Certified tricycle aircraft that meets LSA Criteria

tinerj

tinerj

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tinerj
Is the Ercoupe the only certified tricycle gear aircraft that meets the LSA criteria?

All the others that I've seen that meet the LSA criteria are tail draggers.
 
what you're really asking is for certified aircraft that weren't built specifically for the LSA world, right?
 
Yes, except I'm wondering about legacy aircraft that were built before the LSA rules came in. Certain Champs, Cubs, and Taylorcrafts all meet the LSA criteria and can be flown by LS pilots today -- but those are taildraggers.
 
There were some bastard champs built as tricycles, and some of the ragwing Pipers, Colt maybe, might make the cut. Getting TW proficient would be tons easier and cheaper then finding an inexpensive tricycle LSA. Perhaps more fun too.
 
The Ercoupe is the perfect legacy LSA to me.
Best payload in this class that I've noticed
easy to fly
virtually impossible to spin
and with the trigear, theoretically easier to land.

Oh, and it's all metal so cheaper to tie down instead of hangar.
 
LSA trike?

Can you say dull!

You'd have more fun sitting in a real taildragger and making airplane noises.
 
Certain Ercoupe's are LSA if the gross weight hasn't increased above 1320, once the gross has been approved above 1320 you can never go back for LSA. Sure you can return the plane to an earlier model and gross weight, but, LSA is not approved under those conditions.
The 7FC Tri-Champ has a gross of 1450, so that model wouldn't work.
the only other tricycle gear plane besides the Ercoupe that I can think of is the Mooney Mite.
 
champ driver said:
The 7FC Tri-Champ has a gross of 1450, so that model wouldn't work.
the only other tricycle gear plane besides the Ercoupe that I can think of is the Mooney Mite.
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The Mite's retractable gear disqualifies it from LSA. The Piper Colt was mentioned above; at 1650 lb MGW it's too heavy, too.
 
KeithASanford said:
The Ercoupe is the perfect legacy LSA to me.
Best payload in this class that I've noticed
easy to fly
virtually impossible to spin
and with the trigear, theoretically easier to land.

Oh, and it's all metal so cheaper to tie down instead of hangar.
Click to expand...

The one I did a BFR in was metal with a fabric wing and possibly fabric tail too, if I recall.

Wasn't too fun to fly, cool factor sure, windows were nice, if you're going that route you'd need to install rudder pedals for sure!
 
I'd leave the rudder pedals out and fly it solo sitting sideways while perusing poa.: . They probably aren't wide enough for that, it would be nice to able to sit sideways and relax on a long flight.
 
tinerj said:
Is the Ercoupe the only certified tricycle gear aircraft that meets the LSA criteria?
Click to expand...
It depends on what you want.

If you are asking out of general scholastic interest, then no. Ercoupe is not the only one. Quicksilver GT-500 is a certified tricycle gear airplane that is LSA Eligible or SP Eligible, however you want to call it.

If you just want an LSA that is actually a certified airplane by the miracle of paperwork, then you have a few options
- Jabiru J-230 is certified in Australia in 750 kg class, even has 4 seats.
- WAC Spirit is certified in Colombia (IIRC), again in 750 kg class.
- Maghani Sky Arrow 600 comes with a certified version - in U.S.! However, critically, its certified version ships with Rotax-912S certified engine, so if you buy a Sky Arrow LSA, it's not exactly the same as Sky Arrow Part 23. Airframe is the same.
- I am not entirely sure, but I think SeaMax is certified in Brasil.
and finally
- Tecnam Sierra is certified in Europe for IFR
 
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