Sorting out Experimental Airworthiness Certification and LSA designation

On Wednesday, April 16, 2014 10:09:55 PM UTC-4, Bill T wrote:
I would not care about changing an experimental to LSA. AFAIK it would gain you nothing. If the glider qualifies within the speed limitations of an LSA, a glider rated LSA pilot can fly it. An aircraft does not have to be registered as LSA for an LSA rated pilot to fly it.

That helps.

Have any glider manufacturers brought their products into the USA as LSA?
The LSA lobby seems to be large, strong and effective at moderating regulations.

And though it is traditional and many have gotten used to it, Experimental Racing/Exhibition owners seem to be a small and marginalized group, that is at the mercy of local FSDO interpretations.

It seems that LSA regulations are friendly, and getting friendlier, whereas Experimental regulations seem somewhat arbitrary and tending to get less friendly over time.

I realize that the Experimental regs encompass all sorts of marginal truly experimental aircraft and thus the FAA oversight functions are justified. But putting my 'type-certified-in-Europe-conservative-glider' in the experimental bucket seems an expedient hack.

Now that LSA is emerging, I wonder if I'd should try to get into that bucket instead. The holder of the type certificate is still a viable business.