Sport Pilot and Glider Questions

"BTIZ" wrote in message
news:ICBKf.40$Uc2.37@fed1read04...
If I recall correctly.. there is no Glider Rating at the Sport Pilot
level.
If you complete a Sport Pilot Rating in "airplane", then you still need to
complete a Glider Rating at the Private Pilot Level. Complete with Glider
Private Pilot written exam and check ride.

Yes you can get a Sport Pilot - Glider; however, the standards are so close
to the Private Pilot - Glider that I hardly see why it would be worth while.

I seem to remember that the basic requirements are something like the
following:
1 . Must be 16 years old
2. Total of 20 hours in a heavier-then-air aircraft with: 10 hours of flight
time in a glider, including 10 flights in a glider receiving flight training
from an authorized Instructor and at least 2 hours of solo flight.
3. Five solo launches and landings, and 3 hours of flight training on those
areas of operation specified in §61.311.
4. Have passed the written examination; and
5. Have passed the flight exam with an Examiner

http://www.aopa.org/sportpilot/pts_sport_airplane.pdf Chapter 3 covers the
practical test standards for Sport Pilot glider privileges.

Flying sailplanes as a Sport Pilot would limit you to flights less than
10,000 feet MSL (major problem where I fly) and a sailplane that has a Vne
of less than 120 kts.

I really don't know where the Virus falls. It meets the Sport Aircraft -
airplane; however, I am sure that its' Vne is over 120 kts; therefore, fails
to meet the Sport Aircraft - glider requirements.

I believe the Private Pilot - Glider (self-launch) is the best route to
flying a Virus.

The bottom like is that you must have a pilot certificate that matches the
aircraft's airworthiness certificate. If the FAA calls it a glider, it is a
glider. Otherwise it is a single engine airplane. (If you review the FAA
records you will see some WindRose homebuilts registered as gliders and some
registered as single-engine airplanes.)

Wayne
HP-14 N990 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/