Sport Pilot Final

Ron,do we still need a bi-annual?

Ron Wanttaja wrote in message . ..
On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 10:06:55 -0700, "Richard Isakson"
wrote:

(ii) 1,320 pounds (600 kilograms) for aircraft not intended for operation on
water; or

Cool...almost a hundred pounds higher than they originally were talking
about. This lets the Ercoupes in. If you look at EAA's old "These planes
don't qualify" section on this page...

http://www.sportpilot.org/lsa/standard_certificate_aircraft.html

...you'll see there are some Aeroncas, T-Carts, and even a J-3 model that
now qualify.

So here's a question. Many certificated aircraft have multiple gross
weights, one for normal category, and another for utility. If the
normal category gross weight is over 1320 pounds, and the utility
category weight is under, can I fly it as a LSA if I operate it only
in the "utility" category?

BTW, the rule specifies only "maximum takeoff weight" less than 1320
lbs, not "maximum *certificated* takeoff weight" In the preamble text,
it defines "maximum weight" as empty weight+passengers+baggage+full
fuel. Can I compute my own "maximum takeoff weight", based on the
flight requirements?

On 12 Aug 2004 19:54:32 -0700, (Doug Haluza) wrote:

So here's a question. Many certificated aircraft have multiple gross
weights, one for normal category, and another for utility. If the
normal category gross weight is over 1320 pounds, and the utility
category weight is under, can I fly it as a LSA if I operate it only
in the "utility" category?

BTW, the rule specifies only "maximum takeoff weight" less than 1320
lbs, not "maximum *certificated* takeoff weight" In the preamble text,
it defines "maximum weight" as empty weight+passengers+baggage+full
fuel. Can I compute my own "maximum takeoff weight", based on the
flight requirements?

That's probably one of those "niche" items that the FAA is going to have to
figure out, along with how to determine if a given homebuilt meets the
definition.

After all, the requirement is that the airplane have no more than two
seats, *not* that no more than two people can be carried. That implies
that the split-category airplane cannot be flown by a Sport Pilot, as the
plane itself is legally capable of flying at greater than 1320 pounds.

But me? I'd fly it, and let the FAA make the determination if they want.

Ron Wanttaja

"Doug Haluza" wrote ...
So here's a question. Many certificated aircraft have multiple gross
weights, one for normal category, and another for utility. If the
normal category gross weight is over 1320 pounds, and the utility
category weight is under, can I fly it as a LSA if I operate it only
in the "utility" category?

BTW, the rule specifies only "maximum takeoff weight" less than 1320
lbs, not "maximum *certificated* takeoff weight" In the preamble text,
it defines "maximum weight" as empty weight+passengers+baggage+full
fuel. Can I compute my own "maximum takeoff weight", based on the
flight requirements?

From FAR 1.1 General definitions
Light-sport aircraft means an aircraft, that, since its original
certification, has continued to meet the following:

(1) A maximum takeoff weight of not more than--

(ii) 1,320 pounds (600 kilograms) for aircraft not intended for operation on
water; or

As I read this, your airplane has had a max TO weight greater than 1320
pounds and therefore doesn't qualify as an LSA. The FAA had to limit the
weight somewhere and they don't want you to be temped to cheat.



Rich

I have heard conflicting reports as to whether the Ercoupe 416C would be
eligible as a LSA or not. Anyone know for sure? I see it listed as having a
t/o weight of 1260 lb. under the 1320 lb. in the newly published FAA
rules...

--

Dr. Bob Lade
Lade's Internet Service, Inc.
637 N.E. 15th Court
Cape Coral FL 33909
www.BobLade.com
239-772-1663 v/f 239-560-1631 m
"Gilan" wrote in message
nk.net...
http://www.flyinggators.com/news/LSA/SPrule.html

--
Have a good day and stay out of the trees!
See ya on Sport Aircraft group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sport_Aircraft/

I meant the Ercoupe 415C, of course g.

--

Dr. Bob Lade
Lade's Internet Service, Inc.
637 N.E. 15th Court
Cape Coral FL 33909
www.BobLade.com
239-772-1663 v/f 239-560-1631 m
"Dr. Bob Lade" wrote in message
news
I have heard conflicting reports as to whether the Ercoupe 416C would be
eligible as a LSA or not. Anyone know for sure? I see it listed as having
a
t/o weight of 1260 lb. under the 1320 lb. in the newly published FAA
rules...

--

Dr. Bob Lade
Lade's Internet Service, Inc.
637 N.E. 15th Court
Cape Coral FL 33909
www.BobLade.com
239-772-1663 v/f 239-560-1631 m
"Gilan" wrote in message
nk.net...
http://www.flyinggators.com/news/LSA/SPrule.html

--
Have a good day and stay out of the trees!
See ya on Sport Aircraft group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sport_Aircraft/

"Dr. Bob Lade" wrote in
:

I meant the Ercoupe 415C, of course g.

--

Dr. Bob Lade
Lade's Internet Service, Inc.
637 N.E. 15th Court
Cape Coral FL 33909
www.BobLade.com
239-772-1663 v/f 239-560-1631 m
"Dr. Bob Lade" wrote in message
news
I have heard conflicting reports as to whether the Ercoupe 416C would
be eligible as a LSA or not. Anyone know for sure? I see it listed as
having
a
t/o weight of 1260 lb. under the 1320 lb. in the newly published FAA
rules...

--

Dr. Bob Lade
Lade's Internet Service, Inc.
637 N.E. 15th Court
Cape Coral FL 33909
www.BobLade.com

Looks to me like your in....

Stall speed (clean) 48mph

LSA stall speed 45knots = approx 48.6 mph

--
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 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.

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.

Actually, 45 knots = 51.75 mph, so it looks as if the 415C should be able to
have the SLA classification. That's a good thing, cuz many of the other
"eligible" a/c are tail-draggers. The castored main gear on the Ercoupe
should make a crabbed X-wind landing fairly easy (and necessary since
auto-coordination excludes slipping.)

--

Dr. Bob Lade
Lade's Internet Service, Inc.
637 N.E. 15th Court
Cape Coral FL 33909
www.BobLade.com
239-772-1663 v/f 239-560-1631 m
"ET" wrote in message
...
"Dr. Bob Lade" wrote in
:

I meant the Ercoupe 415C, of course g.

--

Dr. Bob Lade
Lade's Internet Service, Inc.
637 N.E. 15th Court
Cape Coral FL 33909
www.BobLade.com
239-772-1663 v/f 239-560-1631 m
"Dr. Bob Lade" wrote in message
news
I have heard conflicting reports as to whether the Ercoupe 416C would
be eligible as a LSA or not. Anyone know for sure? I see it listed as
having
a
t/o weight of 1260 lb. under the 1320 lb. in the newly published FAA
rules...

--

Dr. Bob Lade
Lade's Internet Service, Inc.
637 N.E. 15th Court
Cape Coral FL 33909
www.BobLade.com

Looks to me like your in....

Stall speed (clean) 48mph

LSA stall speed 45knots = approx 48.6 mph

--
ET


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