Sport Pilot Talk

I'm not sure how this happens, but Right Rudder Aviation states: “The Pipistrel Alpha can be certified as an airplane or as a glider, depending on how it is equipped,” Chan said. “Ours is registered as a glider and is equipped with a fully-feathering propeller and spoilers. As a motor glider, we do shut the engine down in flight and soar as that is a vital requirement for the glider rating. Hours logged in our Alpha glider count towards total time, and powered aircraft time. For example, if someone completes our course and earns their private pilot-glider certificate in 10 hours, those can be counted towards the 40 required for private pilot airplane. Similarly, they count toward the 250-hour requirement for obtaining a commercial pilot airplane certificate.”

The entry for that N number on the FAA Aircraft Registry website does not include the word "glider" anywhere. I'd really be curious to see what it says on their Special Airworthiness Certificate.