Sport Light Aircraft regs

The FAA has finally released the final SLA regulations for gliders.

The Gross is now 1320 pounds, the Vne is 120 knots.

It seems like good news. Any comments?

Bill Daniels

Bill Daniels wrote:

The FAA has finally released the final SLA regulations for gliders.

The Gross is now 1320 pounds, the Vne is 120 knots.

It seems like good news. Any comments?

Bill Daniels

Why so slow? Vne is almost irrelevant (except for aerobatics) to the
intended use of a glider. Seems like its a regulation that encourages
the manufacturer of weaker airframes.
Bill, do the regs require fixed gear? Any mention of flaps?

Shawn

"scurry" wrote in message
...
Bill Daniels wrote:

The FAA has finally released the final SLA regulations for gliders.

The Gross is now 1320 pounds, the Vne is 120 knots.

It seems like good news. Any comments?

Bill Daniels

Why so slow? Vne is almost irrelevant (except for aerobatics) to the
intended use of a glider. Seems like its a regulation that encourages
the manufacturer of weaker airframes.
Bill, do the regs require fixed gear? Any mention of flaps?

Shawn

BTW, I think I got it wrong. It's Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). The new regs
are effective Sept. 1st.

Retracts are OK for gliders, not powered LSA's. Flaps are OK too. I would
encourage manufacturers to build to a 120 knot Va but just mark the redline
there. It seems that most gliders could be re-certificated as LSA's. The
benefit? Doing your own annual condition inspections, maybe.

Bill Daniels

"Bill Daniels" wrote in message
news:L1gLc.131341$IQ4.41472@attbi_s02...

"scurry" wrote in message
...
Bill Daniels wrote:

The FAA has finally released the final SLA regulations for gliders.

The Gross is now 1320 pounds, the Vne is 120 knots.

It seems like good news. Any comments?

Bill Daniels

Why so slow? Vne is almost irrelevant (except for aerobatics) to the
intended use of a glider. Seems like its a regulation that encourages
the manufacturer of weaker airframes.
Bill, do the regs require fixed gear? Any mention of flaps?

Shawn

BTW, I think I got it wrong. It's Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). The new
regs
are effective Sept. 1st.

Retracts are OK for gliders, not powered LSA's. Flaps are OK too. I
would
encourage manufacturers to build to a 120 knot Va but just mark the
redline
there. It seems that most gliders could be re-certificated as LSA's. The
benefit? Doing your own annual condition inspections, maybe.

Bill Daniels

Altitude restrictions?

Frank Whiteley

"F.L. Whiteley" wrote in message
...

"Bill Daniels" wrote in message
news:L1gLc.131341$IQ4.41472@attbi_s02...

"scurry" wrote in message
...
Bill Daniels wrote:

The FAA has finally released the final SLA regulations for gliders.

The Gross is now 1320 pounds, the Vne is 120 knots.

It seems like good news. Any comments?

Bill Daniels

Why so slow? Vne is almost irrelevant (except for aerobatics) to the
intended use of a glider. Seems like its a regulation that encourages
the manufacturer of weaker airframes.
Bill, do the regs require fixed gear? Any mention of flaps?

Shawn

BTW, I think I got it wrong. It's Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). The new
regs
are effective Sept. 1st.

Retracts are OK for gliders, not powered LSA's. Flaps are OK too. I
would
encourage manufacturers to build to a 120 knot Va but just mark the
redline
there. It seems that most gliders could be re-certificated as LSA's.
The
benefit? Doing your own annual condition inspections, maybe.

Bill Daniels

Altitude restrictions?

Frank Whiteley



There are two things in the new regs that are hard to keep apart - LSA
aircraft and LSA pilots.

It appears that there is a 10,000 foot limit for LSA PILOTS flying LSA
aircraft. The concern is that holders of LSA pilot certificates will not
have had training for high altitude operations.

LSA gliders flown by a holders of a Private Glider or better certificate do
not appear to have an altitude limitation that is different from standard
airworthiness gliders.

Bill Daniels

"Bill Daniels" writes:

The FAA has finally released the final SLA regulations for gliders.

The Gross is now 1320 pounds, the Vne is 120 knots.

It seems like good news. Any comments?

The Vne seems low, some exceed that already don't they?

--
Paul Repacholi 1 Crescent Rd.,
+61 (08) 9257-1001 Kalamunda.
West Australia 6076
comp.os.vms,- The Older, Grumpier Slashdot
Raw, Cooked or Well-done, it's all half baked.
EPIC, The Architecture of the future, always has been, always will be.

"Paul Repacholi" wrote in message
...

The Vne seems low, some exceed that already don't they?

No problem! Just change the POH and the placards. You end up with a slower
but safer glider.

Vaughn

In article L1gLc.131341$IQ4.41472@attbi_s02,
"Bill Daniels" wrote:

Retracts are OK for gliders, not powered LSA's. Flaps are OK too. I would
encourage manufacturers to build to a 120 knot Va but just mark the redline
there.

Like the original Janus. Vne 119 knots. Rough air speed 119 knots.
Manouvering speed is only (IIRC) 92 knots though.

-- Bruce

All,
Another benefit for later licensed "Experimentals" might be the elimination
of the requierment for the "Annual Program Letter".
Cheers!
"Vaughn" wrote in message
...

"Paul Repacholi" wrote in message
...

The Vne seems low, some exceed that already don't they?

No problem! Just change the POH and the placards. You end up with a
slower
but safer glider.

Vaughn

Here is a link that I found interesting:
http://www.sportpilot.org/sportpilot_rule.pdf

I suggest close examination of the glider altitude limits, towing
restrictions, etc.

Wayne
http://www.soaridaho.com/


"Bruce Hoult" wrote in message
...
In article L1gLc.131341$IQ4.41472@attbi_s02,
"Bill Daniels" wrote:

Retracts are OK for gliders, not powered LSA's. Flaps are OK too. I
would
encourage manufacturers to build to a 120 knot Va but just mark the
redline
there.

Like the original Janus. Vne 119 knots. Rough air speed 119 knots.
Manouvering speed is only (IIRC) 92 knots though.

-- Bruce