On Aug 27, 2005, at 9:41 AM, VTAILJEFF@aol.com wrote:

In a message dated 8/27/2005 10:05:11 A.M. Central Standard Time, MikeEasley@aol.com writes:

read an article the other day about some WW2 trainer (pardon my lack of detail, don't remember the model #) that is a popular plane for restoration and flying to airshows, but a small percentage of the fleet is used for air combat. 

T-34

Actually, it's both the T-34 and the T-6 now. The T-34 is not a WWII trainer, BTW. It is, for all practical purposes, a tandem seat Debonaire...

Here's how crazy and knee jerk the FAA a can be. The T-34's started getting grounded and VERY expensive AD's issued several years ago because one T-34 that was KNOWN to have been severely and constantly over stressed pulled a wing off. The outfit that did it even had pins that said "I pulled 7 G's!"...when the structural limit of the type is (well, was before this mess) 6 G's, say nothing of rolling G. It has happened 3 times since, and the spar inspections, groundings, and AD's have gotten completely ridiculous and not even in the same galaxy when it comes to reasonable solutions.

The T-6 mess was created by Warbird Adventures where ONE, yes ONE, aircraft pulled a wing off...again on a KNOWN damaged airframe doing commercial Air Combat. Instead of holding the commercial ACM outfits to a higher standard (which they should be), the FAA again knee-jerked by grounding the fleet and requiring a dye-penetrant inspection ($15,000+) before any plane could be flown again.

So yes, the FAA has the power and authority to make life unnecessarily difficult and expensive due to the irresponsible and reckless behaviors of just a few, if not just one, in the community. The jury is still out on who's more reckless, the FAA mandates, or the guys killing innocent people through sheer stupidity...

<stepping off soap box>

Barry
122LL