What is "Powered Lift"?

[. ._]

Hi folks!

I was looking on the back page of my passport-style licence book and noticed (PL).

That explains what type of licence you have. For example if you have PPL(A), that's a Private Pilot's Licence (aeroplane), ATPL(H) is an ATPL (helicopter).

What would a PPL(PL) or PPL (powered lift) be? Is that for a gyrocopter or ornithopter or something? And if you had that, you could only fly gyrocopters or ornithopters?

Just kind of curious. I'm sure if I ever get an instructor rating, some keener would ask me that.

-istp

[slam525i]

I had to Google it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powered_lift

Powered-lift means a heavier-than-air aircraft capable of vertical takeoff, vertical landing, and low speed flight that depends principally on engine-driven lift devices or engine thrust for lift during these flight regimes and on nonrotating airfoil(s) for lift during horizontal flight.
—FAA[1]

[Brewguy]

So what - basically an Osprey, Harrier, etc? Are there any civilian aircraft that fit that description?

[Maynard]

Here's a civi...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell/Agusta_BA609

[ETOPS]

This is how I get to work:

Hells yeah I log it as jet time.

[Cap'n P8]

Tiltrotor!

[JL]

My guess is hovercraft.

[Cap'n P8]

Nah, it's tiltrotor, see the link that the poster above had added.

[Panama Jack]

As far as I know, the US FAA was one of the first to create this new aircraft category, to prepare pilot certification standards in preparation of something that required skills entirely unique-- not a helicopter, not an airplane, not an autogyro either.

A few years ago looked like it was just around the corner-- looks like it will take a bit longer but it is inevitable in the civilian world. At least the civil authorities have something in place.

[conundrum]

Didn't they have to create it in time for the Osprey? There was also someone (recently) trying to make a homebuilt with four two-stroke engines, but it never got off the ground, so to speak.

[Mihai]

This is how I get to work:
Hells yeah I log it as jet time.

ROCKETMAN!