Light Sport Aircraft For Sale Where To Look
Sport pilots may be on the lookout for light sport aircraft for sale such as fixed-wing airplanes, balloons, weight-shift control aircraft or trikes, gliders, balloons, gyroplanes and airships. In general, aside from the single engine, other common traits of the light sport aircraft include a fixed propeller, capacity to carry one to two persons, maximum speed of 120 knots at level flight, a maximum stall speed of 45 knots, a maximum gross weight of 1,320 pounds for land planes or 1,430 pounds for seaplanes, and a fixed landing gear for land planes although this can be retractable for seaplanes. And for those who are confused when looking for light sport aircraft for sale, they may consult the light sport aircraft list of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).
Those who are searching for light sport aircraft for sale, should familiarize themselves first on how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines them. There might be a confusion because what other countries call ultra light or microlight aircraft is similar to the FAA's definition of light sport aircraft as indicated above except that the other countries allow the use of variable-pitch propellers and they do not limit the air speed to 120 knots.
However, the FAA has another category in the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) that it calls ultralight aircraft. These are less than 155 pounds in weight if powered by man and 254 pounds if powered by an engine. Their maximum air speed is 55 knots, their maximum fuel capacity is five gallons, their stall speed should not surpass 24 knots, and they have only one occupant. It should be noted that the persons using these ultralight aircraft do not need a medical certificate and a pilot license. Aircraft registration is also not required. However, the FAA requires that pilots of light sport aircraft need to have a sport pilot license. Careful attention should be paid to these specifications by the FAA to avoid violating the rules as to pilot licensing. For example, if it happens that the aircraft exceeds the gross weight specified light sport aircraft, you will need a private pilot license instead of a sport pilot certificate.
Meanwhile, when looking for light sport aircraft for sale, the first place to look is on the Internet because it is easy to search for them. Aside from the easier way to search for the aircraft that you want and those that fit your budget, including used aircraft, looking for them on the Web also permits you to browse the aircraft that are available from other countries. For those who already possess a light sport aircraft, some websites can provide them with sources for relatively cheap spare parts. However, remember to keep the specifications of the FAA in mind when you are considering the aircraft available in other countries because they have different limits as to gross weight and other factors. For example, when they are selling ultralight aircraft, this does not necessarily mean the ultralight aircraft as defined by the FAA and which do not require a license to operate.
