The FAA rules addressing light sport aircraft specify the maximum number of seats and maximum certificated gross takeoff weight, along with maximum stall and top speeds (see the sidebar on the previous page for a list of the requirements). As it turns out, many older aircraft certificated under FAR 23 and its predecessor CAR 3 rules meet the LSA requirements. Examples include many Aeronca, Piper and Taylorcraft models, for example. At the same time, many other models from these same manufacturers don't meet the LSA rules. Often the difference can come down to a specific model being certificated at a slightly higher gross weight- much-needed at the time but now a victim of unintended consequences-which makes it heavier than the LSA criteria.
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