Any flap is considered a high lift device. An LSA can have flaps, but the stall speed clean is what is the determining
factor for the 45 knot (52MPH) limit. Seems that the powers that be do not want to require pilots to operate any but the
most basic flight and engine controls. Even a LSA 'amphib' with wheels on the floats cannot change the configuration
while in flight - the wheels need to be fixed either extended (for land takeoff and landing) or retracted for water
takeoff and 'landing'.


"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message . ..
:
: 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
:
: