I meant to write

The ASTM standards committee for gliders could perhaps attract
these Quicksilver aircraft to become SLSA Gliders instead of
certifying as

AIRPLANES.

Sorry...

In article 4202b0be$1@darkstar, Mark James Boyd wrote:
I believe there are thousands of kits that have been sold.
In the current FAA climate, I think at most dozens of them
will become experimental-amatuer built or ELSA gliders
by 2010.

Anywhere from hundreds to thousands will become ex-AB or ELSA
or SLSA airplanes by 2010.

The ASTM standards committee for gliders could perhaps attract
these Quicksilver aircraft to become SLSA Gliders instead of
certifying as aircraft.

The upside for gliding is growth and a lot of glider takeoffs
and landings at airports that attract funds by numbers of operations.

The upside for the Quicksilvers is the reduced equipment requirements,
access to runways which are friendly to lightweight
aircraft, and a community with something to share.

If ASA wanted to push for them to come into the glider fold,
I think these disenfranchised Ultralight pilots
would slowly enter our ranks and be grateful.

But this may just be a case of water and oil. I personally
find the LSA stuff fascinating for the same reasons
I like soaring. But there seem to be quite a few glider
pilots who seem to prefer the status quo.

If left without any catalyst, the Quicksilver gliders will
end up being very, very few. With a catalyst, they
could number perhaps a thousand, or a few thousand if SLSA,
best case.

I don't know which SHOULD happen. But there is
an opportunity here that deserves a look anyway.

In article ,
Eric Greenwell wrote:
Mark James Boyd wrote:



Could there be a rash of accidents in Quicksilver gliders that
might damage the sport of gliding as a whole? Require transponders
and ELTs in all gliders? Perhaps. But I don't see this.

*******Transponders become mandatory?*******

If transponders (especially mode S) and ELTs end up becoming mandated
in gliders, I don't see the Quicksilver gliders being the cause.

It would depend on the numbers, I think. A few hundred won't enlarge the
number "gliders" flying, and hence the increased risk of causing a
serious accident that would be attributed to a glider are small. But if
a few thousand become "gliders"...

Any idea of the numbers we might be talking about? How many Quicksilver
type aircraft are there out there?


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Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA


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Mark J. Boyd


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Mark J. Boyd