Sequoia Aircraft Corporation F.8L Falco, Construction Manual

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F.8L Falco Construction Manual 1–5 Revision 4, March 1, 2002
problems. If you are not prepared to spend the time and money on engineering, then you should
not expect us to be enthusiastic about the design change. Also, to do this type of thing properly
will involve a lot of our time. We do not have the time available.
Our policy is that we will not supply any parts for a modified Falco. We will not allow the name
“Falco” to be used for the airplane, and you may not use our paint schemes, which are
copyrighted. We have found that the vast majority of Falco builders approve of this policy. It is
easy for an airplane to get a bad reputation because of a crash of a modified design. The public
only knows that it was a “Starflight” that crashed and so assumes that all such airplanes by the
same name share the problem inherent in the design. This affects the reputation and resale value
of the airplane—something none of us needs.
You will also find that potential buyers will be interested only in a standard Falco. They will not
be interested in a highly-modified airplane. If you don’t believe us, take a look at the ads in
Trade-A-Plane . One-of-a-kind aircraft never seem to sell, despite the fantastic performance claims
and the publicity inevitably given to such unique aircraft. It will be the same with the Falco,
people will want a Stelio Frati-designed Falco—not one designed by Frati
and you. Think about
it, would you want a Falco that some amateur built using his own ideas on how the wing spar
should be designed? Stick with the plans.
Visit a Falco Builder
If there is a Falco builder near you, by all means pay a visit. It is best to visit a builder who has the
basic structure put together but has not yet started skinning the fuselage or wing. Take a camera
and shoot at least two rolls of color print film. You will find that black and white film does not
work well, as it is hard to see the details in the wood. Shoot photographs from every conceivable
angle. You will feel foolish doing this, but you will be amazed how helpful these photographs will
be later on. You will be able to look at the photographs and see things that you did not notice
while you were with the airplane.
Plan Ahead
You should begin to order the tools and materials you will need. By planning ahead and ordering
well in advance, you will always have something to do. One of the most frustrating aspects of
building an airplane is watching the mail for something that hasn’t arrived. If you find yourself in
this predicament, it is your own fault. There are bound to be little delays in delivery, but if you
plan far enough in advance, these delays will not hinder your progress.
In Search of Experts
You should be on the lookout for a helper. There are going to be many times when you will need
two people, and a partner will be a big help, and the work will go faster.
If you do not belong to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) you should join. This
organization is dedicated to the subject of homebuilt aircraft. Their magazine,
Sport Aviation , is
good, and you will find something of interest in every issue. (You should also be warned that you
will also find a lot of very amateurish ideas published in the magazine.) Above all, you should
join and support this organization since they are the primary reason we have the freedom to build
and fly our own aircraft. No other country allows such freedom as we have in the U.S., and your
support of the EAA is the best way to see that we keep our freedom.
You might also consider joining a local EAA chapter. Most EAA chapters are nothing more than
social gatherings of people who do not build airplanes. In general, you will find that the aircraft
that they are building are not of the same class as the Falco. You will find an occasional expert