You can absolutely take a check ride in one. I know CFIIs who took their CFII rides in RVs, for example, and I know DPEs ("Iron Mike" in Mpls is one) who have given checkrides for various certificates and ratings in RVs. If there is a FAR to the contrary, I'd sure be interested in seeing it.
You seem to ignore the first link which contains the interpretation from an FAA lawyer. However, no one will force you to use parts you produce on your own airplane, so ignore if you wish.
In fact, yes. Donald Byrne issued a memo clarifying exactly this in 1993. If the name doesn't ring a bell, he was an assistant chief council for regulation at the FAA. A scanned copy of this memo is available at http://www.velocolutions.com/FAA-owner-manufactured-part.pdf .
Mike Busch did...
It's who owns the aircraft. If I damage a skin on my personally owned Cessna 152, for example, I can make a new one using the same materials and design as the original and have it installed by an A&P. This is pretty common thing, actually, especially for older aircraft.
Sure, so in those places grab some foggles and find a safety pilot. It just seems odd to dedicate so much discussion to find ways to try to fly with a view limiting device but not another safety pilot.
I'd also suggest that benign IMC isn't *that* rare in Florida. KSGJ is advertising 4 &...
Terrain shouldn't be a factor unless competency is an issue but other things might be. An example I mentioned in an earlier post is oily film on the windscreen - a view limiting device would prevent you from seeing that, VMC or IMC, but a safety pilot would see it (in addition to other traffic).
Because it's not just about separation. If you have a view limiting device, there are potential safety-of-flight things you will not see that have nothing to do with other traffic.
There seems to be a presumption that the safety pilot is present only to look for other traffic. FAR 91.109(c) only requires that a safety pilot "has adequate vision forward and to each side of the aircraft". Would a solo pilot flying with a view limiting device see the oily film building...
Never said I didn't want 'em, only that flying them sucked less than not flying at all. Flying them also sucks less than flying airplanes that suck more, which in turn still sucks less than not flying at all...which sucks about the same as flying a desk.
Thank you for providing the additional context. It wasn't that the FAA told Van that directly - it was at a large meeting to discuss Ex-Ab safety that Van attended. It was in no way, shape, or form singling out Van's Aircraft but was in fact directed at the EX-AB community as a whole. Van's...