There are times when a builder needs a bit of help to get his project complete and flying. The the primary focus of Sho-Me Helicopters, LLC is helicopter flight training, although we often have assisted some builders in completing some portion of their projects so that they can begin their flight training. Sho-Me Helicopters, LLC has several hangars on our facility with one of them being climate controlled year around. If you are in need of extensive building help we suggest contact the Rotorway factory for information on aquiring buider assistance to help you get your ship finished and then give Orv a call for your flight instruction needs.

Be aware that the new interpretation of the regulations will require that the builder log any assistance in the build and that may disqualify the builder from obtaining an airworthiness certificate for the helicopter.

 
Sec. 21.191

Experimental certificates.

Experimental certificates are issued for the following purposes:
(a) Research and development. Testing new aircraft design concepts, new aircraft equipment, new aircraft installations, new aircraft operating techniques, or new uses for aircraft.
(b) Showing compliance with regulations. Conducting flight tests and other operations to show compliance with the airworthiness regulations including flights to show compliance for issuance of type and supplemental type certificates, flights to substantiate major design changes, and flights to show compliance with the function and reliability requirements of the regulations.
(c) Crew training. Training of the applicant's flight crews.
(d) Exhibition. Exhibiting the aircraft's flight capabilities, performance, or unusual characteristics at air shows, motion picture, television, and similar productions, and the maintenance of exhibition flight proficiency, including (for persons exhibiting aircraft) flying to and from such air shows and productions.
(e) Air racing. Participating in air races, including (for such participants) practicing for such air races and flying to and from racing events.
(f) Market surveys. Use of aircraft for purposes of conducting market surveys, sales demonstrations, and customer crew training only as provided in Sec. 21.195.
(g) Operating amateur-built aircraft. Operating an aircraft the major portion of which has been fabricated and assembled by persons who undertook the construction project solely for their own education or recreation.
[(h) Operating primary kit-built aircraft.] Operating a primary category aircraft that meets the criteria of Sec. 21.24(a)(1) that was assembled by a person from a kit manufactured by the holder of a production certificate for that kit, without the supervision and quality control of the production certificate holder under Sec. 21.184(a).[ (i) Operating light-sport aircraft. Operating a light-sport aircraft that-
(1) Has not been issued a U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate and does not meet the provisions of §103.1 of this chapter. An experimental certificate will not be issued under this paragraph for these aircraft after January 31, 2008;
(2) Has been assembled-
(i) From an aircraft kit for which the applicant can provide the information required by §21.193 (e); and
(ii) In accordance with manufacturer's assembly instructions that meet an applicable consensus standard; or (3) Has been previously issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light- sport category under
§21.190.]

 

FAA Enforcement
The Committee agreed that FAA enforcement action on aircraft construction projects that are egregious violations of the major portion provision of the regulations would provide a significant deterrent to those who promote violating the regulations.


The Committee also noted that many aircraft are marketed as having the maximum amount of fabrication and assembly allowed already completed by the kit manufacturer (49%). In theory, the remaining 51% would then be completed by the amateur-builder(s). If additional commercial assistance were used, the aircraft would not be eligible for an amateur-built airworthiness certificate.

The Committee agreed that the FAA should begin to take enforcement action and/or deny airworthiness certificates based on violations of the current rule. In egregious cases where there is a clear, deliberate falsification of the eligibility statement, the FAA should make referrals to the Department of Justice for prosecution

 

Below is a photo of Former Airforce Fighter Pilot and Aide to President Kennedy

Carl Shirley

Sho-Me Helicopters, LLC helped Carl ready his Ship and then taught him how to fly it at our training center.

 

Below are two student's ships that we assisted in the final prep and rigging followed by flight training. They are in one of our hangars at our training facility in the Missouri Ozarks.

Below is Bill Faulkner's Exec 162F during his first solo Hover (his hover was a bit high at first but he brought it down as he became comfortable with the feel of flying solo). The rear covers are usually left off during flight training so that we can keep an eye on all of the new components back there during the fligt test period. Bill built his helicopter here at our facility in a short period of time and within 3 months of the kits arrival Bill was begining his test flying and flight training in his new machine. It was even inspected and received its airworthiness certificate right here in our facility.

We can assist the builder at our facility from final rigging of your kit through scheduling your private or commercial helicopter pilot FAA check ride. If you are just waiting for the right time to finish your project and your partially built helicopter is just sitting there, get to work on it and then let us help you learn to fly it.