Practicality of selling an aircraft with only 3 hours test flying

[danny_galaga]

*THINKING OUT LOUD EDITION*

 

As per heading, my plane only has about 3 hours of test flying on it. I'm not on the test flight schedule unfortunately. My guy at the airfield is on the paperwork. I haven't talked to him yet, but I do know he's not interested in doing all 25 hours himself.

 

Has anyone been in a situation like this? What are the pros and cons? I'm guessing a big con would sale price. 

[skippydiesel]

From limited experince - two aircraft.

 

Unless you are unable or want someone else to do the test flying, you can do it yourself.  It sounds like yout pilot has done the initial test - you can now take over (make sure you are listed on the RAA forms as one of the test pilots).

 

RAA provide a detailed test schedule (download from website) that you can work through.

 

My first test aircraft was one that I did a  complete internal/external refurbishment on over 12 months.  Unaware of the potential for disaster, I went ahead and did all the necessary flying to prove airworthiness and conformity with type performance (turned out to be a little better).

 

Second & current aircraft - I purchased a well advanced plans built Sonex Legacy project. As the completer (took another 18 months) I am listed as the builder/manufacturer.

 

I engaged a suitably RAA qualified Inspector, who saw the aircraft once, at near final assembly time.

About this time I started looking for a test pilot. I had no idea it would be so difficult to find one. Lots of GA pilots willing to do the job but without an RAA Certificate (bureaucracy!) any test they performed would be invalid.

Thinking I may get some help from the Inspector chappy , I contacted him, told him of my difficulty -  he did not know of any RAA test pilots in the greater Sydney Basin area. At this, I said if I couldn't find anyone I would do the job myself - he immediately "dumped" me saying I would be stupid to do such a thing and he wanted no part of it. Great help!

 

All's well that ends well - Not only did I find another Inspector, he would be happy to do the initial test flight. Other than issues with engine overheating he conducted the first successful 60 minute test  including high speed taxi/hops & several landings and handed the aircraft back to me, with some rigging suggestions and the need to explore better cooling.

 

My Son & I flew off the remaining test hours, adjusted control surfaces for straight & level and spent a long time trying to get engine oil/coolant temperatures under control, eventually succeeding.😈

 

[Red]

Ooh, sorry to read that you have to consider selling Danny.

 

[Thruster88]

Get the paper work amended and fly the remaining hours yourself. It would be a shame to give up now

 

Some buyers might be suspicious, others would understand the situation if you really need to sell the aircraft. 

[danny_galaga]

I forgot to mention that we applied with both our names. But Ra Aus knocked me back due to my lack of recent flying hours. Which I guess is fair enough .Otherwise I wouldn't even consider selling it until I finished off the test flying.

[skippydiesel]

34 minutes ago, danny_galaga said:

I forgot to mention that we applied with both our names. But Ra Aus knocked me back due to my lack of recent flying hours. Which I guess is fair enough .Otherwise I wouldn't even consider selling it until I finished off the test flying.

You could go and get checked out in a similar aircraft - do a couple of extra hrs, some circuits/landings/stalls and give RAA another go😈

[facthunter]

You shouldn't have much trouble finding a competent pilot to fly the remainder of the 25 Hour s of. It's a shake down, best done somewhere where  a problem is  easy to cope with.  Nev

[danny_galaga]

4 hours ago, facthunter said:

You shouldn't have much trouble finding a competent pilot to fly the remainder of the 25 Hour s of. It's a shake down, best done somewhere where  a problem is  easy to cope with.  Nev

This in fact is my next step if all else fails. I haven't asked yet but there's a guy who lives nearby who might be able to help. He's built a few aircraft and finished incomplete projects so would be easy to get him on the test schedule. 

[Blueadventures]

15 hours ago, danny_galaga said:

I forgot to mention that we applied with both our names. But Ra Aus knocked me back due to my lack of recent flying hours. Which I guess is fair enough .Otherwise I wouldn't even consider selling it until I finished off the test flying.

What number of hours did they what you to get to?  Another 5 or more?  Maybe someone at Clifton might have time to fly the hours off for you; maybe even relocate there for a period.   The nice flying weather is starting now so the air will be best.

Edited April 16 by Blueadventures

[danny_galaga]

3 hours ago, Blueadventures said:

What number of hours did they what you to get to?  Another 5 or more?  Maybe someone at Clifton might have time to fly the hours off for you; maybe even relocate there for a period.   The nice flying weather is starting now so the air will be best.

The aircraft has to be test flown around the airfield it's based at. 

 

Im mostly bummed about the fact I probably won't get to test fly my own aircraft on my own and I'll have to wait for the remaining 23 hours. 

Edited April 17 by danny_galaga

[Thruster88]

Some motivation for you Danny, you may already watch Mark who fly's his bushcat from tassie to the main land on a regular basis.

 

 

 

[kgwilson]

I guess things must have changed. I built my aircraft & test flew it plus flew off the first 25 hours. I had bugger all recent hours because I'd spent most of the previous 4  1/2 years building the plane. I bent the nosewheel at 12 hours when I'd adjusted the idle too high & finally put it on the ground , ran off the seal on to wet & muddy grass. Reported that to RAA. Finally got a new nose leg & made it an inch too long. Broke that one plus the wooden prop. Reported that to RAA as well & had to remove the engine & replace the flywheel bolts. Reported the repairs & videoed flange runout which was perfect. No issues & now over 400 hours. RAA never even commented.

[facthunter]

 I flew a plane For flight test and the rest of the hours for a friend. Generally the flying is just close circuits at the Home airport and the testing is conducted where you can land easily IF anything goes wrong also at the home circuit. I was one of the Instructors there. HE wanted ME to do it.  It amounts to a LOT of landings and you mustn't get bored and relax too much.  It's a shakedown and proving period so you must be alert always. Nev

[BrendAn]

On 17/04/2025 at 7:09 PM, facthunter said:

 I flew a plane For flight test and the rest of the hours for a friend. Generally the flying is just close circuits at the Home airport and the testing is conducted where you can land easily IF anything goes wrong also at the home circuit. I was one of the Instructors there. HE wanted ME to do it.  It amounts to a LOT of landings and you mustn't get bored and relax too much.  It's a shakedown and proving period so you must be alert always. Nev

what else would you do. you are confined to a 25 mile radius of the aircrafts home base.

[facthunter]

There would be plenty of Places in that area you would not go if it's not all flat and suitable to land on.  That's why I  suggest keeping near the Airport for safety and Practical reasons.  I would avoid a busy time  of course.  Nev

[BrendAn]

5 minutes ago, facthunter said:

There would be plenty of Places in that area you would not go if it's not all flat and suitable to land on.  That's why I  suggest keeping near the Airport for safety and Practical reasons.  I would avoid a busy time  of course.  Nev

I just assumed all test hours would be in the circuit and training area.like you say you always have somewhere to land.

[danny_galaga]

Agreed. Boonah has plenty of fields around it, but results may vary with emergency landings 😄 

 

As long as you are within gliding distance you can easily keep out of any traffics way. After a few basic tests, which we have done it would be very safe to fly say five to ten miles away. All academic at the moment, all these public holidays have their downside as I can't get my guy to fly for a while. 

[facthunter]

IF you went a distance and didn't make it you'd have egg on your face. Its very boring but your landings get good. . Nev