Jabiru J450, Constructors Manual, Page: 326 / 343

Jabiru J450 Constructors Manual
Testing>Flight testing
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 326 of 343
The test pilot
Flight testing must only be carried out by a suitably qualified and experienced test pilot.
Test flying any newly built aircraft is risky. For example, minor changes to aircraft rigging
can significantly alter stall behaviour, leading to extreme wing drops or spinning. Test pilots
must be aware of this and all other potential risks and be suitably skilled to recover control of
the aircraft from extreme and unusual attitudes.
The Test Sequence in this task is based on the Test Schedule used by Jabiru Aircraft on
factory-built models and is supplied as reference material as a part of the construction data for
this kit. Several of the manoeuvres required by this schedule will result in extreme aircraft
attitudes and carry an increased risk of spinning or other undesirable aircraft behaviour.
Pilots choosing to follow the Jabiru Aircraft Test Sequence do so at their own risk.
Recency
In particular, the test pilot should have a recently demonstrated ability to:

Deal with an engine failure at low altitude (~200ft) after takeoff

Recover from stalls in level flight and in banked turns

Recover from a spin

Recover from unusual attitudes (including a spiral dive)

Carry out a flapless landing

Carry out a glide approach and landing
Medical considerations
The test pilot should be in good health and should abide by the following conditions:

Should not have a head cold or any current sinus problems

Have had no local or dental anaesthetics for at least 48 hours prior to test flying

Alcohol: an absolute minimum of 24 hours, preferably longer, must have elapsed
between the last consumption of alcohol and any test flying

Should not have donated blood for at least 3 weeks prior to test flying
Clothing
The test pilot should consider the possibility of an in-flight fire and dress accordingly:

Dress ONLY in natural fibres and do NOT wear any synthetic materials

Long pants and long sleeves – no bare skin should be exposed

Nomex gloves for hand protection (most pilot supplies shops carry these)
Checklists
The test pilot should be completely familiar with the normal and emergency checklists in the
Owners Manual and should commit to memory the critical airspeeds that are specified in the
Owners Manual.
It may be useful to write these speeds down and tape them to the instrument panel for ease of
reference in flight.