I looked into this and a motor glider must have certain specs to qualify. IIRC, wing span to gross weight. However, the sonex page states that tyhis may not apply to experimental category, and certainly a 27ft wingspan on a KR1 would fly more like a glider. Especially if equipped with a full feathering prop for example.
Here it is: https://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft-certification/ Definition of Motorglider or Powered Sailplane Sonex Aircraft, LLC accepts the formal definition of Powered Sailplanes for Type Certificated Aircraft from both the United States and the European Aviation Authorities. While it is not formally defined that an Aircraft Registered in the Experimental Category must meet these same criteria, any aircraft which does meet the criteria is an indisputable "Motorglider" or "Powered Sailplane." The language in both the U.S. and the European documents are nearly identical and the portion of the documents which apply to this definition as follows: United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular AC 21-17a, dated 10 February 1993 7. ACCEPTABLE CRITERIA. b. Additional Criteria for Powered Gliders. (1) Powered fixed wing gliders may be type certificated under Section 21.17(b) if: (i) The number of occupants does not exceed two; (ii) Maximum weight does not exceed 850 kg (1874 pounds); and (iii) The maximum weight to wing span squared (w/b2) does not exceed 3.0 kg/M2 (0.62 lb./ft.2). NOTE: These criteria originated from JAR-22. Joint Aviation Authorities JAR-22 Amendment 7, dated 1 September 2003 JAR 22.1 Applicability (a) This JAR-22 prescribes minimum airworthiness standards for the issue of type certificates, and changes to those certificates, for sailplanes and powered sailplanes in the utility U and aerobatic A categories: (1) Sailplanes the maximum weight of which does not exceed 750 kg: (2) Single engine (spark- or compression-ignition) powered sailplanes the design value W/b2 (weight to span2) of which is not greater than 3(W[kg], b[m]) and the maximum weight of which does not exceed 850 kg: and (3) Sailplanes and powered sailplanes the number of occupants of which does not exceed two. _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
