What is the Experimental category, and what types of aircraft are classified/operated in that category?
The Experimental category is essentially an “operating classification” that has a legal bearing on the operation of the aircraft, just like Normal, Utility, or Aerobatic categories have. There are several sub-classifications in the category, such as Amateur-built, Racing, Exhibition, Limited, R & D, and others. Experimental/amateur-built aircraft are the primary emphasis in this newsgroup. It refers to non-type-certified aircraft that are built, maintained, and flown by individuals, thus the term “homebuilt”. Amateur-built aircraft are intended by the FAA to serve as educational “vehicles” for their builders and pilots. (sorry ’bout that pun…) The original justification for making the category legal was that it increased the pool of individuals knowledgeable in the area of aircraft production. Thus the nation had “experts” in aircraft production to draw upon in times of national emergency. Silly as this may sound today, it was taken seriously in the mid ’50s when the category additio
