What Every Aircraft Buyer Needs to Know Before July 24

Most of what you have heard about MOSAIC is probably right. But there is one detail that almost nobody is talking about, and if you are shopping for an aircraft right now, it could matter a great deal.

The basics, briefly

MOSAIC replaces the old Light Sport Aircraft category with a new designation: Light Sport Category Aircraft. The 1,320-pound weight limit is gone. The two-seat restriction is gone. Sport Pilots can now fly Cessna 172s, Piper Warriors, and a wide range of aircraft that were previously off limits, provided the aircraft has a clean stall speed of 59 knots calibrated airspeed or less. No additional tests, no special FAA notifications, no new certificate required.

For pilots who let their medical lapse, the news is equally good. As long as your medical was never denied or revoked, you can self-certify using your driver's license and operate as a Sport Pilot under your existing certificate.

The part most people are missing

Here is where it gets important for buyers. On July 24, 2026, new Light Sport Category Aircraft can be certificated with a dirty stall speed of up to 61 knots. That is a two-knot difference from the 59-knot clean stall speed limit that governs what a Sport Pilot can actually fly.

In plain terms: not every aircraft that qualifies as a Light Sport Category Aircraft will be legal for a Sport Pilot to act as PIC. If you hold a Sport Pilot certificate and you are looking at a brand new aircraft delivered after July 24, you need to verify the clean stall speed before you buy, not after.

This is exactly the kind of detail that gets lost between the manufacturer brochure and the closing paperwork.

What this means if you are shopping now

The Evektor aircraft I represent are well within the performance thresholds that matter for Sport Pilots, and that is not an accident. These are purpose-built aircraft designed for accessibility, reliability, and long-term ownership satisfaction. MOSAIC expands the market, but it does not change what makes a well-suited aircraft for a given pilot.

If you are evaluating your options in this new landscape and want a straight answer on how any specific aircraft stacks up under the new rules, reach out at tysonfly.com. That is what I am here for.