----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Vern, it would be nice if we could get the weight to 1500lbs or under, that would cover alot more planes like the Alon and M10's
Vern Hendershott wrote: > ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- > Over the last several years on these lists we have heard many fine stories > of what I think of as Sport Flying. Some involved a great local flight > landing just into a beautiful sunset or the grand saga of Lynn Nelsen and > his trip all around the country. I will go so far as to say the Ercoupe > pilots for the vast majority are "Sport Pilots". That is to say we fly for > the fun of it, the joy of it and we do not fly Coupes to try to make money. > I am sure there is an exception or two but I feel that the vast majority of > us fit this model (I am sure I will hear about it from those who see things > differently). > > So why am I covering the obvious here. Well the FAA is about to make a new > class of pilots which they call "Sport Pilots" and they define what > aircraft they can fly. They call them "Light" aircraft and they must meet > the following requirements: > > -- 1232 lbs. gross weight > -- 39 Knots stall speed > -- 87 Knots "max cruise" > -- powered - single engine "normally aspirated > -- unpressurized > -- two occupants or less > > Well we miss out on gross weight by "18" pounds (415-C), we do not have a > stall speed, most 75 or 85 hp. coupes will not do much over 87 knots and > they will not with a good climb prop and we clearly meet the other > requirement. > > If there ever was a case where an airplane fit the intent of the definition > it should be our beloved Coupes. It was designed to be a safe fun sport > plane and it has lived up to that design objective. So we have a great > "Sport Plane" being flown by a great bunch of "Sport Pilots" and the FAA > for 18 pounds will call us something else and keep us jumping through the > full "Private Pilots" drill including the Medical. Oh, the Medical, we have > heard many stories about the long process and great expense endured by some > on the list and in the end they get two or three months of flying before > they run out and have to start the process again. Did I forget to mention > the good part of being a "Sport Pilot"? Well you can take your choice of > having a third class medical or you have to have a "valid US Drivers > License". I think most of us still have that. > > The FAA is planning to put out the NPRM (notice of proposed rule making) in > January 2001 with a 90 day comment period. Then they will hold a Public > Meeting at Sun N Fun 2001 and the final rule should be published and > delivered at Oshkosh 2001. > > As I see it this is an issue that the EOC and everyone on this list should > have a real interest in. We, I think want it to happen even in its current > form. I also think that we can with constructive input through our leaders > perhaps get the 415-C included. Many of us would keep flying many more > years if this happened. I guess it would be good for the value of our > aircraft and it just might be the key to some kind of new production of the > Coupe. That may be to much to hope for but it would sure be good for us to > be able to be included. Champs, J-3 and a bunch of other similar period > aircraft will qualify. I hope we can put all of our differences aside for > this one time and get a solid front to present our case to the FAA. It can > be a strong case and we have some good people who can work the problem. We > can get support from the EAA and AOPA and other similar groups. It will > take time and great effort from our leaders. We must all support them, let > them know what we want and them be ready to help when asked to write > letters. > > I will look forward to hearing other views on this. > > More information can be found at http://www.aerosports.org/sport_pilot, > _osh00.htm > > Have a great day. > > Best regards, > Vern Hendershott > 1949 415-G N94892 > > __________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > ___________________________________________________________ > T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 > Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics __________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
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