E-LSA vs ExAB, pluses minuses?

[mcjon77]

Hi all,

I have decided that most likely I will be buying a kit aircraft as opposed to an S-LSA. I'll make my final determination after checking out all of the candidates at Oshkosh. However the top contenders can be purchased as either an S-LSA, E-LSA, or ExAB (Experimental Amateur built).

This leads to a question. What are the benefits/drawbacks to registering the plane as an E-LSA, as opposed to ExAB? To give a better frame of reference, I will cite a particular aircraft, the Bushcaddy R-80.

Pluses for E-LSA
1)Possible higher resale value because the new owner can do his own annual with the 16 hr LSA inspection course
2)IF at some point, later in life, I no longer qualify for a 3rd class medical I can continue flying the plane.
3) I can purchase the kit more than 49% complete (actually, up to 99%).
4) I'VE HEARD that the certification process for an E-LSA, once completed is much quicker (no 40 hour test flight period).

Pluses for ExAB
1) (Bushcaddy Specific) I get an extra 110 lbs useful load FOR THE EXACT SAME PLANE.
2) It APPEARS that the procedures for international flight are more well defined for ExABs (because there are so many of them already) than for LSAs.
3)The certification process for the aircraft APPEARS more thorough (a nice 40 hour test flight period).

Does anyone else have additional benefits/drawbacks? Also, I am reading on other boards that since the ultralight/E-LSA conversion loophole just closed that now no new aircraft kits are currently able to be registered as E-LSAs. Yet several manufacturers are still saying that you can.

Any additional information or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Jon

[CharlieTango]

the manufacturer says you can and the press says that no kits qualify. there is a conflict.

if you register ex-ab with the higher useful load it will not be sport pilot eligible.

faa is re-visiting the 51% rule so make sure any 99% kit is grandfathered in and not a false claim as perhaps the e-lsa claim could be false.

few slsa owners take the 16 hour course so that consideration might not increase value that much.

[rsteele]

Do the two kits actually result in the same plane? If so then the ELSA version has just had it's gross weight reduced in the paperwork to meet the LSA rule. You can do exactly the same thing with an EAB. With an EAB the builder is 100% responsible for the limitations of the aircraft. The only rules you have to obey are physics and the 51% rule.

I don't think there is a "right" answer to this question. There are very limited changes allowed to an ELSA, the result must be VERY close to what the manufacture provides. With EAB you can do whatever you like (not that this is always a good idea!). You as the builder have much more leeway. It sounds like you already of the maintenance issues .

I'm currently kit building an EAB. I've managed to mangle plenty of parts and have been able to re-fabricate them myself for very little money and time. I'm not clear if this is allowed with an ELSA, my bet is that you would have to purchase replacement parts from the kit supplier. I'd ask BushCaddy about this. And on this note, make sure the kit supplier will support you after you get the kit - believe me, you will need the support.

Good luck with whichever route you choose. I'm sure you will find building very rewarding.

You might want to check out the videos available on homebuilthelp.com. These are aimed an the Zenith aircraft, but both Scratch Building Basics for Metal Aircraft and Metelworking 101 would be very worthwhile if you have limited metal working experience.

Ron