Light Sport

[MikeB]

How many of us (on this site) are flying under "Light Sport" ? I just had my regular yearly physical yesterday and at age 70, the doc (who used to be a DME and is a pilot and Aeronca owner) said most people would pay for your numbers, although we know that could change in a hurry. Basically, I stopped taking the two year medical once I sold my Cherokee and started flying the Champ. Mostly because I couldn't see paying for a FAA medical every two years when I get a pretty complete physical every year anyway.

MikeB

[joea]

Mike,

Agree with you and if I did not fly for a living would look at the SP. Problem for me is that the Sedan is not SP legal and not sure that I will ever be able to part with this one!

Joe A

[MikeB]

Joe,
Some times I wish I could have flown for a living but it's probably like driving a truck (did that for awhile). Once you stop being a tourist, it turns into work. Interesting watching the poll. Right now we're even on light sport and 3rd class. I suspect there are probably more 3rd class, instrument, etc. than LS when it gets right down to it. Hope to get a lot of response. I never did get my instrument even when I owned the Cherokee for 25 years. Figured I wouldn't be able to keep it up, time and financiallywise.

MikeB

[james gevay]

Mike, right now I fly for work and I'll have to do that as long as possible. Your right about work flying, after a while it can be like any other job, just work.
Fortunately I bought a Champ years ago and it qualifies for LS and I'll probably fly under those rules later in my life.

[WWhunter]

I'm still relatively young as I just turned 50. I decided not to renew my medical due to always being worried about passing it. Unfortunately I was in a bad auto accident many years ago that left me pretty busted up. I was nearly immobile for almost 2 years. The issue I had was some of the pain meds I take make me ineligible for a 3rd class "if" I am on a steady "diet" of these meds. I discussed it with my AME before my last physical and he said not to worry but after those guys got busted a couple of years ago for getting Disability and still obtaining their medicals I strated thinking it was time to "give it up" before I lost it entirely and wasn't able to fly. I realize that when I am having a bad day I do NOT fly...I guess what I am trying to say is a person never knows what will happen in their life to cause issues to ruin their dream of flying.
WW

[MikeB]

This is a friend of mine at age 82. Still passes his medical. I'm unsure if he still has his instrument but keeps up his flight instructor's rating and flies Young Eagles in the Europa he built over a period of several years. Hope I can be in as good shape when I'm his age. I'm guessing we have several on this site that are on their mid 70's and still flying.

MikeB

[MikeB]

Looks like we're still running about 'neck and neck' on the third class and light sport. Still time to weigh in if you haven't.

Mike

[Sgt. NCSHP]

I came very close to obtaining my Private in the early eighties. Then family came along. When I went back to complete my flight training in 2006, I learned of the Light Sport. For the type flying I enjoy, the amount of plane I could afford to buy,the upkeep and fuel light sport meets all the dimentions.

[MikeB]

Here's a dumb question and I should know the answer. Can you actually get all your LS training in an Aeronca or J-3, etc? I assume the answer is "yes" but I've never researched it. We have three Champs on our field and one is a 'club plane' with 10 members where members seem to come and go. Often a new member will sell their share as they can't find anyone to give them instruction. We have at least three flight instructors in the flying club but due to liabilty concerns will only do check rides, tailwheel instruction or the 'Wings program'. In other words they won't take a new student from zero to the license anymore. I kind of thought that was the idea of light sport but maybe it's an insurance thing with the Champ too. Not sure what's required there (insurance wise) especially with 10 members.

One thing I found after flying a Cherokee for 25 years was the Champ was more difficult to get used to (feet/rudder/heel brakes) as opposed to jumping out of a Cessna and into a Cherokee. I had about 100 hours in type with the 150 and about 5 hours transitioning into the Cherokee. Obviously, in the old days folks trained from zero to license in J-3's, Champs, Taylorcrafts, etc so it's possible.

I had probably 25+ hours in the Champ before I 'started' to feel comfortable. The tail wheel does raise the pucker factor in a cross wind (still does).

Mike

[Scott Rower]

Here's a dumb question and I should know the answer. Can you actually get all your LS training in an Aeronca or J-3, etc? I assume the answer is "yes" but I've never researched it.

Mike,

Yes you can. I flew an L2M for a few hours and my Champ for most of my dual instruction, solo and check ride. Didn't have a radio in the Champ at the time of the check ride either.

Best,

Scott

[Sgt. NCSHP]

I second that you can get your LS and check ride in a Champ. Problem around here is finding LS/CFI that will instruct in a tailwheel plane, they are few and far between. Insturment ratings, multi-engine, complex & high performance but mention tailwheel and uht-oh. Personally I find the taildragger more fun to fly and when I pull up on the ramp folks will walk over to see the little champ and walk right by the Cirrus, CT Design or Baron

[L3CFI]

Joey, the next time someone asks you about tailwheel training - send them my way! I'd appreciate the business.

Every student should start in a taildragger. It will dramatically improve their stick and rudder skills. Unfortunately (or fortunately for myself) there just isn't that many tailwheel instructors anymore. And there are even less competent ones. I've had several out of state students come down to get a tailwheel endorsement. I even had a guy from TN that paid my expenses and for my time to come all the way to west TN to finish his sport pilot cert. in his Cub. He couldn't get a TW instructor where he was based.

[Roger Anderson]

One thing I found after flying a Cherokee for 25 years was the Champ was more difficult to get used to (feet/rudder/heel brakes) as opposed to jumping out of a Cessna and into a Cherokee. I had about 100 hours in type with the 150 and about 5 hours transitioning into the Cherokee. Obviously, in the old days folks trained from zero to license in J-3's, Champs, Taylorcrafts, etc so it's possible.

I had probably 25+ hours in the Champ before I 'started' to feel comfortable. The tail wheel does raise the pucker factor in a cross wind (still does).

Mike

What you say is generally true about how much time is needed now to transistion "backward" to the tailwheel. What makes it so interesting though is what you said about the "olden days". I learned to fly out of Torrance, Ca in '59. There were two FBOs. One used Luscombe 8As as the primary training plane, the other Aeronca 7ACs. I went with the Champ folks. Both FBOs however were taking persons like myself, no prior flying experience and soloing us in an average 8 or 9 hours, and that included in the Luscombe. You had 9 hr students out in the pattern going around and around the pattern and I never saw a ground loop or accident. It must be in the initial mind set you acquire at the beginning that thoses were just ordinary, simple basic aircraft that were designed for the beginner, so it just wasn't hard, no mental resistance. Now, it's "ok, now for the real man's challenge....a tailwheel"... Interesting.

[joea]

Every student should start in a taildragger.

Totally agree! Learn to fly in a taildragger and you can fly anything.

A question.... what do you think about my adding a new catagory in the bulletin board for "Tailwheel instructors" so that someone looking for instruction would have a quick and easy way (or section) to find someone?

Joe A

[Sgt. NCSHP]

Joe I second that idea...I had kinda hard time finding one...In fact I found the plane first and the owner fortunetaly was a CFI and got my TW Endor. from him four states away before I left Cross country back home.