GET R DONE!

Here is some big news! Weights of the Vtwin, reduction drive and main components collected. And the numbers are spot on or even below projected!

There will be a few nuts and bolts to add plus the cowl and propeller, but it looks like the total installation will be less than the HKS which is what we were expecting.

We are making the first USA Vtwin installation now and weighing parts as we install them. Plus, we are making a BOM and step-by-step photo assembly manual. We have already posted the Redrive to Vtwin installation manual.:

https://www.aeromarine-lsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Vtwin-Redrive-Installation-Manual.pdf

We had a couple issues with the first production parts. You can see above the engine mount pick-ups were welded on the wrong side of the bracket. That resulted in me flying back to Florida to wait for 2 new brackets to be fabricated and Fed Ex’d to Ohio. And the express package took a 5-day holiday in Frankfurt. Finally, the new brackets arrived in Ohio 2 days after I did.

Here you can see the new bracket painted and installed lower port side.

Now we have mapped out positions on the firewall for the overflow tank, ECU, voltage regulator, solinoid, and fuel pumps. Everything fits in real nice.

But then…..

What’s wrong with this picture? Nothing if the drawing in the background was a mirror. But it’s snot. At least I can and did fix this myself with some re-riveting. You are looking at the nifty exhaust bracket. There are two of them that attach to the engine by replacing a cover on each side so they have gaskets as well. And by attaching the muffler to the engine we avoid most of the vibration transfer which stresses out the attachment tubes and can result in failures.

We have shipped the first Merlin to Vtwin Firewall Forward Package (FF PKG) to a Merlin builder. He now has all his main components like the engine mount, Vtwin, redrive, exhaust, radiator and cowl. As we proceed with this Vtwin installation in Ohio we are making proper documentation to include the BOM and photo assembly manual. And, of course, we are busy fabricating plenty more FF PKGs to get out to other Merlin builders ASAP.

Plus, we are installing the first deluxe panel with the MGL 8-1/2 EFIS, antennas, EMS-to-Vtwin connections, and custom wiring harness. Expect more blog posts to follow this work. Getting R Done!

In other news another container of beautiful Merlins is shipped and will arrive to our newest build center near Mobile Alabama in a couple weeks. This orange Merlin pictured has a nice slate gray interior and is really sharp.

Plus, we will ship 2 more Merlin quick-build kits and the first 2 Merlin Lite aircraft by the end of February. That container will go to Lakeland, FL so we can offload right to our booth at the show. The first two sets of 750 straight floats will be in this container too. Our SNF booth will be epic!

Watch this space!
CHIP