LSA is an acronym for Light Sport Aircraft. It is a new category of two seater, single, non-turbine powered aircraft whose maximum take off weight is less than 1,320 pounds, has a stall speed of 45 knots, cannot exceed an airspeed of 120 knots, fixed landing gear and fixed pitch propeller. The landing gear can be repositioned for amphibious aircraft, as defined by the FAA.
This new category does not include helicopters or power-lifts as they are too complex to comply with the strict definitions imposed. Fixed-wing airplanes, weight-shift-control aircraft, gyroplanes, powered parachutes, gliders, balloons and airships, however, all fit the parameters of this new category.
