Sport Pilot Talk

zaitcev · Joined: 05 Jan 2010 Posts: 256 Location: Albuquerque, NM

My blood pressure was 160/100 two days in a row, so I went looking at Sky Arrow for sale and saw this sad story:
http://www.hansenairgroup.com/aircraftsalesused_files/aircraftsalespreowned-SkyArrowN450JH.html
Quote:
1998 Sky Arrow 1450L, Experimental Kit Built - N450JH

• 1450 Lbs gross weight, 500 Lbs useful load, 18 gallon fuel tank
• Total Time Airframe and Engine 425 hours
• Time Since Major Overhaul 325 hours

This aircraft is IFR certified with vacuum driven ADI and DG, Apollo GX 65 IFR enroute certified GPS/Comm, Apollo SL 30 VOR/LOC/GS, Apollo SL 70 Transponder with encoder, Flight Com 403 intercom, navigation, strobe, instrument and landing lights. The engine is a turbo charged Rotax 914 rated at 115 hp. The prop is a NSI electrically variable pitch hub with Warp Drive blades. These combine to give it a cruise speed of 115 knots at 8000 msl and above and a service ceiling above 20,000 msl. This is Jon's personal plane that he built for sightseeing in the mountain west and is now for sale because he flies as a Sport Pilot.

So the guy lost medical and a) can't fly his own custom airplane, b) can't sell it for anywhere near what he put into it, because who needs a 1450 lbs Arrow? We are all in his position, or we would not be flying LSAs. Told my wife about it over breakfast and said: "You need to excercise more and lose weight, then your pressure will go down too. Get back to researching normal airplanes, jeez." ;_;

Cub flyer · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 593

That is sad because he can't remove the stuff and use 1320 for gross.

Yet he can buy the same airplane with a 1320 gross and fly it ok.

Hope he didn't lose his medical before coming to this decision.

What a stupid rule! It drives me insane all the Catch 22 situations this rule makes.

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1387 Location: Lock Haven PA

Your wife is partly right. You should exercise, lose weight, and get your blood pressure down. But you should also keep thinking LSA, because any of us is just a heartbeat away from losing that FAA medical. In fact, unless you're currently flying Part 23 (certified) aircraft, you should let that medical lapse if you already have one -- losing a medical grounds you from Sport Pilot privileges as well!

HAmike · Joined: 06 Oct 2010 Posts: 11 Location: Marietta, Georgia

Paul is absolutely right! Don't get denied!
Watch the weight. Remember, every 6 pounds we lose is 20 to 30 nm of range!
Jon, (Dad) had heart issues. After the first episode it took over a year to get a special issuance. With all the hassel and expense, he decided to let that expire and fly as a sport pilot. So now, no flying 450JH or the Cherokee 6 solo. :(
But, don't feel too sorry for him, he has 4, soon to be 5, SLSAs plus two "Sport Pilot Eligble" airplanes to fly. :)
He hates to sell 450JH but we need to make room in the hangar for the new Bi-Plane :D