Re: Jack Pelton comments on LSA weight restrictions
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 9:54 pm
Some people, but not all, want more gadgets and luxury. Some, including me, prefer less in an LSA.
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But let's look at a typical "premium" LSA, like a CTLSi or Bristell, decked to the gills with gizmos. Right now a lot of them are around 480-490lb useful load. If they got a 100lb weight bump, what *more* could manufacturers put in them?!? They already have leather seats & trim, dual EFIS/EMS, dual pitot, two axis autopilot, full suite of ADS-B, night lighting, BRS, blah, blah...HornedFrogGrant wrote:So if gross weight increases, what's to stop the typical empty weight of LSAs from creeping upward, due to the perception of more "wiggle room" for optional gadgets and gizmos?
I'd be happy to see the gross weight increased, but I fear that manufacturers would interpret it as a green-light to build heavier empty LSAs. Which would have the practical effect of making the gross weight increase all for naught.
Just my $0.02.
Which reminds me of my quest - my Sting has a chute but is not decked out with gizmos yet I still end up with only 485 LBS useful load ... my current theory is a chunk of lead somebody cleverly hidden somewhere on board... either have to find it or wait for the FAA to get the change thru.MrMorden wrote:
But let's look at a typical "premium" LSA, like a CTLSi or Bristell, decked to the gills with gizmos. Right now a lot of them are around 480-490lb useful load. ....
That does seem weird, I thought most Stings have 520-550lb useful. As delivered, at least.Warmi wrote: Which reminds me of my quest - my Sting has a chute but is not decked out with gizmos yet I still end up with only 485 LBS useful load ... my current theory is a chunk of lead somebody cleverly hidden somewhere on board... either have to find it or wait for the FAA to get the change thru.
Your Sting seems like it does pretty well with a ‘chute. My Sportcruiser (without a BRS) gives 511.9 pounds useful load. If it had a BRS (guessing about 50 pounds “all-in”), I’d be down to 461.9 pounds of useful load.Warmi wrote:Which reminds me of my quest - my Sting has a chute but is not decked out with gizmos yet I still end up with only 485 LBS useful load ... my current theory is a chunk of lead somebody cleverly hidden somewhere on board... either have to find it or wait for the FAA to get the change thru.MrMorden wrote:
But let's look at a typical "premium" LSA, like a CTLSi or Bristell, decked to the gills with gizmos. Right now a lot of them are around 480-490lb useful load. ....