Back to Dayton
Progress Report
The objective of this trip was to finalize the Vtwin firewall forward package, follow up on the panel circuit board, and prepare for the Sun n Fun show.
We are still optimizing the fuel system and believe we have the final positions for the pumps and regulator. Once those are mounted, we can finish with the cooling system, voltage regulator and solenoid mounting. We have those stuck in about their final positions now.
A few more mounting brackets and fuel line attach plugs are ordered and just arrived as I am heading back to the airport for my return to Florida. Colleague Ben will mock-up the new and likely final positions.
We have found a fabricator of aluminum racing radiators. They will soon be making a big batch of custom sized and spec’d radiators to match our cowl. They have the capability to mold silicone tubing and we have requested their offer. It would be a nice finalization to our cooling system to have perfectly curved tubes with minimal fittings.
At this point I would say the firewall forward BOM is 95% finished and the stocking bins are getting set up.
We have a few more cowls, engine mounts, and exhausts shipping from CZ this week so we will be able to show these parts at SNF. Here is our nearly finished BOM:
MERLIN VTWIN FIREWALL FORWARD PACKAGE | |
ITEM | QTY |
ENGINE MOUNT | |
REDUCTION DRIVE KIT – BOM | 1 |
VTWIN ENGINE | 1 |
TOP COWL | 1 |
BOTTOM COWL | 1 |
CAMLOCKS | |
ENGINE MOUNT WITH 4 MOUNTING BOLTS/NUTS/WASHERS | 1 |
TO INSTALL BRACKET TO VTWIN | |
ENGINE MOUNT MAIN BRACKET | 1 |
BOLT | 3 |
M8 WASHERS | 3 |
BOLT | 1 |
M10 WASHER | 1 |
BOLT | 1 |
M8 WASHER | 1 |
M8 SPACER – DRILL TO 5/16 ID | 1 |
VTWIN TO ENGINE MOUNT | |
RUBBER MOUNTS | 2 |
NYLOC NUTS FOR RUBBER MOUNTS | 4 |
M8 WASHERS | 4 |
STARBOARD ENGINE MOUNT BOLT | 1 |
NYLOC NUTS | 1 |
WASHER | 1 |
ITEM | QTY |
FUEL SYSTEM | |
PUMPS | 2 |
REGULATOR | 1 |
GAS HOSE 5/16 GATES HIGH PRESSURE. USE FOR RETURN LINE ALSO | |
GAS HOSE 3/8 HIGH PRESSURE | |
CHECK VALVE 3/8 | 2 |
SELECTOR VALVE | 1 |
WIRING 5-PIN PLUG | 1 |
FUEL SWITCH BRACKET | 1 |
5/16 X 3/8 X 5/16 BRASS BARBED Y | 1 |
5/16 BULKHEAD FITTING | 1 |
3/8 BULKHEAD FITTING | 1 |
CABLE CLAMP & 10-32 SCREW | 1 |
QUICK DISCONNECTS | 2 |
QUICK DISCONNECTS | 2 |
QUICK DISCONNECTS-WING 3/8 | 2 |
QUICK DISCONNECTS-WING 5/16 | 2 |
ITEM | QTY |
COOLING SYSTEM | |
RADIATOR | 1 |
RUBBER MOUNTS | 4 |
NYLOC M6 | 4 |
PRESSURE TANK | 1 |
OVERFLOW TANK | 1 |
TOP & BOTTOM BRACKETS | 2 |
FRONT BRACKET L+R | 2 |
FRONT BRACKET CLAMPS | 2 |
3/4 PIPE BEADED .028 THIN WALL 9 INCHES LONG | 1 |
HOSE ELBOW 3/4 | 6 |
STAINLESS STEEL BARBED CONNECTORS 3/4 | 2 |
HOSE CLAMPS -OTECKER 31.6 | 12 |
REDUCING TEE 3/4 X 3/4 X 1/4 ALUMINUM | 1 |
1/4 ID X 1/2 OD BRAINDED VINYL HIGH TEMP 175 DEGREE HOSE | |
REDUCER TO OVERFLOW TANK | 1 |
ITEM | QTY |
EXHAUST SYSTEM | |
EXHAUST | 1 |
LEFT EXHAUST PIPE | 1 |
RIGHT EXHAUST PIPE | 1 |
02 LUGS | 2 |
CLAMPS | 2 |
EXHAUST GASKETS | 2 |
HIGH TEMP LOCK NUTS | 4 |
MOUNT BRACKETS L+R | 2 |
ENGINE GASKETS | 2 |
HOSE CLAMPS – 6″ | 2 |
HEAT CUFF | 1 |
HEAT CUFF HOSE CLAMPS | 2 |
SCAT TUBE | 1 |
SCAT TUBE HOSE CLAMPS | 2 |
ITEM | QTY |
THROTTLE SYSTEM | |
AIR FILTER | 1 |
THROTTLE CABLE THROTTLE CABLE CLAMP | 1 |
CABLE FERREL | 1 |
PROPELLER | |
PROPELLER W/HUB | 1 |
PROPELLER BOLTS | 8 |
PROPELLER WASHERS | 8 |
SPINNER | 1 |
PROP EXTENSION 1-1/4 | 1 |
BATTERY | 1 |
COPPER LUGS-STARTER TO SOLINOID | 2 |
SNAP GROMMET | 1 |
