Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

[Forrest Barber]

I would like to discuss LSA , mainly Taylorcrafts. I have applied to be a LSA Pilot Examiner over here in the Cleveland FSDO, Pittsburg too, maybe.
The weight of 1320 # does exclude the 1325# Model D's ( L2M) and the Model l9 & F-19 at 1500# and the guys that converted their ships to the higher wts. WE will slowly approach this issue soon.
I would like to hear from folks that have:
1. been flying w/o medical again.
2. those that want to
3. those getting Sport Pilot certificate from scratch in a Taylorcraft.
4. Any that did? Where did you find the examiner? How did the test go?

Other stuff as it comes up.
thanks Forrest ; Comm. SMEL, SES, Rotor-Heli , Instrument, CFI, IA, A&P, Rev., QB , Old Bastard, Motorcycle rider, Glider Tow, Aerobatics, & Bassett trainer. Patty's Lover . Bob's Buddy .

[selje]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

Last January my Class 3 medical expired and I elected to not take another exam. Reason is age of 63, BC12-D which meets LSA requirements, the majority of my flying since getting my PP certificate in 1968 has been sport pilot type flying, and the potential problems of ever being denied a medical. Thus, I have been acting as a sports pilot since 1 Feb 2005 and haven't noticed that the Taylorcraft flies any different. However, did sell my PA-18-95 (Early Supercub with C-90 and 1500 gross wt.).

[bobp]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

I had bypass in 2003, after recovery, told my cardiologist i wanted to get back flying, explaned sport pilot to him, and he said go for it. I sold my half interest in a 150, and bought the plane of my dreams, BC 12 65, N33939. and been havn so much fun, its gotta be illegal. bobp

[Acroeric]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

Forrest- I encourage you to get your Sport Pilot DPE and DAR light sport airplane certificates. Here in NC we only have 1 DPE and no DAR's with the LSA authorization. I have been teaching at some seminars and have certificatated 27 Special LSA's and 3 Experimental LSA's. To say I need help is an understatement. Mainly it has been the Allegro 2000 by Fantasy Air. I have been flying it a bit and it is a nice little plane though still not a Tcraft. For my new clipwing I am going to certificate it Exp- Amateur built and list the gross weight at . . . .you guessed it 1320.

I too have thought about not renewing my medical- I am only 33 but I have been getting some pretty bad headaches (usually before a front passes) and am nervous about what teh Dr. will say at my next medical. Anyway- I like this type of flying- I think I would be ok if that was all I ever did.

[crispy critter]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

Forrest,
I see your a rotor-heli pilot too.....do ya know what makes a helicopter fly????They're so damned ugly the earth repells them .(I'm a heli pilot too....but don't tell nobody ).

[mhorowit]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

... am nervous about what teh Dr. will say at my next medical.

Eric - I've heard of a doctor up here in the DC area with whom you can discuss your concerns BEFORE the exam, so you can elect to take the exam or not. - Mike

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

I of course was encouraged to do the DAR thing. I am sorry BUT I do not need any more headaches with some of these builders, I believe the FAA should be funded enough to do all ORIGINAL CERTIFICATIONS, AEROBATIC COMPENTENCY, and other things the FAA should be doing......

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

Be careful out there, once an AME ( Aeromedical Examiner) starts the paper work he cannot retract it. I have HEARD that perhaps it is possible to go in a day or week ahead of time for a kind of check-up, regular physical thing and get an opinion. DO NOT flunk the physical.....

[Acroeric]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

Forrest- I am with you on the FAA funding. I did an RV-7A the other day and it took me about 4 hours. They told me that a DAR came by to do a friends aircraft and was there long enough to collect the check and hand them the AW cert. I am not saying they are all like that but I was once a designee- I know what happens sometimes when the dollar bill drives the decision. I do plan after my FAA days to re-instate my Designee certificate- just a fun way to make a little money and meet soem nice folks.

