Isn't the converted Ercoupe a different case? Its original MTOW was 1260 lbs., and converting back requires only moving the elevator stop to its original position.
Having new planes developed is great. But, if the intent was to reduce the barrier of entry into flying, the reduced time and cost of getting a license pales in comparison to $100,000+ for a new airplane. I would submit that the LSA movement is being retarded, except in the homebuilt arena, for lack of more affordable planes. For me, personally, I'm at the point of soloing, but there's no suitable plane within practical distance. If I can't buy an affordable (~$20K) and safe Ercoupe 415, I'll have to give up on flying. Sure, there are other older, LSA-legal planes. Tail draggers with no electrical system, no cabin heat, and prop start. Even if I could start one, which I can't due to arthritis, my wife, who has Renaud's, would take one cold ride and it would be the last. Not looking for sympathy. Just an anecdotal case of why only the Ercoupe will work for this would-be pilot. Jim Hart Jerry Eichenberger wrote: > Precisely. That's one of the reasons that I personally don't support any > move to increase the LSA gross weight limit. > > If the 150 and similar airplanes were to come into LSA, the entire LSA > movement would become a graveyard of old 150s, etc. and we wouldn't see any > of the new and exciting airplanes now being sold, and others now being > developed. > > Jerry E. > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]on > Behalf Of Bill BIGGS > Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 10:25 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: SPAM-LOW: [ercoupe-tech] legal LSA > > > I think you are absolutely correct. There was a fellow that got a STC to > change a Cessna 150 to 1320 lbs. when the proposed rule making came out. > > My understanding this is the case that made the FAA put in the wording > "has since original certification" > > The EAA higher ups did not want the 150 specifically converted back to the > LSA category because it would have killed the market for brand new LSAs. > > Bill > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > -- > To: [email protected]; [email protected] > From: [email protected] > Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:45:51 -0400 > Subject: RE: SPAM-LOW: [ercoupe-tech] legal LSA > > > The rules in this area are the way they are for a fairly good reason. > > FAA didn't want to see a bunch of STCs emerge to lower the gross weight of > several aircraft that are slightly over 1320, down to 1320 so they would > qualify as LSA. > > Such airplanes as the Cessna 120/140, later Champs, earlier Citabrias, > later Luscombes, etc. are all candidates for LSA if their gross could be > lowered by just a little built via the STC route. > > Again, we can't lose sight of the reasons behind the LSA in the first > place - LSA wasn't concocted just so pilots without medicals could continue > to fly old classic airplanes. Mainly, the reasons behind the LSA movement > were: > > 1. Give the FAA some control over what had become the "heavy ultralight" > airplanes, getting their pilots licensed and the aircraft inspected and > licensed; and > > 2. To spurn new manufacturing and sales of a new "class" of aircraft. > > Jerry E. > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]]on Behalf Of G. Davis > Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 9:21 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: SPAM-LOW: [ercoupe-tech] legal LSA > > > > The rules are very clear today; the plane must have met ALL LSA > standards since its certification. If at any point it has been altered so it > does not meet LSA standards, it can NEVER go back and be "made into an LSA". > I do look forward to the progress made on FAA changes/clarification of the > language though. Personally, I think a D model could be a C so very easy, > without changing the plane. Same plane, just a different gross wt. Makes > perfect sense to me, maybe that is why the FAA doesnt see it that way*L > Gary > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > -- > Windows Live™ Hotmail®: Search, add, and share the web’s latest sports > videos. Check it out. > > > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ercoupe-tech/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ercoupe-tech/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[email protected] mailto:[email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
