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by dotancohen 370 days ago
Does the data plate not limit the scope of what can be built around it?

In other words had Virgin Galactic built the VSS Enterprise around the data plate of a Cessna 172, would it then no longer have been an experimental aircraft?

2 comments

The airplane has to match the data plate. Otherwise, it will fail inspections because of all those unauthorized modifications.
It does limit, but I suspect a lot less for the rebuilt from ground up biplane, than for a certified for airline service aircraft (a commercial airliner).