Cessna Skycatcher Report

texasclouds

texasclouds

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Bryan, Texas
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Mark
I got to fly the 162 yesterday and had a blast. Two up full fuel we were climbing 1500 ft per minute! We did the i-10 vfr flyway through the middle of Houston, hooked a right around the San Jacinto Monument, skirted bravo, then landed in Angleton for some seafood. Well no seafood since they were closed due to flooded roads. Flew back to CLL (hungry) and still had 25% fuel.

Also, at 6’2” the adjustable pedals worked great. Cabin width was insanely roomy.

99D83F69-AA6B-4C60-8868-23FCCC4EA602.jpeg 3929DE7F-1A45-492B-B4F8-E6B6F94C7DAF.jpeg B77000A9-1439-410C-8309-AA1A707DA23E.jpeg 5C5216DA-590E-4ECB-A821-306C8A8A4536.jpeg 4F68C1D6-D761-4778-8CE0-4F336974AA6E.jpeg
 
Fun little planes, underrated in my opinion. Too bad they're orphaned, it would be cool to convert one to ELSA and rip out the G300 and go from there.
 
I’d still like to fly one someday. They look like a 150 on steroids.
 
Soloed in the Skycatcher. Ok aircraft, preferred the Tecnam.
 
I've always liked them. A lot.
 
texasclouds said:
Also, at 6’2” the adjustable pedals worked great. Cabin width was insanely roomy.
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I'm 6'5" and smacked my head real good when boarding a Skycatcher. There is no interior padding, so hitting the inside ribs hurts. Don't want flying one in a bumpy air.
 
Nice pictures, it has been a long time since I have seen the Battleship Texas.

Amazingly clears skies for this time of year. I understand the Trinity and Brazos Rivers are close to flood stage because of the amount of rain this spring.
 
It's not a bad airplane at all. I'm even getting used to it in gusty wind, but that's not for everyone.
 
Zeldman said:
Nice pictures, it has been a long time since I have seen the Battleship Texas.

Amazingly clears skies for this time of year. I understand the Trinity and Brazos Rivers are close to flood stage because of the amount of rain this spring.
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We've had 4 amazing flying days in a row, I've logged over 7 hours this week. Going up again today. Rains a comin Friday. Here is a pic of one of Lake Somerville's parks under water.

IMG_9293.JPG IMG_9295.JPG
 
Wow..!!!

I have seen Somerville on the dry side as well. Spent a lot of time on that lake as a teenager.
 
For those that don't know, that tall (567') monument behind the Battleship Texas in that first photograph is the San Jacinto Monument located at the San Jacinto Battleground Historical Site. This was the site that Texas General Sam Houston routed the Mexican Army and captured the Mexican General Santa Ana and obtained his surrender. We won our independence at this site. Kind of hallowed ground for us Texans.

Great pictures and yes, that is a cool airplane!
 
Stephen Shore said:
For those that don't know, that tall (567') monument behind the Battleship Texas in that first photograph is the San Jacinto Monument located at the San Jacinto Battleground Historical Site. This was the site that Texas General Sam Houston routed the Mexican Army and captured the Mexican General Santa Ana and obtained his surrender. We won our independence at this site. Kind of hallowed ground for us Texans.

Great pictures and yes, that is a cool airplane!
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If you like TX history, read up on Pass Cavallo near Port O Connor. Many a ship has run aground there over the years and one particular Mexican merchant ship got stuck. Our boys captured it and found gunpowder and gold hidden in the cargo. If I remember reading correctly, that gunpowder was used against Mexico (possibly even in the Alamo).
 
I got the official CFI checkout in it yesterday for solo privileges. This CFI was quite knowledgeable on its shortcomings and flaws. It sounds like Cessna is almost giving zero support for this airframe. He thought if one was to own it personally you should convert it to experimental.

He got stuck at another airport one time when the Garmin PFD wouldn't turn on. Our model is a stripped down version with only one screen. Not even a primer in ours, hard to start hot (he showed me the trick) and impossible to start below 45F (unless you preheat engine). It does have cup holders though!
 
My son flys one of these up at KPRC. Also likes it a lot. Too bad so few were made. With the equipment in that one, you can even do sim instrument for IFR training, though can’t actually fly in IFR (a sort of peculiar situation).
 
asicer said:
The real test is whether you continued flying them after BasicMed. ;)
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In a larger sense, the question is whether you continue to fly any LSA after BasicMed.

