Info on LSA category aircraft

While the Kitfox was originally conceived as an Experimental–Amateur Built (E-AB), the recent Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) regulations have generated lots of interest in certifying Kitfoxes as LSAs or in operating them with the accompanying Sport Pilot regulations. If you'd like to learn more about the Sport Pilot / Light Sport Aircraft regulations see the following links...
EAA's web site www.sportpilot.org
The full "Final Rule" on AOPA's web site
Building a new Kitfox as an E-AB and having it meet the LSA requirements isn't a problem, just set the MTOW (max takeoff weight, aka gross weight) at 1,320 lbs. The stall speed will meet the 51 mph limit and the top speed will be under the 138 mph CAS limit. The question being asked frequently however is, can an already certificated Kitfox, where the W&B documentation reflects a "maximum gross weight" of more than 1,320, be changed to reduce the gross weight. I will defer that question to those more knowledgeable.
To clear up a common misconception though, in order to exercise Sport Pilot priveledges the aircraft you are flying does not have to be an LSA, only meet the LSA parameters. Here is a quote from the EAA web site...
"Any aircraft that meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft as called out in FAR Part 1.1 is eligible to be operated by a sport pilot. These aircraft can be certificated in any category, such as standard, experimental amateur-built, experimental exhibition, experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA), or special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA)."


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