The HB Standard Explained
Bob:
I missed an alert and never followed up on your question....
I'm in the middle of rebuild. I've never rebuilt an airplane before. The standard I've applied to any issue that comes up about what is the correct thing to do (i.e. replace a part, rehab something, upgrade something, etc.) is to apply the "Hairy Bum" test--literally my ass is going in this thing so we better do this right.
For example, the ribs in the aircraft were very tired and largely poorly repaired from past mishaps. So we sacked them--all of them. They did not pass the MHB test.
The saying comes from Tom Wolfe's book The Right Stuff. In the book Gus Grissom goes to speak to a bunch of factory workers that are building critical components for his space capsule. When asked to speak to the works old Gus mounts the stage and, instead of the usual bullshit, says only "do good work", the unsaid message meaning my butt is going in this thing so don't screw up!! Gus was a guy of few words and knew when and how to make a point.
It is a great standard and has helped us make a lot of 50/50 decisions that much easier to make during the course of putting a shattered and neglected -11 back together. But when I'm done it will be a new, safe and efficient airplane that will provide years of service.
I will personally be placing my dear kiester into conform foam ala oregon aero (boy do they make great stuff) and my pax will also have the same treatment.
We've had to modify the standard to include MSB, i.e. my smooth butt, in recognition of the fact that it doesn't take a penis to fly an airplane and I am an advocate of gender equity in aviation.
So, that's the story. And I'm stickin to it.
