----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- What the heck is a point of a license these days? Every time something is too hard to get for the majority of morons, they just come up with something easier. I don't think we need a sport pilot lecense, except to keep the people who want to fly 2 seat ultralights for non-instructional purposes under control. They should not include the Ercoupe in such a deal. I doubt that it will prove to be all that popular anyway, just like the current Recreational License, which a lot of people don't seem to have ever even heard of! Glen Ward
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > 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
<<attachment: winmail.dat>>
