>  If you can't fly it the first time, you should not have built it!

 

I sincerely hope no one believes this.  There have been many First Flight Fatalities and damaged airplanes as a result of Builders who were not qualified to test fly their projects.  Some probably thought they were up to it and others painted themselves into a corner by telling their friends during construction, then did not want to back down.   

 

I watched Dave Morss go through his very thorough check list, preflight setup and runway hop routine before he committed to flight. Then there are the stories of aircraft that were saved when the engine quit at about 300' after takeoff.  You better be a GOOD test pilot to save the airplane or know when to not try to make it back (see First Flight Fatalities above).  Don Goetz had about 13 engine outs and saved the airplanes, plus cockpits full of smoke, gear problems and numerous other emergencys the average pilot would not handle well.    If the airplane has no major problems you may not need a test pilot,  but---if---it---does.

 

Steve Colwell   Legacy 2K  Placerville,CA   (530) 621-3408