Are there specific endorsement requirements to operate an aircraft based on VH?

This regulation establishes endorsement requirements for sport pilots based on an aircraft's maximum level flight speed (VH).

If you're a sport pilot wanting to fly a light-sport aircraft with VH at or below 87 knots CAS, you must receive ground and flight training in a similar slow aircraft and get a logbook endorsement certifying your proficiency. This requirement recognizes that very slow aircraft handle differently and require specific skills.

Conversely, if you want to fly a light-sport aircraft with VH above 87 knots CAS, you need training and an endorsement in a faster aircraft.

The practical impact: sport pilots can't simply jump between slow and fast light-sport aircraft without additional training. However, there's a grandfather clause—if you logged pilot-in-command time in aircraft with VH at or below 87 knots before April 2, 2010, you don't need the slow-aircraft endorsement.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*