What I don't see there is the requirement for at least a Private (as opposed to Sport or Recreational), which I'd always understood to be the case (perhaps it's simply that this regulation predates the Rec and SP rules?). It also appears from 61.35(c) that it doesn't even have to be an experimental if you're not carrying a passenger, though that would seem to make 61.35(l)(2)(iii)(B) redundant.Quote:
§ 61.31 Type rating requirements, additional training, and authorization requirements.
(c) Aircraft category, class, and type ratings: Limitations on the carriage of persons, or operating for compensation or hire. Unless a person holds a category, class, and type rating (if a class and type rating is required) that applies to the aircraft, that person may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying another person...
(l) Exceptions. (1) This section does not require a category and class rating for aircraft not type-certificated as airplanes, rotorcraft, gliders, lighter-than-air aircraft, powered-lifts, powered parachutes, or weight-shift-control aircraft.
(2) The rating limitations of this section do not apply to—
(iii) The holder of a pilot certificate when operating an aircraft under the authority of—
(B) An experimental certificate, unless the operation involves carrying a passenger...
There is also the requirement for the experimental aircraft's operating limitations not having explicit language about requiring an appropriately rated pilot... presumably the limitations could say "this aircraft must be operated by a pilot with such and such a rating".
Probably worth getting clarification / confirmation from your local FSDO, though...