"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
Michael Stringfellow wrote:

"snip....Why would I ever register the SparrowHawk?

If you want to fly with other aircraft, especially in formation flight,
you
might have to.

Could you elaborate on this? Do you mean thermalling with other gliders,
or being towed?



If you read part 103, you will find a requirement to in 103.13
as follows

§103.13 Operation near aircraft; right-of-way rules.

(a) Each person operating an ultralight vehicle shall maintain vigilance so
as to see and avoid aircraft and shall yield the right-of-way to all
aircraft.

(b) No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a
collision hazard with respect to any aircraft.

(c) Powered ultralights shall yield the right-of-way to unpowered
ultralights.



I think this prohibits gaggle flying with registered sailplanes because if
you are there, a collision hazard, however small, exists.

It also places the final duty to avoid on the ultralight. If you are
circling FDH (fat dumb and happy) with a bunch of your buddies and some
moron enters the thermal circling the wrong way without a radio and you hit
each other, it is YOUR FAULT because you failed to yield to the registered
aircraft. Another interesting item in 103 is the requirement that it be
operated only under 103. That means once you go part 91 with it, you can't
go back. Converting back and forth isn't allowed.



§103.3 Inspection requirements.


(a) Any person operating an ultralight vehicle under this part shall, upon
request, allow the Administrator, or his designee, to inspect the vehicle to
determine the applicability of this part.

(b) The pilot or operator of an ultralight vehicle must, upon request of the
Administrator, furnish satisfactory evidence that the vehicle is subject
only to the provisions of this part.



Part 103 is short and a must read if you are to understand the rules. ALSO
Unpowered ultralights don't get the weight of a BRS waived. If you install
it, it counts against the 155 pound limit.



Scott.