Perry Mick wrote:

I just received the November 2004 issue of Kitplanes. There is a very
good article about Light Sport Aircraft by Ron Wanttaja beginning on
p age15.

Definitions:
SLSA: Special Light Sport Aircraft (manufactured airplanes)
ELSA: Experimental Light Sport Aircraft

Starting at the end of page 19, it says:

"None of the FAA's normal aircraft- and engine-certification regulations
are imposed, and SLSA manufacturers are not required to use FAA-approved
components. But any component they use, such as an automobile engine
conversion, must comply to the consensus standard."

Later, under Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft:

"Unlike 'normal' homebuilts, ELSA kit buyers are not limited by the
major-portion (51%) rule. ELSA kit manufacturers are free to sell their
products at whatever degree of completion they wish.
Of course, there's a catch. To qualify as an ELSA, an aircraft design
must first be certified as a SLSA. In other words, the manufacturer must
design and manufacture a prototype to the consensus standard and develop
all the flight and maintenance instructions the standards require."

So the bottom line is, if we want rotaries in LSA, these "consensus
standards" need to be written such that rotaries are inclusive.

On page 3:

"the FAA will not issue any LSA airworthiness certificates (Special or
Experimental) until January 2005 at the absolute earliest.
Why? Consensus standards, which are being developed by industry
manufacturers under the guidance of the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM), are not yet finalized."

Sounds like we need to find out what the ASTM/industry manufacturers are
up to/proposing for consensus standards? How can we find out who these
industry manufacturers are?

Attached is a concept I'm considering, based on the Rutan Solitaire
sailplane wings and canard:
Min. Flying Speed ........................... 32 knots (LSA limit 45 knots)
Vne ........................................ 115 knots (LSA limit 120
knots level flight)
It would have a whole new fuselage and normal tricycle landing gear,
beefed up wings and canard for the higher gross weight. A 13B ducted-fan
dualling as vertical stabilizer with rudders incorporated. If I can make
a ducted fan go 135 knots I can make one limited to 120 knots. It might
have to be single-place to meet the gross weight limit of 1320 lbs.

Perry

 
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