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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Nov 2013
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    How is EAA Actively promoting the Sport Pilot program

    i find it quite disturbing, and i may be wrong, where is the promotion of Light Sport Pilots, within the EAA organizations.
    it is not in the local chapters, it is not at the airports the limited few that actually offer Light Sport training.
    my local training spot just SOLD their only Light Sport training aircraft.

    I realize the recent changes mainly benefit Private pilots, so they can continue to fly without the 3rd class medicals.

    but this has actually almost killed Light Sport, training.

    my closest and only options is a 2 plus hours of driving to get to a site that has an airplane.

    How is EAA growing pilots, show me the numbers, show me the programs, something.

    Robert

  2. #2

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    There are many who have stated this exact same thing. Good luck on this front.

  3. #3

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    Aug 2016
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    I've not yet started flight training but did buy the Gleim SP package and have worked through it. I am retired, 69 years aged, and definitely NOT a wealthy person who will ever be able to afford to buy and maintain an airplane of my own.

    The more I read the more I'm starting to get a form of buyer's remorse wondering if there will be a 'practical' and convenient way for me to actually use the Sport Pilot ticket if I proceed to get one. My nearest training facility is over 90 minutes away and they only have 2 LSA planes. Will it be worth hours of commuting to try and rent for just an hour or two of flight? The reality of a GREAT 'sounding' program with no infrastructure is kinda depressing.

    If I'm getting those discouraging thoughts in Chicago, I can't imagine how daunting it will be for folks in small towns.

  4. #4
    DaleB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CHICAGORANDY View Post
    I've not yet started flight training but did buy the Gleim SP package and have worked through it. I am retired, 69 years aged, and definitely NOT a wealthy person who will ever be able to afford to buy and maintain an airplane of my own.

    The more I read the more I'm starting to get a form of buyer's remorse wondering if there will be a 'practical' and convenient way for me to actually use the Sport Pilot ticket if I proceed to get one. My nearest training facility is over 90 minutes away and they only have 2 LSA planes. Will it be worth hours of commuting to try and rent for just an hour or two of flight? The reality of a GREAT 'sounding' program with no infrastructure is kinda depressing.

    If I'm getting those discouraging thoughts in Chicago, I can't imagine how daunting it will be for folks in small towns.
    There are exactly zero options for training and taking the check ride in an LSA anywhere around where I live. I have a PP ticket, but am now flying with Sport Pilot privileges. The best advice I can offer you is to find one, two or three like minded individuals and buy an airplane. You can buy a nice E-LSA RV-12 now for under $70K, which works out pretty well split between two to four people. Operating costs are very low -- my co-owner and I figure $30 per hour wet, including maintenance and a reserve for overhaul (which realistically we'll probably never do). Form an LLC to own the airplane, everyone owns part of the LLC. That way it's easy to add or subtract owners. Yes, it will involve some initial outlay of cash, but when you figure the huge difference in hourly cost you'll recoup that - not to mention you can sell the airplane or your share in it.

    If you don't want or need to travel cross country, there are planes that are MUCH cheaper to buy, but more costly to own and operate. Champs, Chiefs, Ercoups and so on. Might not be the best choice if you're old and chubby like me, but they're out there.

    Light Sport definitely needs more exposure and better PR, but I wouldn't blame EAA for that.
    Measure twice, cut once...
    scratch head, shrug, shim to fit.

    Flying an RV-12. I am building a Fisher Celebrity, slowly.

  5. #5

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    i checked with a site here in ohio, and they wanted 195.00 per hour in a Quicksilver 2 Seat trainer. that would mean at least 2000.00 just for the minimum of 10 hours, to get you to solo, or maybe less. i dont have 200 for an hour of flight time, a doctors visit is cheaper than that.

    purchasing a plane is not in the average mans budget, even if 4 guys went together, finding 4 people with at least 10,000 in cash to plop down would be almost very difficult.

    sure the American Dream really is alive.

    Robert

  6. #6

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    Oct 2011
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    I just bought this. It qualifies as an LSA.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-Stits-...p2047675.l2557

  7. #7

  8. #8
    DaleB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Robert Dingus View Post
    purchasing a plane is not in the average mans budget, even if 4 guys went together, finding 4 people with at least 10,000 in cash to plop down would be almost very difficult.
    Really? How do people buy boats and motorcycles and lake cabins and pay for vacations and weddings? You save up money, or finance, or sell something else, depending on your situation. I didn’t have $100K laying around in an old sock, and yet here I am owning half an airplane. Six months ago I owned the whole thing. Ten years ago I couldn’t have bought an RC airplane, let alone the real thing. If it’s important you will figure it out, even if “figuring it out” means figuring out how many years it will take you to get there.

    PS... I didn’t mean for that to sound critical or snarky, but it probably did. I should know better than to try to type replies on this teeny little phone with an even teenier keyboard. Point is, buying an airplane is like any other non-essential, but is probably easier to find partners to share the cost since you’ll each likely only use it 40-50 hours per year anyway.
    Last edited by DaleB; 12-24-2017 at 04:30 PM.
    Measure twice, cut once...
    scratch head, shrug, shim to fit.

    Flying an RV-12. I am building a Fisher Celebrity, slowly.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Apr 2018
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    66
    Quote Originally Posted by CHICAGORANDY View Post
    I've not yet started flight training but did buy the Gleim SP package and have worked through it. I am retired, 69 years aged, and definitely NOT a wealthy person who will ever be able to afford to buy and maintain an airplane of my own.

    The more I read the more I'm starting to get a form of buyer's remorse wondering if there will be a 'practical' and convenient way for me to actually use the Sport Pilot ticket if I proceed to get one. My nearest training facility is over 90 minutes away and they only have 2 LSA planes. Will it be worth hours of commuting to try and rent for just an hour or two of flight? The reality of a GREAT 'sounding' program with no infrastructure is kinda depressing.

    If I'm getting those discouraging thoughts in Chicago, I can't imagine how daunting it will be for folks in small towns.
    So what did you think of the Gleim SP package? My real goal Is to own and fly an Ultra Light but no harm in getting the ground school and test out of the way in case I change my mind. I wonder how long the results of the written test are valid?

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Posts
    33
    The results of the Sport, Rec, and Private Knowledge test are valid for 2 years. Make sure not to lose the test results sheet the testing evaluator will give you.

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