either way it is a Light Sport category aircraft unless you did something to place the aircraft outside the FAA definitions for LSA's like raise the gross weight or put a CS prop on it.
Hi Mel,A "Light-Sport Category" aircraft is an S-LSA.
What you mean is that it is "light-sport compliant".
A "Light-Sport Category" aircraft is an S-LSA.
What you mean is that it is "light-sport compliant".
E-AB will require a 40 hour phase I instead of the 5 hour phase I given to E LSAs.There are only two differences between a RV-12 built as an ELSA or an EAB;
The EAB can have changes made to it before it is certified and it can only have one Repairman's Certificate issued to the original builder.
The ELSA must wait until the DAR/FAA do the certification before changes can be made and it can have a Repairman's Certificate issued to any owner who takes the 16 hour approved course.
If you are planning to buy the full kit from Van's then it makes good sense to build it as an ELSA and make the small changes you wish after the DAR has approved it. If you wish to use steam gauges and older radios, a used Rotax engine or similar changes then go with the EAB.
Best regards,
Vern
The ELSA must wait until the DAR/FAA do the certification before changes can be made ...
If you are planning to buy the full kit from Van's then it makes good sense to build it as an ELSA and make the small changes you wish after the DAR has approved it...
Once an E-LSA aircraft is certificated, it is an experimental and any changes may be made as long as they do not take it out of light-sport parameters.
what happens if something takes it out of LS parameters? Can an LSA be changed to an EAB sometime after the pink ticket, like at 100 hours?
That is only true BEFORE the 5 hours have been flown off. After that you can legally make any changes that you want, as long as the aircraft still meets the definition of LSA.My understanding of E-LSA is that no changes can be made to the factory configuration that was submitted to ASTM
Joe Norris was referring to changes BEFORE the 5 hours are flown off. If you can wait until AFTER the 5 hours are flown off to make changes, then you are better off registering as E-LSA because there will only be a 5 hour test period and the plane will be worth more when you sell it.I had a recent email interchange with Joe Norris, head of homebuilding at EAA, and his opinion was that if you want to change anything, not just big things, better go with EAB.
You can read his entire email quoted in my posting here:once that ELSA gets its airworthiness certificate it is an EXPERIMENTAL aircraft just like any other, and you will find no regulation that restricts the modification of such aircraft.
That is only true BEFORE the 5 hours have been flown off. After that you can legally make any changes that you want, as long as the aircraft still meets the definition of LSA.
My three bladed Sensenich prop, vernier throttle and cabin soundproofing have made the decision for me, to go EAB. Now, let's see what else would be nice to change?? I kinda like the little light that Van put on his Vertical Stab. Besides, after all of that work, I want to be listed as the builder!
Tom