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Training, Checkout, Insurance

At first glance, flying an airplane built before 1970 isn’t a big deal.  The FAA doesn’t get too excited about it in the regs.  If the airplane of choice has a tailwheel, FAR Part 61.31(i) requires a tailwheel endorsement from a CFI if you don’t already have one.  Otherwise, the regs are silent.

There’s no type rating required (we’re talking about piston-engine airplanes weighing less than 12,500 pounds.) You can legally hop into a World War I era Curtiss JN-4 Jenny and fly it.

Rick Durden

Senior Editor Rick Durden has written for Aviation Consumer since 1994 and specializes in aviation law. Rick is an active CFII and holds an ATP with type ratings in the Douglas DC-3 and Cessna Citation. He is the author of The Thinking Pilot’s Flight Manual or, How to Survive Flying Little Airplanes and Have a Ball Doing It, Vols. 1 & 2.