Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I had been warned by the RV gang at Gwinett Co. LZU Alanta that the Feds ramp check frequently. Yesterday I did not have a chance of getting my feet on the ground when the FAA came up an said he was doing a ramp check (first time in 45 years) . I was prepared and told him that if I could unload my bags I would produce the paperwork. Regstration, AW certifcate, Phase I and II operations handed over, Now, how about your medical, new one issued in January, next, pilots license. Gave him my license issued in 1969, he handled it like it was a museum piece. Finally gave him my current license with the Wright Brothers picture. He was happy and moved on. I forgot to mention he was escorted by two Federal Air Marshalls. How could I tell, they had their badges and gun belts on and stood at attention through out the check. I felt real safe to say the least knowing that our goverment was hard at work.

Thanks for that update - no doubt we should all be prepared with proper docs. I thought when I started reading you might have had a Model T engine block on the seat, a Chrysler transmission in the baggage and a case of beer on the front floorboards. Now THAT would have been a great story!!

Badges ? BADGES ! WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN BADGES !

RB

A few more contacts like yours and they won't be interested in us any more.
I swear US pilots are the most law abiding people.
Home builders are the top of that group, on account of the Laws of Physics.
Don't need a cop around to be 'arrested' by one of those!!
So we build as carefully as we can, and live our lives the same way.

I wonder what the accident rate in homebuilts is when you devide it up between builders and buyers?

Ship Chief - there was an article not long ago in SA mag that ref'd a study just as you say - builders vs buyers of homebuilts - there was presented definitive evidence ( I cannot remember the actual numbers)that we buyers biffed it more than builders - it was something I really put some thought to when buying my first T-18 as a low time pilot off a ten year hiatus and with no taildragger in the log books at the time. Given my massive (almost fighter pilot size) ego, I knew I could fly it, but a comprehensive approach to learning my new bird was in order, and proceeded to learn the airplane in graduated phases.
Sadly, (and I have known a couple) some think they can jump into a high performance aircraft from a tri-gear spam can and launch and learn on the first day.

Thankfully, there are folks flying T-18s that advise and dissent to folks like me with sound enuff advice that if adhered to, will keep a newbie in the proper set of mind to keep themselves safe.
Of course, one must know thy limitations, lest circumstance demonstrate them for you.

Shipchief, you should've been at the EAA chapter meeting Tues night, the local FAA Safety Rep was the speaker and he had those numbers and it is quite supprising, it's worse for second owners than for builders by a substantial amount, I didn't take notes.

On topic, last June at our EAA chapter Young Eagles event, the local FAA FSDO gents were about and ramp checked every aircraft that was flying young eagles, it was mostly the span cans that they found problems with, usually just documentation. I did note that they didn't appear to be bothering any of the other aircraft that were operating that day, just the young eagles pilots, go figure.

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Bruce Finney
N18JF T-18C #262
Yelm, WA USA

bill, do you know if the ramp checks are a new thing there, or has it been common in the past?

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http://www.dixiefriedfabrication.com/

In talking with the local EAA'ers, they seem to hang around LZU and have been for about a year or so.