Requirement for add on powered glider?

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pilotgurl

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Pilotgirl
I am a rated pilot SEL, SES, IR,complex add on, high performance add on, with current Flight review and flying under Basic Med. I want to be able to fly my partners Powered Glider, a Pipistrel Sinus. I have had two different answers from CFIs as to need for checkride. No interest in getting endorsed for a towed glider, just his Pipistrel.
One CFI said I needed 10 solo landings and a full checkride.
The other said I needed an endorsement by one CFI and a checkout by another CFI.

Which is it? I certainly do not want to spend $500 getting a checkride if endorsements work. The PIpistrel cannot fly at night or in IMC. So wouldn’t I just be a sport pilot for this?
 
If you want private glider privileges, this is the regulatory minimum. Of course, you're going to have to get enough training for the instuctor to being willing to sign you off as proficient to take the checkride....

(2) If the applicant has logged at least 40 hours of flight time in a heavier-than-air aircraft, the applicant must log at least 3 hours of flight time in a glider in the areas of operation listed in § 61.107(b)(6) of this part, and that flight time must include at least—

(i) 10 solo flights in a glider in the areas of operation listed in § 61.107(b)(6) of this part; and

(ii) 3 training flights with an authorized instructor in a glider in preparation for the practical test that must have been performed within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test.

The other instructor is talking about sport pilots. If you are willing to fly it with sport pilot limitations and the thing is light sport compliant (suspect it is), then you can do that (endorsed by one instructor and then checked out by another).
 
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Why anything? You take off with engine. I can do the same with a 172 pull the mixture instant glider.

Now I’m way out of my lane on this.
 
pilotgurl said:
So wouldn’t I just be a sport pilot for this?
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The biggest reason I could come up with is the 10,000 ft limit for Sport Pilots. If you’re going to be serious about soaring, it really sucks to stop climbing. ;)

The others, depending on what you might do with it, particularly as a powered aircraft, are the Sport Pilot prohibitions for flying
(12) When the flight or surface visibility is less than 3 statute miles.
(13) Without visual reference to the surface

Simplest answer is probably Sport Pilot privileges until you determine you want/need more.
 
Thanks for the clarification. I will just get the sport pilot add on as it is not my plane. My boyfriend owns the Pipistrel and I just wanted to be able fly it if he needs a break. I have a Piper Cherokee 180 for real flying and he will eventually get his PPL to fly my plane
 
pilotgurl said:
Thanks for the clarification. I will just get the sport pilot add on as it is not my plane. My boyfriend owns the Pipistrel and I just wanted to be able fly it if he needs a break. I have a Piper Cherokee 180 for real flying and he will eventually get his PPL to fly my plane
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Given this use case, getting the sport pilot endorsements certainly seems to fit best. Of course, if all you really mean is taking the controls for him from time to time then no endorsements are required, although training would be valuable.

The Sinus (despite IMO its poorly chosen name) seems like a lot of fun. I've seen them at Sun N Fun etc. Apparently flies decently fast and burns a lot less gas than your 180!
 
I went up with his instructor and in the air it flies similar to any cessna. Landing is different with flaps and air brakes and the fact that those long wings want to float forever. So I want to get enough lessons to feel confident landing.

And for sure much better on fuel!
 
Check out Lanier Flight Schood in Georgia. They do add on in a Pipistrel. You can get it in three days if the weather cooperates. Basically, take off, climb to altitude, shut down the engine, fool around, land, exit the runway, start the engine and repeat as required.

Home - Lanier

Lanier Flight Center provides professional flight training, aircraft rental, maintenance, aircraft sales, and on-demand charter services in Gainesville, Georgia, supporting pilots and travelers from first flight to executive travel.
www.lanierflightcenter.com www.lanierflightcenter.com
 
bonefishpete said:
Why anything? You take off with engine. I can do the same with a 172 pull the mixture instant glider.

Now I’m way out of my lane on this.
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As a PP-ASEL, could you attempt to fly a twin as long as you only started one engine? ;)

Doesn't matter what you are at the moment - What matters is what it was certified as!
 
bonefishpete said:
Why anything? You take off with engine. I can do the same with a 172 pull the mixture instant glider.

Now I’m way out of my lane on this.
Click to expand...
so far out of the lane you are not even on the road

The Pipstrel is certified as a glider. Need the words "glider" on your pilot certificate to fly as PIC. Or fly under 61.35(d)(2) which would be solo only to get those required solo flights prior to a check ride with the DPE. The certificate will then say glider, the logbook endorsement defines the launch method approved: aero tow, ground launch, or self launch.
 
BillTIZ said:
so far out of the lane you are not even on the road

The Pipstrel is certified as a glider. Need the words "glider" on your pilot certificate to fly as PIC. Or fly under 61.35(d)(2) which would be solo only to get those required solo flights prior to a check ride with the DPE. The certificate will then say glider, the logbook endorsement defines the launch method approved: aero tow, ground launch, or self launch.
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Are there attachments on it for towing?
 
Keep an eye on glider endorsements too. Aerial tow vs ground tow vs “self propelled” being powered; guess you could find a place that rolls off the hill and uses none of these hence not need an endorsement. Reality is every way of launch has its own endorsement.
 
pilotgurl said:
I went up with his instructor and in the air it flies similar to any cessna. Landing is different with flaps and air brakes and the fact that those long wings want to float forever. So I want to get enough lessons to feel confident landing.

And for sure much better on fuel!
Click to expand...


Flip side of: https://medium.com/@jamesmcclaranal...of-a-mini-dive-for-ground-effect-53da07f6a1f6

May also appreciate application of
- https://medium.com/@jamesmcclaranallen/stabilized-approach-shenanigans-e4ba656b9a85
- https://medium.com/@jamesmcclaranallen/improve-your-landings-with-aoa-power-techniques-04601584fb3a
- https://medium.com/@jamesmcclaranallen/back-side-of-the-power-curve-vs-drag-curve-8442d369d9c8

And as you may have multiple arrivals making patterns hard, especially with multiple gliders: https://medium.com/@jamesmcclaranallen/the-contrarian-aviator-sometimes-turns-right-89da7d61d132
 
Fffflats said:
Keep an eye on glider endorsements too. Aerial tow vs ground tow vs “self propelled” being powered; guess you could find a place that rolls off the hill and uses none of these hence not need an endorsement. Reality is every way of launch has its own endorsement.
Click to expand...

Speaking of endorsements, are you looking to just soar yourself? Unlike endorsements building to PPL, and unlike the Robinson SFAR endorsement, there are no deadline requirements for solo glider as a cert add-on… you could theoretically go indefinitely with the launch endorsement and a solo endorsement if the CFI never puts an expiration on the solo; no DPE required. Only need to actually check if you’re gonna take a passenger.

Note also, you are not a student pilot in the eyes of the FAA. Different regs for add-ons. Believe someone above mentioned some of the requirements. But when you’re dual you don’t get to log PIC till you’re rated with the add-on.
 
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