Question about the Sport Pilot designation

On 19 Mar 2006 16:02:16 -0800, "AJ" wrote:

If someone was to ask, "Well, what can the sport pilot do," what
would be the answer?

Just about anything he wanted to, tailoring the training to his needs,
and a whole lot more than I as a recreational pilot used to be able to
do.

When the Sport Pilot ticket was approved, I got together with my
flight instructor (former instructor, now friend) and we talked about
airspace for a while. He grabbed my logbook, wrote some words, and now
I can fly in B/C/D airspace at will (my will and that of the
controller






-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

I'm 57 and have been flying for only two years. The sport pilot
definition was just about a perfect fit for my intended use: flying
for fun and just lookin' around. An occasional cross country. I've
got very little interest in big airports. A little plane is fine with
me.

Well, at the time I started my training, the sport pilot stuff was
under discussion, but not implemented. I didn't want to wait for the
beurocrats to work things out, so I went ahead and got my private pilot
certificate.

Now, 240 hours later, and an owner/builder of a Savannah (similar to
Zenith CH701) I'm glad I didn't wait. It's too much fun flying. But
if I were starting today, I would probably go sport pilot if training
was available in my area. (it still isn't)

tom

("tom" wrote)
I'm 57 and have been flying for only two years. The sport pilot
definition was just about a perfect fit for my intended use: flying for
fun and just lookin' around. An occasional cross country. I've got very
little interest in big airports. A little plane is fine with me.


It would have been nice to get the C-150/152's and all of the Ercoupes into
the L-Sport category. 1,600 lbs? Oh well.

The other is the high end speed limit (138 mph). It would have been nice if
that could have been waived for single place planes ...RV-3(B). Again, oh
well.

http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv-3int.htm


Montblack

Well, if you really wanted to fly an RV-3, you could probably hang a 100 hp
engine and a less than optimal prop and stay under the speed limit...



"Montblack" wrote in message
...
("tom" wrote)
I'm 57 and have been flying for only two years. The sport pilot
definition was just about a perfect fit for my intended use: flying for
fun and just lookin' around. An occasional cross country. I've got
very
little interest in big airports. A little plane is fine with me.


It would have been nice to get the C-150/152's and all of the Ercoupes
into
the L-Sport category. 1,600 lbs? Oh well.

The other is the high end speed limit (138 mph). It would have been nice
if
that could have been waived for single place planes ...RV-3(B). Again, oh
well.

http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv-3int.htm


Montblack

("Lakeview Bill" wrote)
The other is the high end speed limit (138 mph). It would have been nice
if that could have been waived for single place planes ...RV-3(B). Again,
oh well.

http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv-3int.htm

Well, if you really wanted to fly an RV-3, you could probably hang a 100
hp engine and a less than optimal prop and stay under the speed limit...


Would they let [me] build an RV-3(B) and register/fly it as an LSA or E-LSA?
Or would they be wise to my attempts? Ok, ok ...smaller engine it is.

If it must be toned down, the assumption is that "Total Performance" of the
RV-3(B) will get (at least)138 mph ... so, instead, let's aim for super-low
fuel burn. Any small diesels out there? :-)

Wonder how Van's feels about this option - hanging a 100 hp engine on an
RV-3? How would they feel about an 85 hp engine + an optimal prop?

Wonder if the FAA has come up against this yet?

What I'd want is 138 mph (145 ...Oops.wink) at the very best gph possible
AND be FAA approved as an E-LSA. (Single seat preferable)

http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv-3per.htm
RV-3 Performance

Solo Weight .....1,050 lbs
Empty Weight .....750 lbs.
Empty weight and performance measured with fixed pitch wood propeller

Speed .................................125 hp ..............150 hp

Top Speed ........................195 mph ...........207 mph
Cruise [75% @ 8000'] ......185 mph ..........196 mph
Cruise [55% @ 8000'] ......166 mph ..........176 mph
Stall Speed ..........................51 mph .............51 mph
Ground Performance
Takeoff Distance .................350 ft ..................300 ft
Landing Distance ................350 ft ...................350 ft
Climb/Ceiling
Rate of Climb ...................1,700 fpm ............2,050 fpm
Ceiling ..............................20,500 ft ...............23,500 ft
Range
Range [75% @ 8000'] ...........640 sm.............595 sm
Range [55% @ 8000'] ...........770 sm ............715 sm


