Sport Pilot license

Hello Patrick:

You probably already know it is possible to fly a twin engine aircraft
without a medical - or a jet? Or fly at 30,000 feet?

Yes, it is possible if you have a self-launch glider rating. I have such a
rating - and an aircraft that allows pilots to fly without a medical. It is
called a motorglider. I do have a medical and a SEL - but if you get a
glider rating with a self launch endorsement, you can fly a number of
different motorgliders. You can use them as regular airplanes. Some are
tail-draggers, some are tricycle gear and some are single wheel with
outriggers when the wing drops. Some go as fast as about 130. One of the
companies is coming out with a single engine jet version. There is a pilot
who has modified a glider with twin jet engines. It is aerobatic. Not bad
for not needing a medical.

I suppose the thinking is that if a motorglider pilot flying a 1700 pound
motorglider has a heart attack and dies, he will not kill as many people as
a pilot flying a Cessna 150 who has a heart attack, or a pilot who is flying
a sport certified plane, who has a bad heart but does not need to take a
physical. Makes a lot of sense.

I think the weight limit is about 1800 pounds and it needs long wings and be
certified as a glider. They fly great and are very efficient. About the
only down side is on the ground as many have wings longer than 50 feet. Some
have folding wings, for hanger storage.

As for instruments, I have CAS, Comm and Mode C transponder in the
motorglider.

And, with a motorglider, and not being instrument rated, you can get in a
mountain wave, shut the motor down. grab some oxygen get a prior wave
clearance and soar to 30,000 feet or more. In essence, the sky is the
limit. All without a medical.

Good luck, Colin

Colin,
Yes I was aware of the no med glider rating. Have thought about maybe
checking into that alittle more once I get this SPL done,...can always use
another endorsement huh? Sadly being medically retired does not allow
alot of funds to buy a motorglider , from the prices I have seen. And I
really have not come across any plans for building one , maybe you have a
suggestion?

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech
"COLIN LAMB" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hello Patrick:

You probably already know it is possible to fly a twin engine aircraft
without a medical - or a jet? Or fly at 30,000 feet?

Yes, it is possible if you have a self-launch glider rating. I have such
a rating - and an aircraft that allows pilots to fly without a medical.
It is called a motorglider. I do have a medical and a SEL - but if you
get a glider rating with a self launch endorsement, you can fly a number
of different motorgliders. You can use them as regular airplanes. Some
are tail-draggers, some are tricycle gear and some are single wheel with
outriggers when the wing drops. Some go as fast as about 130. One of the
companies is coming out with a single engine jet version. There is a
pilot who has modified a glider with twin jet engines. It is aerobatic.
Not bad for not needing a medical.

I suppose the thinking is that if a motorglider pilot flying a 1700 pound
motorglider has a heart attack and dies, he will not kill as many people
as a pilot flying a Cessna 150 who has a heart attack, or a pilot who is
flying a sport certified plane, who has a bad heart but does not need to
take a physical. Makes a lot of sense.

I think the weight limit is about 1800 pounds and it needs long wings and
be certified as a glider. They fly great and are very efficient. About
the only down side is on the ground as many have wings longer than 50
feet. Some have folding wings, for hanger storage.

As for instruments, I have CAS, Comm and Mode C transponder in the
motorglider.

And, with a motorglider, and not being instrument rated, you can get in a
mountain wave, shut the motor down. grab some oxygen get a prior wave
clearance and soar to 30,000 feet or more. In essence, the sky is the
limit. All without a medical.

Good luck, Colin

There is a motorglider kit that uses a VW engine. I do not know much about
it. It is only about a 20:1 glide ratio, I recall.

You can also buy a motorglider that needs restoration - which is sort of
like building your own.

Colin

W P Dixon wrote:

Colin,
Yes I was aware of the no med glider rating. Have thought about maybe
checking into that alittle more once I get this SPL done,...can always use
another endorsement huh? Sadly being medically retired does not allow
alot of funds to buy a motorglider , from the prices I have seen. And I
really have not come across any plans for building one , maybe you have a
suggestion?

Below copied and pasted from their web site, The plane won't meet SP
criterial because of it's speed but the motor glider version will. The two
are the same except the outer wing panels which you can build both and use
either as a motor glider or higher performance single seater if you have a
PPL.
John



http://www.fly-kr.com/
The KR-1 is the single seat low wing retractable monoplane which is
typically powered by smaller VW engines, up to the VW 2100. The KR-1B
motorglider is a standard KR-1 with modified outer wing sections. With this
simple wing conversion, the original KR-1 becomes an excellent self-powered
glider.

With regard to the aircraft that changes wings to move from an airplane to a
motorglider, beware that the original classification is what the aircraft
stays at in the eyes of the FAA.

Thus, if you add longer wings to a airplane, it cannot become a glider. It
has to have been originally licensed as a glider.

