BBerson
Light Plane Philosopher
So the question is: could there be a category of FAR 103 called "Ultralight Motorglider"?
For example, the Sparrowhawk https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windward_Performance_SparrowHawkis an established ultralight glider with a stall speed of 37mph.
Could an engine be fitted to the Sparrowhawk and call it a powered ultralight glider?
I realize that that FAR 103 uses the words "if unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds".
So the intent of the rule is confusing or perhaps incomplete. Why would the FAA allow a glider with a stall speed of 37 mph but not a similar powered glider with a stall speed of 37 mph, perhaps more than 155 pounds.
I remember Mike Jacober from Alaska was talking to me about his "ultralight motorglider" in the 90's.
He had gotten some local FAA approval for "ultralight motorglider" but I never followed through or understood what it was exactly. He was killed in a crash a few year later.
Now we have the FAA apparently ignoring the stall seed rule for the Ultralight eVTOL. So anything is possible I suppose.
For example, the Sparrowhawk https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windward_Performance_SparrowHawkis an established ultralight glider with a stall speed of 37mph.
Could an engine be fitted to the Sparrowhawk and call it a powered ultralight glider?
I realize that that FAR 103 uses the words "if unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds".
So the intent of the rule is confusing or perhaps incomplete. Why would the FAA allow a glider with a stall speed of 37 mph but not a similar powered glider with a stall speed of 37 mph, perhaps more than 155 pounds.
I remember Mike Jacober from Alaska was talking to me about his "ultralight motorglider" in the 90's.
He had gotten some local FAA approval for "ultralight motorglider" but I never followed through or understood what it was exactly. He was killed in a crash a few year later.
Now we have the FAA apparently ignoring the stall seed rule for the Ultralight eVTOL. So anything is possible I suppose.
