Guest Fresno Jab Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 About 2 years ago my partner and I purchased a jabiru j230. We have the 3300 engine. The aircraft was built as an experimental even though it qualifies as a light sport aircraft. It has the correct engine to operate at higher RPMs per Jabiru. I believe that the builder registered it as a experimental so that he could fly at higher cruise speed and also be allowed a slightly higher gross weight. My question is...is there any benefit or negative issues that I might need to be aware of? Is it common for light sport aircraft to be registered as an experimental? The only negative that I can think of is that that a light sport pilot would not be qualified to fly an experimental aircraft, which might limit resale of the aircraft in the future. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly_tornado Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 I don't think Jabiru do the ELSA compliance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 The experimental category is used here for warbirds and for people who want to facilitate modifications. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aro Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 And Amateur Built aircraft which are VH registered. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fresno Jab Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 I guess I should have specified U.S. FAA.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly_tornado Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 have a look at your registration documents and pilot's handbook for compliance to LSA rules. If its registered as E-AB and it meets the requirements for LSA it should be ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fresno Jab Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 I may have not explained my situation. I am not trying to revert back to light sport. Besides, my understanding is once an aircraft is registered as experimental it cannot ever be changed. I am just wondering what other concerns are might be. This post may not be appropriate for this particular website since it does not focus on United States FAA regulations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David2ayo Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 Hello there. This website is read all over the world, so just because most of us are in Oz, doesn't mean there aren't people in US reading who may know the detail. It is of interest to me because I like to know what other jurisdictions throw in the way of good fun, it reminds us that CASA is not the only organisation that can make a good idea go wrong. A friend of mine had a canard wing thingy, VH reg, transferred to RA 19 reg, no problems at all. Don't know whether it had mods done to it. One of the silly things with the J230 is that as a VH reg, it has a higher MTOW. Exactly the same aircraft. Mark Skidmore was quizzed on this at Coonabarabran Aero Club last year, we could tell he thought it stupid, but changing policy at CASA is, well, ...... One of the joys here is we do not have speed restrictions for RA reg, as you guys in US have. David I may have not explained my situation. I am not trying to revert back to light sport. Besides, my understanding is once an aircraft is registered as experimental it cannot ever be changed. I am just wondering what other concerns are might be. This post may not be appropriate for this particular website since it does not focus on United States FAA regulations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairoaks Flyer Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 If your Jabiru has had its engine converted to water cooling, this will mean it has been changed to experimental category. Is your Jabiru air cooled or water cooled? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M61A1 Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 Is it "experimental" or ELSA (Experimental Light Sport)? LSA are factory built. They can become ELSA, if for some reason they no longer meet the LSA standard due to modification, or are no longer supported by the manufacturer. Despite being Experimental LSA they are still LSA, so your LSA pilot licence should cover that. If it is just "Experimental", then it is not LSA at all. Try having a read through your own FARs, they are so much easier to understand than our own CARs. Failing that, talk to your own regulators about any specific questions you may have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave English Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 My understanding is that it has to be built by the manufacturer, not an owner-builder, so it can never be an LSA. LSA's are really for pay for hire. They have to be maintained by a lame 2. As an owner of a home build, you can do the L1 course on line ( not onerous) and maintain it yourself. If you change the aircraft from the manufacturers plans, you will need to have the changes signed off by a Lame 2. Apart from that, you are free to do whatever you want to it as long as it fits into the RAA MTOW rules, etc. So in your case, I'd say you are better off with a 19 registration than a 24 registration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 Our "MAN" is from the USA. He needs info from the EAA . I would recommend that source. Nev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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