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Question: Are T-34s on the verge of being
grounded for good?
Answer: No. T-34s -- and their owners --
have been through a lot for the past 12 years (!) (tons to read
about starting on
this page) but there is light at the end of the tunnel. In
fact, the T-34 is out of the tunnel and soaking up the sun in
the run-up area ready for a flight all the way out to the
published limits (+6/-3, 210knots..or whatever the book says).
In other words, the FAA threw a handful of ADs (airworthiness
directives) at us and thanks to the efforts of some amazing
businesses, the T-34 community has a solution for each AD
(called "AMOCs" -- alternate method of compliance") that has
allowed us to return to an unrestricted flight envelope.
Not
that I am going to go out and pull 6Gs...ever. But now I can do
basic acro (4Gs for a loop) that I haven't been able to do for
the past 6 (!) years. We are now all metal fatigue experts and
pulling 6Gs while allowed if you have the AMOCs installed we all
know that doing so will make the ultimate end of life for a
metal (aluminum) airplane come sooner.
My T-34 will be flying
long after I am allowed to pilot it. I am the current owner of
the airplane but many people will own and enjoy it after me. It
is my job to take care of now so they can enjoy it in the
future.
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