In Australia, Recreational Aircraft types are divided into different categories that have been defined by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and are managed under arrangement with CASA by the recreational aviation governing body RAAus (Recreational Aviation Australia).

Summary of RA-Aus Registration Categories:

Category	Places	MTOW	Performance	Construction	Design standard	Other requirements
95.10	1	300	W/S=30 kg/m3	Own design, drawing or kit	Generally none	nil
95.55/1.2	2	450/480	Vso=40/42 Vs1=45	Own design, drawing or kit	101.28	51% kit (Maj.Prop.Rule) applies Built under SAAA supervision
95.55/1.3	2	450/480	Vso=40/42 Vno=100	Factory Built	101.55	nil
95.55/1.4	1 / 2	340/450	nil	Factory Built	95.25	nil
95.55/1.5	2	544	Vso=45	Own design, drawing or kit	None if own design	51% kit (Maj.Prop.Rule) applies Pre-flight final inspection
95.55/1.6	2	544	Vso=45	Factory Built	101.55	Nil
95.55/1.8	2	600	Vso=45	Factory Built	LSA standards	nil
95.55/1.9	2	600	Vso=45	Factory kit	LSA standards	51% (Maj.Prop.Rule) not applicable

Here are those categories in more details:

Home Built Categories:
Section 95.10 (prefix 10)
Picture by Scott Williamson:

 
Under this section a person may register their (casa approved) privately built single seat aircraft. There are several requirements that must be satisfied under this category, and there are also several exemptions that can be applied. In general under this section (95.10) there are four main requirements:
1. The aeroplane is privately built, and has a single seat.
2. The aeroplane must be registered to RA-Aus.
3. The aeroplanes maximum take-off weight is 300kg or less.
4. The wing loading of the aeroplane must not be greater than 30kg per square meter @ max weight. If the aeroplane is 2nd hand, it will have a certificate with it to certify the requirements have been met

Section 95.55 - para 1.2 (prefix 28)
Picture by Chris Siemers:

  
Registration of a homebuilt aeroplane under this section applies to aircraft which, in general, meet the following four conditions:
1. The aeroplane must meet and comply with the airworthiness requirements of section 101.28.
2. The aeroplane must meet and comply with the aircraft and certification requirements of section 101.55 para 1.1 – which is:
- a single engine
- propeller driven
- two seat (maximum) aircraft
- with a stall speed of not more than 45 knots in cruise configuration and 40 knots in landing configuration
- with a maximum cruise speed of 100 knots, and maximum weight of 450kg
3. The aeroplane must be registered with the RA-Aus
4. Not an aeroplane that section 95.32 applies (weight shift and powered chutes)

Section 95.55 - para 1.5 (prefix 19)
Picture by Chris Siemers:

 
For registration of a homebuilt aeroplane under this section, there are, in general, five conditions that must be met - they are:
1. The aeroplane is an ultra light aircraft, where a person has built the majority part of it themselves, and for the sole purpose of that person’s education or recreation.
2. The aeroplane must be registered to RA-Aus.
3. The aeroplane has no more than one propeller, one engine, and two seats.
4. The maximum take off weight of the aeroplane must not exceed 544kg; except for seaplanes where the maximum take off weight is 579kg (for a single seat sea plane) and 614kg (for a two seat seaplane)
5. The stall speed of the aeroplane must not exceed 45 knots (in landing configuration)

Section 95.55 - para 1.9 (prefix 19)
Picture By Chris Siemers:


This section will apply to homebuilt aeroplanes which meet, in general, the following four conditions:
1. The aeroplane is classified as a Light Sports Aircraft (LSA)
2. Where sections 1.2 & 1.5 (above) do not apply (and also sections 1.3; 1.4; 1.6; 1.8 of 95.55)
3. The aeroplane must be registered to RA-Aus
4. The owner of the aeroplane must hold a current experimental certificate for that aeroplane

Factory Built Categories:

Section 95.55 - para 1.3 (prefix 55)
Picture by Chris Siemers:

This section applies to a factory built aeroplane if it meets, in general, three conditions:
1. The aeroplane must meet and comply with the airworthiness requirements of section 101.55 – which is the Aircraft Certification requirements for aircraft with a 450kg maximum weight.
2. The aeroplane must be registered with the RA-Aus.
3. Not an aeroplane that section 95.32 applies (weight shift and powered chutes)

Section 95.55 - para 1.4 (prefix 25)

This section applies to a factory built aeroplane if it meets, in general, five conditions:
1. The aeroplane is classified in the old section of 95.25 aircraft.
2. The aeroplane has not been modified (exceptions apply).
3. The aeroplane has a maximum take off weight not exceeding 340kg (for a single seat a/c) and 450kg (for a two seat a/c).
4. The aeroplane must be registered with RA-Aus.
5. Not an aeroplane that section 95.32 applies (weight shift and powered chutes)

Section 95.55 - para 1.6 (prefix 24)
Picture by Chris Siemers:

This section applies to a factory built aeroplane if it meets, in general, six conditions:
1. The aeroplane is classified as an ultra light a/c. which has a CASA certificate of type approval, and is factory built and manufactured for sale by a CASA certificate holder which permits the manufacture of the certified a/c type.
2. Where sections 1.2; 1.3; 1.4, section 95.10 (above), and an aeroplane that section 95.32 does not apply (weight shift and powered chutes).
3. The aeroplane must be registered with the RA-Aus.
4. The aeroplane has one engine, one propeller, and a maximum of two seats.
5. The maximum take off weight of the aeroplane must not exceed 544kg; except for seaplanes where the maximum take off weight is 579kg (for a single seat sea plane) and 614kg (for a two seat seaplane)
6. The aeroplane has a stall speed of 45 knots or less in landing configuration.

Section 95.55 - para 1.8 (prefix 24)
Picture by Scott Williamson:

This section applies to a factory built aeroplane up to a maximum take off weight of 600kg if it meets, in general, four conditions:
1. The aeroplane is classified as a Light Sports Aircraft (LSA), and has been manufactured by a qualified and CASA certified builder (factory built).
2. Where sections 1.2; 1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6 and 1.9 (above) do not apply.
3. The aeroplane must be registered with RA-Aus.
4. The owner of the aeroplane must be the holder of a special certificate of airworthiness for that a/c

Weight Shift and Powered Chutes:

Section 95.32
Picture by Chris Siemers:

This section applies to weight shift and powered chute a/c. The general conditions in this category are:
1. They can be one or two seat
2. They can be factory built (para 1.1; 1.2) or home built (para 1.3).
3. The weight shift aeroplane under this section can be RA-Aus registered or HGFA (powered chute RA-Aus only).
4. The maximum weight in this category is 450kg for weight shift a/c and 300kg for the powered chute.
5. Must have a stall speed of not more than 40 knots in landing configuration.

Written by Chris Siemers