This will be a long post covering nearly everything. Bout time too I know. But I only post when I have something to share. And now I can share a lot of our progress and innovations.

However, it is Easter weekend so let’s start with a few images of a beautiful church in Olomouc, Czech Republic. I do not know how many decades it took to make this church, but it is magnificent, as most churches are in Europe.

I am now on a train returning to Prague then flying to USA. Just in time to prepare for the SNF show beginning next week. Oh great, a week in Florida sun, just after I had a skin cancer surgery on my head. that’s what 46 years of Oshkosh and SNF gets you I guess.

Let us start with Merlin Lites. Perhaps the most controversial topic. Short engine recap: We had too many issues with the Polini 303 to be comfortable with it. We began the installation of the Vitorazzi Cosmos 300 which has come on strong in the PPG market. And we are flying with it on the TrueLite and find it to be an excellent engine. But installation has dragged on. The engine, like the Polini, is not designed to fit inside a cowl. Exhaust sticks out one way, carb another, spark plugs a third vector. All challenges for us. But now we are quite close to running the engine.

We have 3D printed an intake manifold with a 70-degree elbow. We have re-welded the exhaust to fit better. And modified the cowl to enclose the cylinder head and spark plugs. The installation is nearly complete.

Here you can see the cooling system, fuel system, and electronics all mounted.

For the panel, we are installing a row of circuit breakers and switches to control the engine, avionics, strobes, and trim.

We are considering switching to the MGL Blaze Flight-3 instrument as it can provide all we need for avionics and most of what we want for the EMS. The IFD-Net EFIS we were using is no longer in production, plus, we just found out we have to send any faulty units back to Italy for service. Not really acceptable.

https://legitavionics.com/products/blaze-flight-3

The panel layout has the trim indicator and rocker switch on the left, the EFIS/EMS next, a row of CBs and switches, then the start button and mag switches. Plenty of space for your iPad. Two fuel gauges will be located in the spar lightening holes above. Fuel on-off valves either on the panel left side or below the panel in the center.

I ordered a Blaze ASV-2 for the electric-powered Merlin Lite. We do not need fuel gauges, CHT, RPM, or other engine sensors.

I have noticed that Polini has sorted the 303 issues with the introduction of a new model: The Thor 260.

https://www.polinithor.com/en/polini-thor-260-2/

This engine already has an excellent reputation and, as we already have the engine mount, cowl, and installation done, I thought we should give it a go.

Here is the Thor 260 as I uncrate it at the factory. Our plan now is to ship both Polini and Cosmos-powered Merlin Lites to our build center at M-Squared around the end of this month or very early in May. We will only need a few days to prepare them for flight, and we can fly both aircraft side-by-side for comparison.

As posted previously, we have 8 Merlin Lites mostly finished with stock of both long and short wings. In May, we begin construction on another batch of 8. We are already confirming specs and order details with our customers. See photo above showing throttle and brake assembly and parking brake. Not many ultralights have anywhere near the features the Merlin Lite has.

And now on to the Electrolite, the Merlin Lite with electric power system. We now have completed the assembly of 2 battery packs and are building the composite housing. The batteries are fully functioning so we can now install and program the inverter/controller.

We are approaching static motor tests which means flying is right around the corner! We will keep this aircraft in CZ for extensive flight testing and to prepare operating manuals and POH. An inexpensive and viable electric motor glider is coming soon with a viable 1- hour flight time expected.

Now on to TrueLite news. We are more than 1/2 way done with our first TrueLite build at M-Squared and it is starting to look like an aircraft. We plan to use this aircraft to test and demonstrate some of our military technology such as fully autonomous flight and our patent-pending Small Hybrid Aerial Computer (SHAC) used for precision munitions targeting.

The test pilot (me) is only there for the ride. A ground controller will do all the actual flying including the take-offs and landings. Having a pilot on board circumvents all the UAV restrictions. And grapefruit will probably be our munitions.

As a proof-of-concept for the LEOPARD and Hyper-STOL projects, we designed and built probably the most complex and beautiful wing ever on an LSA-class aircraft. 2 sets of wings are nearly finished. We will be flight testing in USA and Slovakia.

The wing has retractable leading-edge slats and double-slotted Fowler flaps. And is 3D tapered. This is all very complex and deserves a post of its own which I will make later. Finally, a true STOL wing with high cruise speeds! Aeromarine keeps raising the bar!

I nearly forgot, we have now completed the flight testing of our own reduction drive system for the Vtwin. And now offer a firewall forward package for all the Kitfox’s that will need to replace their Rotax 582 power.

And finally, we close in on the completion of a Merlin II with a Rotax 915iS installed and a MT 3-blade constant-speed propeller. This should be fast!

This Merlin II has control yokes and bomb bay doors.

We won’t have much to show at SNF, but by the time Oshkosh rolls around we will be fully into deliveries and showing some of our tech.

Cheers,

CHIP

Aeromarine LSA’s V-Twin engine is featured in the December 2025 issue of KITPLANES Magazine, highlighting its role as an affordable, modern alternative to traditional two-stroke aircraft engines.

