Demo Flight in Sonex

[Bryan Cotton]

What were you aerotowing in? I would have thought you had tailwheel time. The main reason I ask is I have a slew of tailwheel hours but no endorsement as I grandfathered in. Does Sonex require the endorsement in this case?

[Sonerai13]

What were you aerotowing in? I would have thought you had tailwheel time. The main reason I ask is I have a slew of tailwheel hours but no endorsement as I grandfathered in. Does Sonex require the endorsement in this case?

Brian,

If the aircraft is registered and certificated as a "glider", then there is no tailwheel endorsement necessary. The tailwheel endorsement requirements are specific to airplanes. PIC time for "grandfathering" must be in a tailwheel airplane prior to 15 April, 1991. Glider time does not count toward this requirement.

Remember, it's the FAA, the DOT, and ultimately the government that we are dealing with here. It only has to make sense to the lawyers. :roll:

[Bryan Cotton]

Whoops, I though he meant he was a tow pilot. I have heard people call themselves rated tow pilots before even though there is no rating! Thanks Joe for clarifying.

[Sonerai13]

Whoops, I though he meant he was a tow pilot. I have heard people call themselves rated tow pilots before even though there is no rating!

Glider tow is an endorsement rather than a rating, just like tailwheel, high performance, complex, etc. You can find the requirements in FAR 61.69. So those who claim to be "rated" for glider tow really mean "endorsed". But "rated" sounds cooler!! :)