Photo from prototype system 2014 and from July, 2020

I was right 6 years ago when I said electric power would be great in an ultralight. I was wrong to think I could do it myself. Well, I did do it myself, just not good enough to be a commercial product.

Rather than repeat a lot of what I wrote years ago here I will repeat it on my web site instead. Just updated of course. Not too surprising I didn’t have to change much. I knew then that viable electric power was dependent on battery energy density which was only improving 5-7% per year. That also proved true.

Now I am finally using a system from a supplier I have known for years and with excellent results. You can see our teaser video here: https://youtu.be/CXYo2CfdPb4

We are now offering this ‘plug & fly’ system to our Zigolo customer base and, if we have enough orders, to a new group of Zigolo builders/flyers. I will have a new Zigolo page up today. And here is my retro electric page:   https://www.aeromarine-lsa.com/electric/#top

It costs more than my unrealistic target but IMHO absolutely worth it. Finally, fly low, slow, quiet, and safe.

CWE

Aeromarine has been busy creating new aircraft and power systems. We are getting close to first flights and going public. Our engineers continue their preparation and as soon as I can travel again, we will be back flying. For my 12 blog readers you will have the first look on our new web site.

All our big news was going to be made public at Sun n Fun this month. But now that is cancelled. I sure hope there is an Oshkosh show. We will be much farther along with flying aircraft by Oshkosh and a big booth space to show all. We have so much new and nearly ready to make public that we decided to make a completely new web site.

As those following the Merlin may already know HKS stopped all engine production so the 700E is no longer available. That leaves the Rotax 582 which works great on the Merlin but has a lot less market appeal as it is a 2-stroke engine.

The Aeromarine V-Twin is a 60 hp liquid-cooled 4-cycle 800cc 80-degree fuel-injected, electronic ignition engine with electric start.

The V-twin is ‘red-neck proven’ meaning hundreds of thousands of this engine have been manufactured and put to the test in ATVs. These 4-wheel off-road vehicles are run hard in extreme off-road conditions.  They have proven themselves to be very durable and reliable. Perfect for aircraft use.  Plus, this engine is very modern especially compared to nearly every aircraft engine. It has electronic ignition and fuel injection. And designed to be run at high power settings.

With the new engine we needed a carbon ground-adjustable prop perfectly matched to it. That work was commissioned and finished. Our first props just arrived.

Another big piece of news not quite ready for public disclosure is our new Merlin Lite aircraft. Lighter than the Merlin? Hard to do but possible as we are targeting the tight Part 103 Ultralight rules. Our math shows that we can do it. This means you can have a smaller, lighter Merlin for even less money and even less regulation. You need more paperwork to fly a drone or remote-controlled aircraft than for the Merlin Lite!

Power will be a small Polini PPG engine to start and possibly electric power if I ever manage to get that finished.

We just received a container of Merlins, a set of floats, and our first Merlin Lite and despite all the world drama and Florida & Ohio lockdowns we managed to unload the container.  Frustrating to have all these kits to deliver to customers and the new Merlin Lite to finish and I am stuck in Florida. At least our ski lake/seaplane base is still open.

Here is the brochure prepared for SNF now well in advance and likely outdated by the time the show rolls around:

https://www.aeromarine-lsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SNF-BROCHURE-2020.pdf