Amateur-built and experimental aircraft - Australian Transport Safety ...

Figure 41: Rating of personal satisfaction
In relation to ABE aircraft being a path to social groups, one respondent stated:
I have been flying amateur-built (ABAA and Experimental) aircraft since [year],
and have found them to be economical to operate, easy to maintain and very
enjoyable to fly. In addition, I have made many new friends, and now that I
have semi-retired, my aircraft is the major means by which I get to explore this
great country of ours.
A further comment on how satisfaction with ABE aircraft can occur stated:
ABE aircraft have given me and continue to give me a great deal of
satisfaction both from a building and flying perspective. I find ABE/ABAA
aircraft much nicer to fly (granted they are not required to meet the same
stability requirements as factory certified aircraft). I work on GA aircraft as a
LAME and still feel more passionate toward ABE/ABAA aircraft….
Clearly there are many ways people experience personal satisfaction associated
with ABE aircraft, but most rate it as very important in their reason for purchase.
Aircraft performance
The rating of aircraft performance as a reason for purchase is recorded in Figure 42.
This shows that aircraft performance is very important to most respondents. Aircraft
performance in this context was interpreted as meaning the ability of an aircraft to
perform required functions and manoeuvres, along with its stall speed, cruising
speed, rate of climb, altitude flight limits, and payloads or flight range (Gunston,
2004; Wanttaja, 2006c). It may also involve the fuel efficiency of the engine.
Higher performance aircraft have higher stall speeds and are more challenging to
fly, but not all builders want to fly high performance aircraft, and the choice of
aircraft may change with time. One person commented on the implications of
choosing a high performance aircraft, and the need to develop flying practices that
reflect the nature of high performance aircraft by stating:
As my aircraft is a heavily customised complex high performance machine, I
was fortunate to have input from [a] LAME, builders, designers, and
enthusiasts. The significant lesson I learnt from the successful and safe
process is that people who make the most noise don’t always have the best
information; opinion is a far cry from knowledge. Accepted certified flying
practices are not necessarily appropriate for high performance composite
aircraft, and just because you haven’t hurt yourself yet doesn’t mean you are
safe.
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