Bench Flying

[LoLPilot]

Car guys (of which I am one) have a pastime called bench racing, where we just discuss options for building and modifying cars. I will *hopefully* be finishing my grad program before too long and I'd like to buy after I find a job. With that in mind I keep tabs on Trade a Plane and on Barnstormers. I found a really nice looking Focke Wulf P149 on Trade a Plane that is somehow registered as an EAB. I checked the database and it does indeed look like it is registered as amateur built. I'm a bit enamored with that airplane haha. Problem is that is has a GO-480 that's making metal and is sold "as-is." I understand that the GO-480 was discontinued in 1979 and that bottom end parts are tough to come by. With that in mind, what would the power options be for that aircraft, assuming that overhauling the 480 would be either impossible or cost prohibitive.

 

[Arnold]

Allison 250?

 

[AKBill]

Nice looking plane, 295hp engine. Can't give you an answer on a replacement engine. I'm guessing it depends on what category of EAB it is registered under

 

[Dana]

It's not EAB, it's experimental-exhibition, a common way to license warbirds. What you can do with it depends on the operating limitations, which form a part of an experimental airworthiness certificate.

 

[LoLPilot]

It's not EAB, it's experimental-exhibition, a common way to license warbirds. What you can do with it depends on the operating limitations, which form a part of an experimental airworthiness certificate.

I’m aware of the different experimental categories. I was getting ready to give you a toldyaso and pulled up the aviationdb page I had on it. I’d accidentally jumped over to the next reg number which was indeed an amateur built. After moving the page back to the 149 it is indeed exhibition. Bummer. Stray mouse click haha.

 

[Dana]

From an operating standpoint, EE isn't much different from E-AB these days. As far as major mods like an engine swap, that may or may not be problematic depending on how the operating limitations are worded.

Cool plane though, looks kinda Navion-ish.

 

[LoLPilot]

From an operating standpoint, EE isn't much different from E-AB these days. As far as major mods like an engine swap, that may or may not be problematic depending on how the operating limitations are worded.

Cool plane though, looks kinda Navion-ish.

I'd rather stick to Amateur Built just so that the FAA couldn't decide that the restrictions on Exhibitions don't fit their whims anymore...

 

[Dana]

Good point.