Here is the reduction drive inventory and installation parts per the BOM:
AEROMARINE VTWIN REDUCTION DRIVE BOM | ||||
P/N | ITEM | QTY | PACKED | |
1 | REDUCTION DRIVE KIT | 1 | ||
2 | M6 X 20 | BOLT | 4 | |
3 | M6 X 55 | BOLT | 2 | |
4 | M10 X 35 | BOLT | 2 | |
5 | M10 X 110 | BOLT | 2 | |
6 | M10 X 220 | BOLT | 1 | |
7 | M12 X 90 | BOLT | 1 | |
8 | WASHER | 12X37MM WASHER SS | 1 | |
9 | SPACER | SHORT | 2 | |
10 | SPACER | MEDIUM | 2 | |
11 | SPACER | LONG | 1 | |
12 | CLAMP | KEYLESS SHAFT CLAMP | 2 |
Bins will be stocked this month. We already have plenty of engines and reduction drives. Finally, we can begin shipping these packages. Meanwhile we are working on the Merlin with Vtwin POH and Vtwin installation manual. These items won’t take long as the POH is just a revision, and we are making the engine installation as simple as possible.
And now embroidered and finished Merlin Temperfoam seats in stock.
In Merlin Lite news the first airframes are now finished and in the paint booth. The plan is to get one flying before SNF so I can show video. Fingers crossed.
We are going ahead with Plan B for the SNF show and will create a ‘museum style’ display of several of the AFRL projects Aeromarine has been participating in over the last few years. Most of this will be on public display for the first time. I think it will be interesting. Actually, I know it will be interesting and I doubt you will see more high-tech ideas in any other booth in any other show. That’s a big claim so I refine it to any other light aircraft show like SNF.
Expect to see DEPOD, RAES, DART, Hyper-STOL, amphibious Hyper-STOL, electric Z-50, and a new VSTOL design. We like our acronyms. And most of this will be on our video monitor as well. I even have a novel way of powering the computer and big screen TV in our non-electric booth in Paradise City.
Here is our R&D Merlin that was used in some of these programs moving from our Dayton R&D shop to our hangar. We will prepare it for our DART program when we get this current work behind us.
I received a text from a Merlin Lite customer pointing out that it has been a year since I accepted his order and other orders at SNF and have yet to deliver a Merlin Lite. No chit. I know. And it will be a topic of discussion at the show I am sure. But I have addressed this in my blogs and will repeat: Yes, I underestimated the project. And we have half the normal staff to manufacture aircraft. And I wanted the best possible product so I made 20+ changes to the prototype which basically results in nearly a new aircraft so the engineering hours totaled thousands instead of hundreds.
I accept all responsibility of course. I also made the deposits small and refundable and secured those funds and promptly refunded 100% usually within hours of any request. I did twice offer a deposit refund to this customer but he remains on board.
We are offering the worlds’ best line E-AB and Part 103 aircraft in the Merlin and Merlin Lite. No short cuts, nothing inferior. And I trust worth the wait. That is the bottom line.
CHIP
I’m turning 79 in a couple of months and feel like 80 is going to be my limit for flying. So I’m requesting the return of my deposit if possible and cancel my order for the Merlin Lite. The Merlin Lite is the only 103 that I would have felt safe in. I wish you well in your endeavors. Thank you, Michael Orr 4905 Prairie Hill Rd. Brenham, Texas 77833 409-770-4044