LSA Requirements

[steveinindy]

Unless they waiver the need for a medical to fly IFR, I see no difference if someone wants to do day only VFR in something that is <1300 lbs or over. Honestly, if you're just doing that for fun, why do you really need something heavier?

[martymayes]

I was wondering, do any of you think that the weight requirements for the light sport aircraft ever be changed to incorporate other aircraft?
Does anybody foresee this happening?

Would you rather see the LSA weight limit increased or elimination of the 3rd class medical for private pilots? Choose your battles carefully.

[Floatsflyer]

Terrafugia made a successful and logical argument that there were additional requirements for a roadable aircraft that were analogous to an LSA float plane. They received the same weight limit as the LSA float plane. I would expect any roadable aircraft to get the same treatment. I wouldn't hold my breath for that to apply non-float/non-roadable LSAs.

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Yes they did S3, but factors like bumpers, fenders, catalytic converters, airbags, turn signals, brake lights, all day running 70% headlights, etc;etc; etc; are definitely not analogous to LSA seaplanes/floatplanes. As I previously said, they had to comply with a long laundry list of mandatory car safety standards that add weight. The FAA gave them the waiver to the seaplane limit because they had the legal leeway to do so and understood the special circumstances involved that were likely not at all anticipated when the new LSA rule was enacted. The key point is that a waiver was granted and a precedent was made so going forward, I believe it's now reasonable to expect that other LSA manufacturers may also be in positions to make cogent arguments for weight increase waivers. I.E. the hangar door's been openned.

[steveinindy]

As I previously said, they had to comply with a long laundry list of mandatory car safety standards that add weight.

The roadable car idea is the one technological zombie that will not die no matter how many times it is shot in the head or proven to be practically unfeasible.

[Joe LaMantia]

I'm with you on that one Steve!

Aircraft design has always had to make comprises based on mission requirements, short wings for speed, long wings for glide improvement and so forth. Combing a car with a auto gets you a crummy airplane and goofey car! If your into flying cars watch the "Jetsons".

Joe

[rosiejerryrosie]

I'm with you on that one Steve!

Aircraft design has always had to make comprises based on mission requirements, short wings for speed, long wings for glide improvement and so forth. Combing a car with a auto gets you a crummy airplane and goofey car! If your into flying cars watch the "Jetsons".

Joe

That being said, Joe, it sure would be nice to drive from your garage to the airport, press a button and the end of the runway, and take off without ever leaving the driver's seat, now wouldn't it?

[Bill Greenwood]

The Terrafugia plane is probably a technological achievment, but I can't imagine buying one unless you had some special need. To me it's really ugly, and I think the performance is low and it is really expensive. It also is not at all proven, who knows if it will be the next Edsel or something like a Rv-8 to really own and use?
There are probably a few people that may buy one just to have something unique, but really for more than a $quarter million you could buy a great used late model Mooney, which outruns the car/plane by 100 mph, or a good used Bonanza or Cirrus, even a award winning quality T-6, and you have a real airplane. Taste is individual, there are people that will pay millions of $$$ for a modern house that really looks like a cross between a dentist office and a warehouse, so someone might say this looks great.
The Terra really has the same performance as a C-172 available for $75,000. That's a lot to pay just to be able to drive on the road.

The car/plane ideal has been around for more the 50 years and no one has made it that great yet.
I think it is like trying to get a family dog, for all purposes. You want a Golden Retriever that can be trusted to be gentle and kind around small kids and a Pit Bull to protect your met lab from intruders. Can't get one to do both, and the demands are the opposite.
It's sort of like buying a stock, you can get a hot agressive one with technology and leverage that goes up in bull markets, or a defensive conservative one that falls less in bad times. But no genius has yet found one that is best in all seasons.

[Floatsflyer]

Hey Steve, Joe & Bill,

I agree with all your comments on the Terrafugia but you've really gone off on a tangent here where they have nothing to do with this thread. But OK, you've sucked me in. The Terra was conceived & designed by a bunch of really smart, bright MIT grads who have advanced the flying car concept to a level never seen before. I applaud them for their creative and innovative outside the box thinking and ability to go from clean sheet of paper to actually flying 2 proof of concept prototypes. They are determined to see the project through, appear to be well financed and as of last AV, told me they have over 100 deposits. Yes, it's a specialty aircraft, a novelty that will never see mass appeal but I can't help feeling thoroughly impressed by what these guys have accomplished. But the car part surely cannot be for every day road use. There will be a significant difference between getting a door ding on the family Ford at the local mall parking lot and one on the retracted wing of the Terrafugia.

[steveinindy]

Yes, it's a specialty aircraft, a novelty that will never see mass appeal but I can't help feeling thoroughly impressed by what these guys have accomplished

There's nothing to say that it's not a technological achievement. It's just not a concept that will be practical regardless of how smart the designers are. There are too many application issues (the safety one being the one I see most prominently, but then again that's my focus so it's what comes to mind...) for it to ever be practical in any form.

[rosiejerryrosie]

Not practical?? Just think. You walk into your attached garage, open the doors, drive to the airport, puch a button, roll down the runway, take off, fly to the next airport, land, punch another button, drive to the pizza place, eat lunch, drive back to the airport, push a button, take off and fly home. What's not practical???