AGAZINE - Midwest Flyer
AGAZINE - Midwest Flyer
AGAZINE - Midwest Flyer
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carburetors on the Rotax 912 series<br />
engine. We practiced doing full<br />
weight and balance calculations after<br />
placing aircraft on scales; repairs and<br />
balancing were conducted on wood,<br />
metal and composite propellers; rib<br />
stitching and fabric repairs were<br />
completed; and inspection holes,<br />
drains and covers were installed. One<br />
element included repairs to fiberglass<br />
surfaces after Brian used an auger<br />
bit to form a nice gash in a complex<br />
curved part like a salvaged wheel<br />
fairing or wing tip. After scarfing the<br />
surface around our damaged part, we<br />
did an epoxy and glass cloth multilayer<br />
repair to bring it back to original<br />
condition per 43.13-1B 3-3. Sanding<br />
and finishing were required and a<br />
grade was assigned for difficulty<br />
of the repair, its strength and the<br />
aesthetic result.<br />
Practical elements of the students’<br />
work are continuously graded over<br />
the 120 hours. The instructors never<br />
hesitate to say, “Do the whole thing<br />
over please,” nor do they hesitate to<br />
sit down and help you through the<br />
rough spots. On the last day of the<br />
course, a timed 50-question FAA<br />
multiple choice written examination<br />
is administered. By the time the exam<br />
comes around, the student is well<br />
prepared to pass.<br />
The course and elective modules<br />
are offered several times a year, both<br />
at EAA headquarters in Oshkosh,<br />
Wis., and at Rainbow headquarters in<br />
Corning, Calif. Rainbow also offers<br />
the 16-hour LSRI discussed earlier<br />
in the article. Comfortable valuepriced<br />
accommodations are plentiful,<br />
minutes from both venues. Drivetime<br />
to either location is about two<br />
hours from the major airports serving<br />
Oshkosh and Corning. Downtime<br />
can be spent exploring things like<br />
the EAA aviation museum, meeting<br />
new people at barbeque fly-ins and<br />
pancake breakfasts, touring aircraft<br />
factories, and even taking a tour of an<br />
olive farm and processing facility in<br />
Corning. Who would have known that<br />
all olives are soaked in lye to make<br />
them edible! Many of these group<br />
activities are arranged in advance by<br />
Rainbow.<br />
Adding to the versatility of the<br />
LSRM rating, the holder of the<br />
certificate can log all work performed<br />
and after 30 months, apply to take the<br />
licensing examination for the A&P<br />
Certificate. The LSRM attests to his<br />
or her own work and does not have<br />
to work as an apprentice or attend<br />
a resident course of study. One of<br />
Rainbow’s former students received<br />
his A&P this way.<br />
The course is challenging and<br />
Five and a<br />
half years<br />
after the<br />
Sport Pilot/Light<br />
Sport Aircraft<br />
rules went into<br />
effect, giving<br />
birth to a new<br />
movement in<br />
Ed Leineweber<br />
general aviation,<br />
the first changes<br />
to these rules took effect on April 2,<br />
2010. Taken together, the rule-making<br />
process just completed demonstrated<br />
that this new movement, while still in<br />
its infancy, is a healthy, growing child,<br />
and likely will continue to mature<br />
into a sturdy member of the aviation<br />
fast paced. It is taught by intelligent,<br />
interesting and caring people<br />
who are tremendous advocates of<br />
general aviation and the Sport Pilot<br />
movement. I fell in love with this<br />
peanut and it will certainly turn into<br />
gold as I continue to gain experience.<br />
EDITOR’S NOTE: John Craparo is<br />
a private pilot, rated in balloons and<br />
gliders and holds sport pilot privileges<br />
in ASEL and ASES. He is an advanced<br />
ground instructor who recently attained<br />
the Light Sport Repairman Maintenance<br />
– Airplane certification. He can be<br />
reached at john.craparo@gmail.com. q<br />
Sport Pilot Rule Changes Finally Take Effect…<br />
Generally Positive Results Are Good News!<br />
by Ed Leineweber<br />
family, fulfilling in large measure the<br />
hopes of its creators, albeit through a<br />
series of slow, steady steps.<br />
In all, the FAA originally proposed<br />
22 changes. Following the comment<br />
period, and after taking into account<br />
the concerns expressed by the<br />
Experimental Aircraft Association<br />
(EAA) and others, the FAA modified<br />
or withdrew several of these proposals.<br />
A brief review of changes withdrawn<br />
and those finally enacted, organized by<br />
those affecting piloting, flight training,<br />
and Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)<br />
maintenance, will show the basis for<br />
my confident prediction that Sport<br />
Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft is a segment<br />
of aviation that is here to stay.<br />
Condominium HAnGARS FoR SALE<br />
Outagamie COunty airpOrt – appletOn, WisCOnsin<br />
Two door Sizes: 58 ft. & 44 ft.<br />
Outagamie County Airport Runways: 8,000 & 6500 ft. X 150 ft.<br />
Instrument Approaches, Full-Service FBO, ATC Tower & Approach Control<br />
Contact Tom Janssen at 920-731-5201 or email at Tjj@sigmanlegal.com<br />
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010 MIDWEST FLYER M<strong>AGAZINE</strong> 55
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