Sport Pilot Final

Somewhat on topic, is it possible to change (lower) the gross weight
of a production aircraft? Example a piper clipper pa-16 is of course a
4 seater empty wight usually around 900 lbs, if I removed the back
seat and flew it at 1320 lbs or under (my wife and I together weigh
300 lbs or so)? It would meet all the other criteria vne 120 knots or
less, cruise and max speed 120 kts.

Thanks,
Dave

"Rich S." wrote in message ...
"ET" wrote in message
...

LSA stall speed 45knots = approx 48.6 mph

That would be closer to 51.7864910 mph.

Rich "The Devil is in the details" S.

dave wrote:

Somewhat on topic, is it possible to change (lower) the gross weight
of a production aircraft?

Sure. Recertify it.

George Patterson
In Idaho, tossing a rattlesnake into a crowded room is felony assault.
In Tennessee, it's evangelism.

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in
:



dave wrote:

Somewhat on topic, is it possible to change (lower) the gross weight
of a production aircraft?

Sure. Recertify it.

George Patterson
In Idaho, tossing a rattlesnake into a crowded room is felony
assault. In Tennessee, it's evangelism.


NO,

Well, YES, actually, but it will not do any good for Sport Pilot.

The FAA added the following to avoid just such a thing: "Light-sport
aircraft means an aircraft, other than a helicopter or powered-lift that,
since its original certification, has continued to meet the following:"

The words "since it's original certification, has continued" is your
problem. The same for the ercoupe 415 d's that used to be "c's". You
can't take them back to a "c" and fly under sport (and be legal). I
suppose it's unlikely that a ramp check will get you ... but if the ramp
checkers start carrying laptops with N-number databases in them... maybe
you would get caught.

--
ET


"A common mistake people make when trying to design something
completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete
fools."---- Douglas Adams

ET wrote:

The words "since it's original certification, has continued" is your
problem.

Ah, yes. Careless reading on my part.

George Patterson
In Idaho, tossing a rattlesnake into a crowded room is felony assault.
In Tennessee, it's evangelism.