Elsa

[Glenn_K]

I didn't want to hijack the repairman course thread with this question, so I put it here.

How can I tell if my gyroplane is registered as ELSA?

[JEFF TIPTON]

Sample experimental LSA airworthiness certificate.

http://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/m...er/8130.2g.pdf

[GaryMac]

Search the N number on the FAA site.... it should tell you the classification that the gyro currently has.

[brs]

Are there actually any ELSA gyros? I thought the rules for this were not yet available from the faa. Are not all the LSA gyros just "Light Amateur Built Expirementals" that meet the LSA requirements for LSA pilots? (ie. < 1320lbs gross, <120knots cruise, ....).

[Chuck Roberg]

Originally Posted by brs

Are there actually any ELSA gyros? I thought the rules for this were not yet available from the faa. Are not all the LSA gyros just "Light Amateur Built Expirementals" that meet the LSA requirements for LSA pilots? (ie. < 1320lbs gross, <120knots cruise, ....).

There are approximately 10 Xenon gyro's that are registered ELSA. There are others registered ELSA but I don't have a count. So yes there are ELSA gyro's.

[Glenn_K]

Thanks guys!

My airworthiness cert is with the aircraft at the engine repair shop right now. So I can't look at that. I looked it up on the FAA N number registry, but I'm not sure what I'm seeing. Here's the link. Advice?

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinqu...mbertxt=N920CC

If it isn't ELSA, then having the repairman certification will still not allow me to perform my annual condition inspection myself. Correct?

[Chuck Roberg]

If it isn't ELSA, then having the repairman certification will still not allow me to perform my annual condition inspection myself. Correct?

Looks like it's an EAB not ELSA. So no the repairman's certificate will not allow you to do the conditional inspection. You would need at least an A&P to do the yearly conditional inspection.

[Glenn_K]

Thanks Chuck. And everybody.

[Kevin_Richey]

Originally Posted by brs

Are there actually any ELSA gyros? I thought the rules for this were not yet available from the faa. Are not all the LSA gyros just "Light Amateur Built Expirementals" that meet the LSA requirements for LSA pilots? (ie. < 1320lbs gross, <120knots cruise, ....).

My SC Lightning is one, Brock. So is Phil's Sport Copter Vortex. Also that Vancraft Rotor Lightning that belonged to Jon Fant, a former chapter member who moved to Alaska. We all made them into ELSA through the window of conversion several years back when the EAA and ASC had exemptions for doing so. The ten or so Xenons at the same time period. Many fat ultralights were legally brought into the "N" number fold. It took the right paperwork, including the sponsoring organization's, and an AW inspection.

[fara]

Your gyro is definitely NOT E-LSA (exception being grandfathered E-LSA, see later)
There is no such things as an E-LSA gyroplane in the US. It cannot technically and legally exist for the simple reason that there is no such things as a S-LSA gyroplane yet. In fact right this moment (as of May 26, 2012) there is no rotorcraft that can be a S-LSA.

To be registered as E-LSA, there has to be a counterpart S-LSA (at least one) in existence.

Most likely you have one of the following 2 scenarios:

1) Experimental Amateur Built (Ex- AB) gyroplane that falls within the weight and speed limit of LSA. Meaning, one or two seater, 1320 pounds of less gross weight, no more than 138 mph max straight and level cruise speed at maximum continuous power

2) Your gyroplane is a grand-fathered ultralight training machine (used to fly based on Part 103 Training Exemption) that the owner has transferred the registration before the deadline and that is considered a "grandfathered E-LSA" but not E-LSA. Of course those deadlines have now past and that game is over but while people had time, many did grandfather their 2 seater Part 103 trainers in. Sometimes people call this gE-LSA

How do you tell which of the above 2 does your machine fall under, you can check at the FAA Registry website, put your N number in and in the record you will see "Category Reg. Prior to 01/31/08". That means that your machine is grandfathered E-LSA.

Otherwise you will see "Category Amateur Built". That means your aircraft is simply run of the mill Exp-AB.

There are some other categories you can see as well like "Exhibition" etc. but they are less common and have restrictions on flight attached to those machines.

And FYI for those that don't know. No Xenon or any other gyro is a straight E-LSA. It simply cannot be. All Xenons have category of "Category Reg. Prior to 01/31/08" and 2 have a category of none, which means FAA does not know where to put them. Those individuals need to make sure that the DAR who did their paperwork, makes it right because at some point that may cause them some grief. That will default to most likely Exhibition category which has restrictions on flight.

Hope this helps.

[Thechap]

I just checked and my Air Command is an E-LSA. I should take the course. Anyone know how many people have signed up yet for the repairmans course at Mentone?

Bryan

[Glenn_K]

Bryan,

Contact Dr. Stark: rgstark@brazosnet.com

[NoWingsAttached]

In case you missed my thread from just the other day, "My Favorite Picture", this example of a custom CLT conversion Air Command Tandem, which weighs 555 lbs dry @ 110 hp w/McCutcheon Skywheels and a Warp Drive prop, is one of the rare ELSA gyrocopters, N930GT. I made sure I got it completed in time for the for the "wild west" exception, as I am ... a cowboy.

[Russ Hobbs]

My dominator is licensed as E-LSA. There was a window as said before where you could register your machine E-LSA

[Thechap]

Glenn K,

I sent him an email last night before heading to work.

Bryan