remember what the 
recommend GW for the 173 is at this moment) ... some day, God forbid, you 
are flying 5-pounds over gross and have an accident, the insurance company - 
sure as shootin - is going to try to find some way to deny you your claim.
5.    Builders often forget to mark the fuel caps with the capacity and 
grade of fuel.
6.    You might want a copy of the STC paperwork for the Mt-propeller.  Call 
me at the office if you want us to fax you a copy of this.  This might - 
might bring the Phase-1 Flight Ops period down to 25-hours.
7.    Almost everyone forgets the compass correction card.  You'll need it 
(if your DAR is sharp).  A sticker on the panel will work fine.
8.    I assume your air speed indicator has range markings.
9.    Fire extinguisher - I think this is required ... someone help me out 
here.
10.    Fuel quantity indicator (sometimes builders with sight gauges forget 
to mark the tubes).  Also, all switches and breakers need to be labeled.
That's it!
I know things will go great!
Scott Baker



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Martino" <tmartino at troubleshooter.com>
To: <reflector at www.tvbf.org>
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2004 5:05 AM
Subject: REFLECTOR: AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTION NEXT THURSDAY


> The day has come! The DAR will be at my hangar on Thursday, December 16th. 
> Any words of advice?