Mike Armstrong
Well Known Member
It's my understanding, and I could be wrong, that...
1) The category of Sport Pilot was created Primarily for the 'average joe' that has always wanted to be a pilot but previously could not afford to do so. This 'average joe' would typically be interested in fun, round the patch, weekend daytime flying, nothing more, just fun recreational flying. These folks could, if interested, take this 'foot in the door' and continue their training to go on to more avanced licenses and more complicated aircraft and flying...or not. There are thousands of these 'wanna be pilots' among the many aviation enthusiasts at any given AirVenture and perhaps thousands more across the country. All of which add up to a huge potential market to tap into. Secondarily, Sport Pilot gives the many GA pilots out there that suspect they are no longer going to be able to pass their medical a way to continue their passion for flying.
I think both categories of folks will benifit greatly from Sport Pilot.
2) The LSA category and its parameters are tailored made for the new Sport Pilots and the type of 'for fun' flying they intend to do. These aircraft are purposely designed to be as simple to fly and operate as possible, including for some, the ability to be trailored 'if need be'. Removeable/folding wings simply gives those that currently cannot afford or dont have access to hanger space another option to owning their own aircraft, nothing more. If someone is able to afford adaquate hanger space then they can just leave the wings attached like any other aircraft, nothing says its mandatory to take them off after each flight and go thru the 'emmense hassle' that glider pilots have been doing sucessfully for many years, if you dont want to.
3) Vans has been around for a long time and has been the most sucessful kit builder to date. They know what their doing and have the forsight to see a potential market just as Cessna has done. Designing a side by side, tricycle gear aircraft that has the 'option' to be trailered gives the RV-12 three of the most marketable features an LSA can have. It will have the one most desirable feature that the many folks that will absolutely need to have in order to be able trailer their LSA to own it and it will have a desirable configuration for teaching and instruction.
Anyhow, I think Vans has a very marketable design. It's not what I wanted the -12 to be, which would have been a tandem, taildragger but I realize that would not have been a good 'first' Vans LSA to start out with.
Oh, and dont forget, this design is indeed a POC. It may fly like ****, who knows. The flaperons might well suck or that handbrake on the stick may suck, ect., ect it hasn't even flown yet!
1) The category of Sport Pilot was created Primarily for the 'average joe' that has always wanted to be a pilot but previously could not afford to do so. This 'average joe' would typically be interested in fun, round the patch, weekend daytime flying, nothing more, just fun recreational flying. These folks could, if interested, take this 'foot in the door' and continue their training to go on to more avanced licenses and more complicated aircraft and flying...or not. There are thousands of these 'wanna be pilots' among the many aviation enthusiasts at any given AirVenture and perhaps thousands more across the country. All of which add up to a huge potential market to tap into. Secondarily, Sport Pilot gives the many GA pilots out there that suspect they are no longer going to be able to pass their medical a way to continue their passion for flying.
I think both categories of folks will benifit greatly from Sport Pilot.
2) The LSA category and its parameters are tailored made for the new Sport Pilots and the type of 'for fun' flying they intend to do. These aircraft are purposely designed to be as simple to fly and operate as possible, including for some, the ability to be trailored 'if need be'. Removeable/folding wings simply gives those that currently cannot afford or dont have access to hanger space another option to owning their own aircraft, nothing more. If someone is able to afford adaquate hanger space then they can just leave the wings attached like any other aircraft, nothing says its mandatory to take them off after each flight and go thru the 'emmense hassle' that glider pilots have been doing sucessfully for many years, if you dont want to.
3) Vans has been around for a long time and has been the most sucessful kit builder to date. They know what their doing and have the forsight to see a potential market just as Cessna has done. Designing a side by side, tricycle gear aircraft that has the 'option' to be trailered gives the RV-12 three of the most marketable features an LSA can have. It will have the one most desirable feature that the many folks that will absolutely need to have in order to be able trailer their LSA to own it and it will have a desirable configuration for teaching and instruction.
Anyhow, I think Vans has a very marketable design. It's not what I wanted the -12 to be, which would have been a tandem, taildragger but I realize that would not have been a good 'first' Vans LSA to start out with.
Oh, and dont forget, this design is indeed a POC. It may fly like ****, who knows. The flaperons might well suck or that handbrake on the stick may suck, ect., ect it hasn't even flown yet!
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