wrote in message
ps.com...
Could someone clarify something for me concerning LSA's. The websites
that have the detailed LSA aircraft limitations listed say that the
plane must have a maximum stalling speed of 51 mph at the maximum gross
takeoff weight WITHOUT the use of high lift devices.

I plugged the numbers for a Sonex into the John Roncz spreadsheets. (
Max Gross TOW of 1150 lbs, stall of 46 mph ) and it reports that I need
a wing area of 180 sq. feet. The Sonex only has 98 square feet of
wing. What am I missing?

Thanks
Neal

I *think* high lift devices are considered to be Fowler flaps, slats, slots,
etc. Everything I can find on the internet indicates that conventional
hinged flaps are allowed on LSA's.

If you look at something with a similar planform, more weight and more wing
area (an RV-6), you'll find that the CAFE foundation measured a flaps down
stall speed of 52 mph for an RV-6a, which is an indicator that a Sonex could
meet the 51 mph regulation.

http://cafefoundation.org/v2/pdf/RV-...inal%20APR.pdf

KB