The only reason I am doing LSA certifications with the FAA is because we have no DAR's. My leadership was very clear- once we get some I am out of it-

[mhorowit]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

My leadership was very clear- once we get some I am out of it-

and that would be the wife? - Mike

[M Towsley]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

Forrest,

Per our phone conversation last week, (I'm still looking for my build date on N95275 by the way, wink, wink), I was the first licensed Sport Pilot in Illinois last May. The history is thus: Started flying in the late '70's, got out of it due to no training aircraft available, locals went out of business. I have been blessed in that I have a friend who owns ten or so aircraft, including a Mustang and a dash five Corsair, and have gotten stick time in several airplanes, including a B-25 his dad owned. I started flying left seat with him in his grocery getter Piper Arrow (disgusting, I know) and got the bug really bad again. He recommended a BC-12D, he owns an L2M, also, and assisted me in inspecting the first aircraft I have owned, a '46 BC-12D, N95275, which I bought in October of 2004. My instructor and I blazed the first Sport Pilot trail and I learned I knew more than the local FSDO. We also had to make up a lot of the signoffs, as the Feds don't have any examples out there yet. I could have tested in January, but no Designated Pilot Examiner to be seen for a certificated airplane. Found a great guy here, Don Cramer, who I cajoled into applying, which is basically letting the local FAA know he wants to be a DPE for certificated fixed wing, etc. He gave them his lesson plans, which I knew was not necessary as I had been speaking to the late John Riffey, (what a great guy), in Oklahoma AFS-610. Mr. Cramer is also a very paperwork oriented guy like my flight instructor. Anyway, finally got Mr. Cramer pinned down and my friend and I flew him the 30 or so miles to the airport I keep the T-Craft at. Except for a fouled plug at runup, (first one in months) the flight went extremely well, I had a fantastic flight instructor, which always helps. I got my hard license a couple of months later. While at Oshkosh during a conversation with an EAA guy at the Light Sport tent, he ran off with my license telling me he had to show someone. That someone was Tom Poberezny and Marion Blakey, Administrator of the FAA. Soon a photo op occurred and I was dazed as it took me a moment to recognize who these folks were. I got a couple of nice photos via my wife and a camera. Things have gone great here, got my class C and D airspace signoff and have been having a great time. The things I learned was a lot of the local Feds don't care about Sport Pilot and therefore don't want to learn about it. Then there are the guys like Eric Minnis, Hi Eric, who support it completely. There is a local pilot here and there who poo poos Sport Pilot, but I bet in a few years when the medical issue rears it's ugly head they may be a little more supportive. I don't need a Private License to do what I want to do, nor a Third Class Medical. This has been a great experience, and realistically a brand new student will probably take thirty hours or so to be competent. That is one thing Tom Poberezny and Marion Blakey was asking me about and how things worked out for me. Of course there are bugs in the system, but it is still very early and both seemed happy the Sport Pilot license is working. Obviously Tom is supportive, and so was Ms. Blakey. She was very interested in knowing how things worked out, and I was honest with her about it. The thing to do is be very knowledgeable of Sport Pilot rules so you can help your local FSDO and direct them to call AFS-610 for help, if need be. I would be happy to help anyone with any questions of what I went through, and I would think Eric Minnis would be helpful too, as he is very supportive of Sport Pilot.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

Great story , these are the ones we need! Boy are you correct on the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. The Cle FSDO will soon be working with me, my paperwork has been submitted. The build date on your ship is a too-up , I e-mailed you twice, faxed once. It is around the end of Aug or Sept 1, check the FAA records , your data plate is a made up one by somebody, sometime, not me!

[M Towsley]

Re: Light Sport Aircraft & Pilots

Forrest,

If you emailed and faxed within the last three days, I did not get it as the e-mail was probably work and the fax was definitely work. FAA paperwork does not indicate my build date, just August, 1946, no date. Confirmed this several times.