Educational Reference Only: Information verified as of September 27, 2026 from the sources cited below. Not legal advice. Regulations change. Verify the current rule at eCFR.gov and consult a qualified aviation attorney and your A&P/IA for your specific situation. This site is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.
Warbird Rules Reference
Warbird Vault
The warbird rules that come up in the shop, one card each. Every card gives the rule in plain words, the exact words of the rule, and the official page it came from. Read the source yourself before you act on it.
Operating limitations for each aircraft are controlling and may be more restrictive than the regulation.
Check ITAR and EAR before exporting military origin parts or data.
Category Basics
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Limited Category
- Claim
- Generally, under 14 CFR 21.189, a Limited category airworthiness certificate comes after an FAA inspection that includes a flight check by the applicant, and the FAA sets the limitations and conditions for safe operation.
- Proof
“(2) The FAA finds, after inspection (including a flight check by the applicant), that the aircraft is in a good state of preservation and repair and is in a condition for safe operation. (b) The FAA prescribes limitations and conditions necessary for safe operation.”
- Source
- 14 CFR 21.189 on eCFR, as of September 27, 2026
Operating limitations for each aircraft are controlling and may be more restrictive than the regulation.
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Experimental Exhibition
- Claim
- Generally, under 14 CFR 21.191(d), the exhibition purpose covers air shows, motion picture, television and similar productions, keeping up exhibition flight proficiency, and flying to and from those shows and productions.
- Proof
“(d) Exhibition. Exhibiting the aircraft’s flight capabilities, performance, or unusual characteristics at air shows, motion picture, television, and similar productions, and the maintenance of exhibition flight proficiency, including (for persons exhibiting aircraft) flying to and from such air shows and productions.”
- Source
- 14 CFR 21.191 on eCFR, as of September 27, 2026
Operating limitations for each aircraft are controlling and may be more restrictive than the regulation.
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Limited Category Operations: 91.315
- Claim
- Generally, under 14 CFR 91.315, a Limited category aircraft may not carry persons or property for compensation or hire in the kinds of operations the rule lists, such as operations that require a Part 119 certificate or are conducted under Part 129, 133 or 137. The rule opens with an exception for 91.326. Read it together with the aircraft’s own operating limitations, which may be more restrictive.
- Proof
“Except as provided in § 91.326, no person may operate a limited category civil aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire in operations that: (a) Require an air carrier or commercial operator certificate issued under part 119 of this chapter; (b) Are listed in § 119.1(e) of this chapter; (c) Require management specifications for a fractional ownership program issued in accordance with subpart K of this part; or (d) Are conducted under part 129, 133, or 137 of this chapter.”
- Source
- 14 CFR 91.315 on eCFR, as of September 27, 2026
Operating limitations for each aircraft are controlling and may be more restrictive than the regulation.
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Experimental Operations: 91.319
- Claim
- Generally, under 14 CFR 91.319(a), except as paragraph (k) and 91.326 provide, an experimental aircraft may not be operated for any purpose other than the one its certificate was issued for, and paragraph (a)(2) ties the compensation or hire limit to the kinds of operations it lists. Paragraph (d) covers telling each person carried that the aircraft is experimental, flying VFR by day only unless the FAA specifically authorizes otherwise, and telling ATC when using air traffic services.
- Proof
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“Except as provided in paragraph (k) of this section and § 91.326, no person may operate an aircraft that has an experimental airworthiness certificate … (1) For other than the purpose for which the certificate was issued; or (2) Carrying persons or property for compensation or hire in operations that: (i) Require an air carrier or commercial operator certificate issued under part 119 of this chapter;…”
“(1) Advise each person carried of the experimental nature of the aircraft; (2) Operate under VFR, day only, unless otherwise specifically authorized by the Administrator; and (3) Notify air traffic control of the experimental nature of the aircraft when utilizing air traffic services.”
- Source
- 14 CFR 91.319 on eCFR, paragraphs (a) and (d), as of September 27, 2026
Operating limitations for each aircraft are controlling and may be more restrictive than the regulation.
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Operating Limitations
- Claim
- Generally, under 14 CFR 91.9(a), a civil aircraft may be operated only within the operating limitations in its approved flight manual, markings and placards, or as prescribed by the certificating authority. Under 91.319(i), the FAA may add limitations for experimental aircraft, including on who may be carried.
- Proof
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“no person may operate a civil aircraft without complying with the operating limitations specified in the approved Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, markings, and placards, or as otherwise prescribed by the certificating authority of the country of registry.”
“The Administrator may prescribe additional limitations that the Administrator considers necessary, including limitations on the persons that may be carried in the aircraft.”
