Speaking of RV and Van's,

I'm in contact with them regarding Sport Pilot and LSA.
It seems there is unclear information about this, and
Van's believes one must certify an aircraft as an LSA to
operate it under LSA rules.

This is not the case. An experimental airplane OR glider which
meets the LSA limitations (120 kts Vne/max level flight airspeed,
1320 lbs max gross) can be flown without a medical (in the case
of ASEL LSA, need a state driver's license). In addition, if
one already has a pilot's or CFI license, one can be signed
off by two CFIs and fly a different cat/class (such as gliders),
as of Jan 15, 2005.

Other than the 2-33, the most common (and apparently the best
performing) glider that qualifies as an LSA is the SZD 50-3
Puchacz (roughly pronounced as poo-hotch,
rhymes with watch, the first "c" is silent).

Apparently this glider is also a Utility class standard US
certificated glider, which means it can be rented out for hire,
but still meets the LSA Vne (116 kts) and Gross Max (1257 lbs)
so is legal for sport pilots to fly. This is a great opportunity
since this glider can be used for dual by a Sport CFI (who
perhaps was an ASEL CFI and then easily transitioned to
being a Sport Pilot instructor by just two signoffs, and no
FAA checkride).

How the insurers will view this is another matter, that
hasn't yet been addressed...

Anyway, the RV-11 is likely going to be a motorglider, and
I'd like to encourage RAS readers to write Van's and suggest it
be designed to meet the LSA limitations in its specs, even though
it will actually just be certified "Experimental -
Amateur Built - Glider."

I'd also like Van's to design an LSA tricycle gear version of the
RV-9, for similar reasons, but the self-launch
glider version is of course more interesting to this newsgroup...

So take a look at LSA and Sport Pilot, and then send an e-mail to Vans

asking if the RV-11 will meet LSA Vne and gross weight requirements...

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Mark J. Boyd