LSA Values Declining?

[CTLSi]

......

[Merlinspop]

All LSA have a 1320 legal max gross.

And another sweeping generalization that is factually incorrect.

Manufacturers set the "legal max gross" for their designs within the constraints of the category. There are some S-LSA certified airplanes with a "legal max gross" under 1320. There are seaplane and amphibian S-LSA with a "legal max gross" over 1320.

[drseti]

All LSA have a 1320 legal max gross.

And another sweeping generalization that is factually incorrect.

Bruce, I think what he meant to say is "all the SLSAs I looked at have a maximum gross weight of 1320#".

[CharlieTango]

But let's admit that your panel is mostly steam gauges, no autopilot, ...

Actually I have a 2-axis AP and 1/2 glass. My point wasn't that I have more useful load than you but that all LSA have different useful load depending on their empty weights.

[Wm.Ince]

The CTLSi has the same useful load as any other LSA.

What is the published basic empty weight of you CTLSi?
Let the readers make their own comparison.
I have already posted the empty weight of my CTSW on this forum, but you still refuse to tell us yours.
What are you afraid of?

[SportPilot]

.......

[Nomore767]

The CTLSi has the same useful load as any other LSA.

What is the published basic empty weight of you CTLSi?
Let the readers make their own comparison.
I have already posted the empty weight of my CTSW on this forum, but you still refuse to tell us yours.
What are you afraid of?

FYI CTLSi posted this recently about his plane:-

"I fly a fully loaded CTLSi (all glass cockpit, ADS-B, autopilot, fuel injected, solid state ignition system, BRS). Its empty weight is 830. That leaves 500 pounds for fuel and people.

Given my fuel burn is 4gph @120KTAS (conservative estimate, in practice I can get 3.6gph) I fly 5 hours on 20 gallons of gas. A distance of about 600 miles as the crow flies. That's 120lbs fuel weight. That leaves 380 pounds for people and goodies.

And realistically, the CTLSi is designed to fly at 1500 pounds gross (pre 912iS Sport upgrade) but that violates the 1320 rule for LSA in the USA. They do it in Europe."

[CTLSi]

......

[CharlieTango]

if ... you are already 40 pounds heavier than me. And if you take someone who is over 200, I get that weight back too, my wife is 85..

interesting how you do that, actually we are similar.

[drseti]

FYI CTLSi posted this recently about his plane:-

Its empty weight is 830. That leaves 500 pounds for fuel and people.

Something doesn't correlate here. 830# of aircraft, plus 500 pounds of fuel and people, equals 1330#, which is 10# over the US LSA limit for land planes.

Regardless, at 830# empty, that aircraft is one of the heavier LSAs. My SportStar started life at 745# empty weight. I (over)-equipped it with numerous mods and avionics upgrades (all with LoAs), bringing its empty weight up to 766. So, even my all metal aircraft comes out with 54# more useful load than that nice composite aircraft. Seems the injected engine carries a significant weight penalty.

[FastEddieB]

Regardless, at 830# empty, that aircraft is one of the heavier LSAs.

That's nothing.

My composite wonder porked out at 860.9 lbs from the factory. Without fuel injection, no autopilot, and minimal "glass".

What do I win?

Might I suggest...

[MrMorden]

Regardless, at 830# empty, that aircraft is one of the heavier LSAs.

That's nothing.

My composite wonder porked out at 860.9 lbs from the factory. Without fuel injection, no autopilot, and minimal "glass".

What do I win?

Might I suggest...

I'm sure you will make a hell of an interesting acceptance speech...

[3Dreaming]

We do have a SLSA based here on the airport that you can put 2 300 pound people in and still have room for some fuel. The down side is that it is aluminum and slow.

[sandpiper]

My neighbor has an RV-12 E-LSA. You know, one of those obsolete aluminum ones with rivet heads sticking up all over.

Yet, somehow, he manages to out climb and out run my CT when we are at similar weights.

[Wm.Ince]

. . . "No one can claim superiority over the other, between FD models, and even between LSA aircraft in general." . . .

That's what we've been trying to tell you over the past year.
I am glad to see you have finally come to terms with that. . . .