Montblack

You will not get it approved as an "e-LSA"

an e-LSA will either be a kit built by a manufacturer who has built at
least one sLSA... or a "grandfathered" "ultralight-like" aircraft...

the RV-3 is niether.

you could very likely build an am-built experimental RV-3 with a 100 HP
engine and the proper pitch prop that you test fly and enter in your POH
the proper documentation that says it does not fly more than 138mph at
sea level on a standard day at your chosen "maximum continuous power"
setting and you may fly it as a sport pilot.

You are the builder, you test fly the aircraft, YOU put those little
color bar on the RPM indicator, yes you could do it, and do it legally.

OR just build a Sonex or Zodiac 601 that's sport pilot legal to begin
with, or wait a bit for the RV-12.

--
-- ET :-)

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


-


"Montblack" wrote in
:

("Lakeview Bill" wrote)
The other is the high end speed limit (138 mph). It would have been
nice if that could have been waived for single place planes
...RV-3(B). Again, oh well.

http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv-3int.htm

Well, if you really wanted to fly an RV-3, you could probably hang a
100 hp engine and a less than optimal prop and stay under the speed
limit...


Would they let [me] build an RV-3(B) and register/fly it as an LSA or
E-LSA? Or would they be wise to my attempts? Ok, ok ...smaller engine
it is.

If it must be toned down, the assumption is that "Total Performance"
of the RV-3(B) will get (at least)138 mph ... so, instead, let's aim
for super-low fuel burn. Any small diesels out there? :-)

Wonder how Van's feels about this option - hanging a 100 hp engine on
an RV-3? How would they feel about an 85 hp engine + an optimal prop?

Wonder if the FAA has come up against this yet?

What I'd want is 138 mph (145 ...Oops.wink) at the very best gph
possible AND be FAA approved as an E-LSA. (Single seat preferable)

http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv-3per.htm
RV-3 Performance

Solo Weight .....1,050 lbs
Empty Weight .....750 lbs.
Empty weight and performance measured with fixed pitch wood propeller

Speed .................................125 hp ..............150 hp

Top Speed ........................195 mph ...........207 mph
Cruise [75% @ 8000'] ......185 mph ..........196 mph
Cruise [55% @ 8000'] ......166 mph ..........176 mph
Stall Speed ..........................51 mph .............51 mph
Ground Performance
Takeoff Distance .................350 ft ..................300 ft
Landing Distance ................350 ft ...................350 ft
Climb/Ceiling
Rate of Climb ...................1,700 fpm ............2,050 fpm
Ceiling ..............................20,500 ft ...............23,500
ft Range
Range [75% @ 8000'] ...........640 sm.............595 sm
Range [55% @ 8000'] ...........770 sm ............715 sm


Montblack

"Montblack" wrote

The other is the high end speed limit (138 mph). It would have been nice
if
that could have been waived for single place planes ...RV-3(B). Again, oh
well.

That's a no brainer! Put a **very**flat pitch prop on it, and it will not
go too fast, without over revving the engine.

Think of the deck angle you could get, on climbout! About 60 degrees? g
--
Jim in NC

("Morgans" wrote)
That's a no brainer!

Well, now you're in MY wheelhouse! g


Whatever would get approved ...AND get, say, 3 gph fuel burn? Is that close
to possible with an RV-3(B) ...at 138+ mph cruise speeds?

750 lbs empty weight.
Engine .................................125 hp ..............150 hp

Top Speed ........................195 mph ...........207 mph
Cruise [75% @ 8000'] ......185 mph ..........196 mph
Cruise [55% @ 8000'] ......166 mph ..........176 mph

The thing stalls at 51 mph, so that's within LSA limits.


Montblack