After I got BasicMed in May, 2017, I had the opportunity to sell my Zodiac CH601XL-B and buy back my old 172 at a bargain price. I decided to keep my Zodiac since it perfectly satisfies my mission requirements for 95% of the flying I do and is much less expensive to operate and maintain than the 172. I can do my own maintenance and condition inspections on the Zodiac, but not on a 172. BasicMed removes some of the restrictions of flying an LSA as a sport pilot (flying at night and at higher altitudes, for example), and if I need a four place airplane occasionally I can rent a 172 or 182.
 
PeterNSteinmetz said:
My son flys one of these up at KPRC. Also likes it a lot. Too bad so few were made. With the equipment in that one, you can even do sim instrument for IFR training, though can’t actually fly in IFR (a sort of peculiar situation).
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There is a path to legally permit an IFR equipped SLSA to be flown in IMC. My Zodiac is an IFR equipped SLSA which I recertificated as experimental through the services of a DAR, and the new operating limitations specifically authorize operations in IMC provided my airplane is equipped with instruments specified in paragraph 91.205(d), and they are operational and maintained in accordance with the applicable requirements of part 91.

N601KE Operating Limitations November 29 2016 said:
Night flight operations are authorized if the instruments specified in FAR 91.205(c) are installed, operational, and maintained in accordance with the applicable requirements of part 91.

Instrument flight operations are authorized if the instruments specified in FAR 91.205(d) are installed, operational, and maintained in accordance with the applicable requirements of part 91. All maintenance or inspection of this equipment must be recorded in the aircraft maintenance records and include the following items: date, work performed, and name and certificate number of person returning the aircraft to service.
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Unfortunately, experimental LSAs cannot be used for hire, so a flight school owned experimental LSA can't be rented.
 
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Stan Cooper said:
Unfortunately, experimental LSAs cannot be used for hire, so a flight school owned experimental LSA can't be rented.
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I was under the impression that airplane rental (with no other pecuniary factors involved) was not considered to be a for-hire operation.
 
Palmpilot said:
I was under the impression that airplane rental (with no other pecuniary factors involved) was not considered to be a for-hire operation.
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Airplanes with Experimental Airworthiness Certificates are different.

§91.319 Aircraft having experimental certificates: Operating limitations.

(a) No person may operate an aircraft that has an experimental certificate—

(1) For other than the purpose for which the certificate was issued; or

(2) Carrying persons or property for compensation or hire.

The FAA has interpreted that rental (or lease) of an aircraft with or without crew is a commercial operation that is "Carrying persons or property for compensation or hire."

SLSAs don't have "Experimental" Special Airworthiness Certificates, but ELSAs or SLSAs that have been converted to Experimental do.
 
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Stan Cooper said:
...The FAA has interpreted that rental (or lease) of an aircraft with or without crew is a commercial operation that is "Carrying persons or property for compensation or hire."...
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Source? Is there a specific interpretation letter or FAA publication that you can cite?

If that were true, it would mean that no one could rent aircraft to private or sport pilots.
 
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Palmpilot said:
Source? Is there a specific interpretation letter or FAA publication that you can cite?
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Sure; here 'ya go:
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/practice_areas/regulations/interpretations/data/interps/2013/botsaris-botsaris&vance - (2013) legal interpretation.pdf

FAA Office of the Chief Counsel December 18 2013 said:
[L]ight-sport aircraft issued an experimental certificate under § 21.191(i) should not generally be used for lease or rental. These experimental aircraft are for personal use, and do not meet a design standard, nor are they manufactured, or maintained at the same level as special light-sport aircraft, primary, or standard category aircraft. Therefore, they should not be made available to [the] general public for lease or rental, except when used to tow a glider that is a light-sport aircraft or unpowered ultralight vehicle. (69 FR 44853)
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As the letter states, that verbiage is from Final Rule, Certification of Aircraft and Airmen for the Operation of Light-Sport Aircraft, (69 FR 44772; July 27,2004). It's been that way since the beginning of the light sport rule.

From your post, I think you're confusing SLSAs and ELSAs. Of course SLSAs can be rented.
 
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I wasn't questioning that; I was only questioning the statement I quoted.
 
Palmpilot said:
I wasn't questioning that; I was only questioning the statement I quoted.
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You're right, Richard. I found a thread on aviation.stackexchange.com on renting experimental airplanes, and in my haste to reply I paraphrased a response on that thread. Mea culpa. I thought you were questioning my assertion that ELSAs or SLSAs that had been recertified as experimental could not be rented.

https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/51227/is-it-legal-to-rent-out-an-experimental-aircraft
 
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Wow. I play Call of Duty WWII and the USS Texas is one of the maps. They got it pretty accurate I'd say.
 
I'd pay like $20k for one, maybe. It'd be fun to fly with the doors up
 
Nice pictures. Haven't been there in 50+ years. But I still remember the great seafood at the San Jacinto Inn :)
 
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