Designed specifically for light sport and experimental aircraft, the 60-horsepower four-stroke V-Twin offers a balance of performance, simplicity, and cost efficiency—particularly as legacy engines like the Rotax 582 become increasingly difficult to source.

The article outlines the engine’s aviation-specific design, including a custom reduction drive, liquid cooling system, and simplified installation package. With growing real-world flight time and expanding compatibility across multiple aircraft platforms, the Aeromarine V-Twin continues to gain traction among builders.

👉 Learn more at aeromarine-lsa.com

Greetings from Prague, now Amsterdam, missed my flight home. Oh, wait, now in Atlanta.

This might be a long blog. So, let’s get started. I will start with the Merlin Lite as that is what most are waiting so long for.

The Cosmos engine is installed, and the systems are going in systematically. We are now very close to completing this installation and getting on with flying tests. Notes:

• Cooling system is installed.
• Fuel system is installed.
• Engine mount is finished.
• Cowl is mostly finished.
• Air intake elbow is waiting on Vittorazi approval.

Cosmos cowl, engine installation, and instrument panel.

Have a look at the new baggage compartment.

We have made a LOT of progress with the electric power system.

• First and 2^nd battery packs are finished.
• Cooling system is installed
• Motor and controller are installed
• Panel is prepared with EFIS and trim.
• Charger is in stock.
• Cowl is finished.

Look close to see small radiator and water pump for controller and motor cooling.

Battery specs are 400 volts and 10 KWh in size utilizing Tesla 21700 cells. Weight is only 30 Kg. We expect a solid hour of flight time on the Electrolite. THIS WILL BE A REALLY GREAT AIRCRAFT!

We have the Merlin Lite airframes ready! See photos of airframes 1 through 8.

Plus, both long and short wings finished.

First container is planned for end of January and another container shortly after. A couple of Merlins are also ready to ship along with the first Merlin II for USA.

In other news:

The Merlin, with me on the cover, was the feature article in November Kitplanes. And in December Kitplanes there is a great article on our Vtwin engine. I will post both articles separately soon.

Some images from Alabama:

In TrueLite news, our first builder is rapidly progressing:

Plus, we will be making another TrueLite delivery soon. Next one to Kentucky. And assembly of kits begins in Alabama.

Floats:

We shipped a 750-float kit. Here is what it looks like:

The bigger 1450 amphibious floats are also in production:

This super nice Merlin with a Rotax 582 is available.

This basically new Merlin with less than 30 flight hours is ready to ship. Nice panel. We can swap ASI to MPH or leave in KPH as it makes you think you are going faster.

Last flight leg then I get another round of jet lag.

Cheers,

CHIP

Show #45 for me is in the books. Tuff show for me after 40 hours of driving from FL to AL to WI and back. I have to credit Graham (#13) and my son Davi for help with the driving and Brian, Ben, Graham and Davi for the show help. I was hardly outside of the RV.

It was too much effort this year so only 1 of 3 aircraft and no floats made it to the booth.

We promoted Hybrid Aerospace and Redline Turbines well.

The turbine and subsequently, the hybrid turbine are being prepared for installation to a Merlin II. This is a bigger technology advance than it may seem. The range extension is huge for those trying to screw themselves into the air on battery power alone. Plus, we eliminate the ‘impossible turn’ should there be an engine failure on take-off.

Not so much to see in the booth. We had a squatter park his mobile home in our extra space. No idea what he was thinking but nice try.

Random news clips:

• The Cosmos tractor engine finally arrived at our factory, and we can quickly make the engine and cowl installations and get this Merlin Lite flying. The E-Prop also is in stock. This is HUGE. We waited a year for Vittorazzi to finish this new design. Great news for Merlin Lite customers. The Polini was the best engine choice at the time but now we know better.
• We are closer to flying the electric Merlin Lite, but not just yet. I need to go to Czech but I also need to sort my ankle out at least another month.
• 2 more Merlins are flying in Alabama and will soon be handed over to the customers. Finally, the build center space will be opening up and more Merlins will get flying as we have sorted a lot of details.
• MOSAIC is now signed off by the FAA. We have a plan for our MOSAIC offer. Watch this space.
• 
• The FAA briefed a select group of manufacturers prior to their announcement. The clean stall speed has increased to include a few of the faster legacy aircraft. That will allow Aeromarine to design a much faster personal aircraft that will still have STOL performance. This will be fun.
• TrueLite kits finally arrived!!!! We will ship some kits and assemble the rest of the kits.

TRUELITE KITS IN STOCK!

We now begin test flights of our new cogged belt reduction drive.

More details to follow as we flight test.

Big winner at the Seaplane Corn Roast with a new shirt and an instrument ground school course.

Shout out to Davi who just graduated from CVUT, the best technical school in CZ and one of the top schools in the entire EU. His focus was on computer science and machine learning (AI). In 2 weeks, he returns to Prague to start his first real job. And his part time job supporting Aeromarine’s technology.

Cheers

CHIP