- Source
- 14 CFR 91.9 on eCFR and 14 CFR 91.319(i) on eCFR, as of September 27, 2026
Operating limitations for each aircraft are controlling and may be more restrictive than the regulation.
Training, Rides And Exemptions
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LODA For Flight Training: 91.326
- Claim
- Generally, flight training, checking or testing in a Limited category or Experimental aircraft runs under 14 CFR 91.326, which calls for a letter of deviation authority (LODA) unless an exception in 91.326(c) or (d) applies. The old LODA paragraph, 91.319(h), now reads “[Reserved]”. Under 91.326(d), a LODA issued under 91.319 before December 2, 2024 terminates on December 1, 2026.
- Proof
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“No person may operate under this section without a letter of deviation authority (LODA) issued by the Administrator.”
“(d) Previously issued letters of deviation authority. For deviation authority issued under § 91.319 prior to December 2, 2024, the following requirements apply … (4) The letter of deviation authority terminates on December 1, 2026.”
- Source
- 14 CFR 91.326 on eCFR, paragraphs (b)(1) and (d); final rule 89 FR 80310 (October 2, 2024, effective December 2, 2024); as of September 27, 2026
Operating limitations for each aircraft are controlling and may be more restrictive than the regulation.
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Living History Flights: A Part 11 Exemption
- Claim
- Living History Flight Experience (LHFE) passenger flights have no section of their own in Part 91. Generally, an operator asks for relief through a Part 11 petition for exemption under 14 CFR 11.61(b), and the FAA’s 2015 policy statement at 80 FR 43012 covers those exemptions. The exemption’s own conditions apply to the operator that holds it.
- Proof
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“Using a petition for exemption, you may ask FAA to grant you relief from current regulations in 14 CFR.”
“the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cancels all previous agency policies pertaining to the carriage of passengers for compensation on Living History Flight Experience (LHFE) flights. This policy statement announces the end of FAA moratorium on new petitions for exemption”
- Source
- 14 CFR 11.61 on eCFR; 80 FR 43012 (July 21, 2015, policy statement); as of September 27, 2026
Operating limitations for each aircraft are controlling and may be more restrictive than the regulation.
FAA Guidance
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Order 8130.2L
- Claim
- FAA Order 8130.2L, Airworthiness Certification of Aircraft, issued January 30, 2026, is the active revision on the FAA page and cancels 8130.2K. Chapter 8 covers the limited category and Chapter 12 the exhibition purpose. It is an FAA order, not a section of 14 CFR.
- Proof
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“Number 8130.2L Title Airworthiness Certification of Aircraft Date issued 2026-01-30 Status Active”
“Because surplus military aircraft may have deteriorated due to prolonged storage, prolonged inactivity, or age, the applicant must show that the aircraft was thoroughly inspected to determine its state of preservation and repair and to ensure it is in a condition for safe operation.” (Chapter 8, page 8-1)
- Source
- FAA Order 8130.2L page on faa.gov and the Order PDF, as of September 27, 2026
Operating limitations for each aircraft are controlling and may be more restrictive than the regulation.
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Which ADs Apply: AC 39-7D Paragraph 9
- Claim
- Generally, under 14 CFR 39.3, ADs are legally enforceable rules for aircraft, engines, propellers and appliances. FAA AC 39-7D paragraph 9 says ADs apply to type certificated aircraft unless the AD says otherwise, and that the AD’s applicability statement tells you when it reaches non type certificated aircraft, such as experimental exhibition, or the engines, propellers and appliances installed on them. Each AD’s applicability statement is the place to check. We found no FAA Chief Counsel interpretation on this for exhibition warbirds, so we cannot verify more than the AC says. AC 39-7D also says an AD applicable to a model “certificated in any category” applies to all airplanes of that model, regardless of the type of airworthiness certificate issued to the type certificated aircraft.
- Proof
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“FAA’s airworthiness directives are legally enforceable rules that apply to the following products: aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances.”
“Unless stated otherwise (see subparagraph 9b of this AC), ADs only apply to type-certificated (TC) aircraft, including ADs issued for an engine, propeller, and appliance.”
“Non-TC’d aircraft (e.g., amateur-built aircraft, experimental exhibition) are aircraft for which the FAA has not issued a TC under part 21. The AD applicability statement will identify if the AD applies to non-TC’d aircraft or engines, propellers, and appliances installed thereon.”
“certificated in any category … makes the AD applicable to all airplanes of the model listed, regardless of the type of airworthiness certificate issued to the TC’d aircraft.”
- Source
- 14 CFR 39.3 on eCFR; AC 39-7D on faa.gov, paragraph 9, including 9a(1); as of September 27, 2026
Operating limitations for each aircraft are controlling and may be more restrictive than the regulation.
Airframe Profiles
Airframe profiles are coming.