Not sure about the other way around, though. If you have a licensed glider
and you put short wings on it, maybe it cannot be a glider, but it would not
be an airplane.

Colin

Hey Ultra!,
I like those KR's, but I have had the same concern about it that Colin
had. I sure wish there was a Sport Pilot version of a KR. Maybe a KR 1/2 !
HAHA But I have to admit I hate fiberglass type stuff...it just eats me up.
With a total lack of decent wood available, I may have to change plans and
go with a metal plane. I still think the Mini-Coupe is kinda neat. And plans
are cheap! The Thatcher CX-4 is WAYYYY cool, but plans are expensive ( for
my poor butt anyway!).
But back to the gliders, have you seen the free glider plans on the net?
I wonder if a small engine could be mounted to that thing?

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech

"UltraJohn" wrote in message
link.net...

Below copied and pasted from their web site, The plane won't meet SP
criterial because of it's speed but the motor glider version will. The two
are the same except the outer wing panels which you can build both and use
either as a motor glider or higher performance single seater if you have a
PPL.
John



http://www.fly-kr.com/
The KR-1 is the single seat low wing retractable monoplane which is
typically powered by smaller VW engines, up to the VW 2100. The KR-1B
motorglider is a standard KR-1 with modified outer wing sections. With
this
simple wing conversion, the original KR-1 becomes an excellent
self-powered
glider.

W P Dixon wrote:

Hey Ultra!,
I like those KR's, but I have had the same concern about it that Colin
had. I sure wish there was a Sport Pilot version of a KR. Maybe a KR 1/2 !
HAHA But I have to admit I hate fiberglass type stuff...it just eats me
up. With a total lack of decent wood available, I may have to change plans
and go with a metal plane. I still think the Mini-Coupe is kinda neat. And
plans are cheap! The Thatcher CX-4 is WAYYYY cool, but plans are expensive
( for my poor butt anyway!).
But back to the gliders, have you seen the free glider plans on the
net?
I wonder if a small engine could be mounted to that thing?

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech

Patrick
I did a little checking and the KR-1B appears to meet the SP requirements.
They not only have an approximately 6 foot longer wingspan it is also a
different shape. The max cruise speed is 130 mph with a VW 1600 and the
stall speed is lower also bringing it within range. Doesn't help you any
with the fiberglass problem though! ;-)
John

Hey,
I may have to check into that. I believe the free plans I was speaking of
is called a GOAT or something like that. I do wish a KR2 was a SP, I do like
it!!!!!!

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech

"UltraJohn" wrote in message
hlink.net...
W P Dixon wrote:

Hey Ultra!,
I like those KR's, but I have had the same concern about it that Colin
had. I sure wish there was a Sport Pilot version of a KR. Maybe a KR 1/2
!
HAHA But I have to admit I hate fiberglass type stuff...it just eats me
up. With a total lack of decent wood available, I may have to change
plans
and go with a metal plane. I still think the Mini-Coupe is kinda neat.
And
plans are cheap! The Thatcher CX-4 is WAYYYY cool, but plans are
expensive
( for my poor butt anyway!).
But back to the gliders, have you seen the free glider plans on the
net?
I wonder if a small engine could be mounted to that thing?

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech

Patrick
I did a little checking and the KR-1B appears to meet the SP requirements.
They not only have an approximately 6 foot longer wingspan it is also a
different shape. The max cruise speed is 130 mph with a VW 1600 and the
stall speed is lower also bringing it within range. Doesn't help you any
with the fiberglass problem though! ;-)
John

Maybe this is it:

http://home.att.net/~m--sandlin/bug.htm

David


"W P Dixon" wrote in message
news
Hey,
I may have to check into that. I believe the free plans I was speaking
of
is called a GOAT or something like that. I do wish a KR2 was a SP, I do
like
it!!!!!!

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech

"UltraJohn" wrote in message
hlink.net...
W P Dixon wrote:

Hey Ultra!,
I like those KR's, but I have had the same concern about it that
Colin
had. I sure wish there was a Sport Pilot version of a KR. Maybe a KR
1/2
!
HAHA But I have to admit I hate fiberglass type stuff...it just eats me
up. With a total lack of decent wood available, I may have to change
plans
and go with a metal plane. I still think the Mini-Coupe is kinda neat.
And
plans are cheap! The Thatcher CX-4 is WAYYYY cool, but plans are
expensive
( for my poor butt anyway!).
But back to the gliders, have you seen the free glider plans on the
net?
I wonder if a small engine could be mounted to that thing?

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech

Patrick
I did a little checking and the KR-1B appears to meet the SP
requirements.
They not only have an approximately 6 foot longer wingspan it is also a
different shape. The max cruise speed is 130 mph with a VW 1600 and the
stall speed is lower also bringing it within range. Doesn't help you any
with the fiberglass problem though! ;-)
John