The American Bonanza Society Air Safety Foundation (ASF) (www.bonanza.org) has awarded a $500,000 ASF Manuel Maciel Ruddervator Prize to SRS Aviation LLC of Burnsville, Minnesota (www.srsaviation.com). ASF traveled to SRS’ manufacturing facility in late April and confirmed that SRS meets all requirements as laid out by ASF when establishing the award in 2021. This prize was made possible by the Manuel Maciel Aviation Safety Fund grant awarded to ASF in 2008. Formal presentation of the prize occurred at a press conference on July 23 at EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
V-tail Bonanzas faced an existential threat. Replacement skins for magnesium ruddervators were no longer available at any price. Ruddervators are the moveable control surfaces on the v-tail that move in opposition for yaw, or rudder control, and together for pitch, or elevator control. Even minor corrosion or damage to a ruddervator would render the airplane unairworthy with no means of returning it to flying status. Of the 10,402 V-tails built between 1947 and 1982, over 5,000 are still flying in the U.S. with more around the world, all potentially affected by this issue. Public confidence in V-tails plummeted, and with it, confidence in the entire Beechcraft® Bonanza/Baron product line.
The ABS Air Safety Foundation established the Manuel Maciel Ruddervator Prize to encourage the industry to create an FAA-approved repair or replacement for damaged ruddervators. The $500,000 prize was designed to cover part of the costs incurred by the first company to get a product approved and build at least 100 ready-to-install kits to show a commitment to supporting the V-tail fleet long-term. The prize amount increased to a total of $528,110 with individual donations from ABS members to help encourage a solution. ASF received seven inquiries from individuals or firms serious about pursuing the prize, with at least one in addition to SRS Aviation actively working for FAA approval of an alternative.
Like factory-original equipment, the replacement skins built by SRS are magnesium. SRS has extensive experience with aluminum replacement skins for conventional-tail Beechcraft® but found the unique balance requirements of the V-tail could not be met with aluminum. SRS spent over three years researching magnesium production techniques and developing expertise in manufacturing and working with magnesium components. SRS now has FAA PMA approval to do everything from skin replacement through total repair and rebuild of ruddervators which has restored full confidence in the value and longevity of all models of V-tail Bonanzas. Parts prices are lower than when they were last available in 2021, meeting a prize requirement.
ABS Air Safety Foundation Executive Director Thomas P. Turner said “This Prize demonstrates the commitment of the American Bonanza Society and the ABS Air Safety Foundation to its mission to protect lives and preserve the Beechcraft® fleet. With it ASF has potentially added decades to the useful life of over 5,000 V-tail Bonanzas. Thank you to the late Manuel Maciel and the executors of the Maciel estate for their vision and generosity in establishing aviation safety grants and awarding one such grant to ASF. I also thank the ABS members who added their personal contributions to the Maciel Prize, and the ASF Board Directors who approved this investment in the future of Beech airplanes.”
Visit www.bonanza.org/donate and make tax-deductible donations to the 501(c)(3) ABS Air Safety Foundation to refill the Maciel fund for future continuing airworthiness efforts and to support all ASF’s work to protect lives and preserve the Beechcraft® fleet (www.bonanza.org).