January 22, 2020
It has been a while and much has happened to relate.
Kudos to Jim Janicki, Vice President of Quality at LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions, for arranging an airworthiness certificate which has allowed us to get 27.5 hours of flight time for Privateer™. I should note that Privateer™ has performed better than expected in a number of areas.
Thanks also to the Oklahoma FAA who sent us an updated registration after we sent them a photo of the registration plate on the Privateer™ aircraft.
Rob added a rebuilt Fuel Control Unit, at considerable expense, in an effort to improve engine characteristics and resume testing of Privateer™ prior to expiration of the initial airworthiness certificate on October 4, 2019.
We are fortunate to add Dave Jobe, Aviation Industry Consultant, Principal and Owner at ACCS, LLC, to our team as a consultant. Dave has experience with the U.S. Air Force as a jet engine mechanic and aircraft crew chief. He was a “hands on guy” at Boeing overseeing mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and flight control on pneumatic systems. He spent eight years as an FAA aviation safety inspector at the Kansas City MIDO.
The Orlando MIDO has opted to work with us directly, independent of a DAR. We have submitted all paperwork which they requested in order to continue flight testing of the Privateer™ aircraft. Clem Figueroa, Senior Aviation Safety Inspector, and Rick Piper, Aviation Safety Inspector, of the Orlando MIDO have visited the Privateer™ aircraft at our hangar at Melbourne (MLB) Rob and Dave are working with the FAA MIDO and will supply them with what they need for us to continue flight testing.
Stay tuned,
John