Hello Mike,
When I installed the IO-320 in the Predator I had to fly off 5 hours.
The Operating limitations for the Predator were for the Marysville area which is around 250 miles from here.
I contacted the flight standards district office, AKA FSDO, and they gave me new operating limitation centered around Santa Maria. They extended it a little so I could fly to specific airports and they even sent me into another FSDO’s area.
They were very helpful and the whole thing was fairly painless.
At that time I was a private pilot, rotorcraft, gyroplane rated pilot so I don’t know if a student pilot can fly off the hours.
It is probably a bad idea for a student pilot to be playing test pilot because you should be learning a lot and documenting about the performance of the aircraft. Some of it may not be apparent to a student pilot with a solo sign off.
In my opinion the fly off is not just some FAA formality; it is an important step in the life of an experimental aircraft and a time when building mistakes become apparent. A student pilot may not be prepared for these challenges.
Thank you, Vance