• Our Story

Aeromarine LSA is managed by Chip W. Erwin, a serial entrepreneur with 40+ years experience in bringing affordable aircraft to the market.

His previous company, Czech Aircraft Works, built over 750 aircraft and aircraft kits plus created 3 LSA models: The SportCruiser/PiperSport, the Mermaid, and the Parrot. His focus now is developing and promoting the new class of ‘Personal Sport Aircraft’ which means bringing aircraft to the market than a lot more people can actually afford to buy an fly.

Aeromarine-LSA has established a base of operations at the South Lakeland Airport which has a perfect location in central Florida near all the famous amusement parks and close to both Tampa and Orlando International airports. This location was chosen primarily because the airport is very light aircraft friendly and perfectly suitable location to operate a builders-assistance center but also because it has excellent year-round flying weather, has ports nearby for importing aircraft and not too far from a hockey rink.

Our second location is in Dayton, Ohio at Phillipsburg Airport (3i7). This is convenient to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where Aeromarine works projects for the Air Force Research Lab.

The build centers are part of the plan to be able to offer the E-AB Merlin with less than 2 weeks build time and with professional results.

History: Chip W. Erwin

  • Established and managed a $14mm annual sales aircraft manufacturing company with global sales and >250 employees
  • Designed and certified 3 LSA-class aircraft
  • BS in General Business from Arizona State University (1980) and MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of North Dakota (1990) (completed MBA in school record 9 months with 4.0 GPA)
  • Test pilot & amphibious aircraft pilot experience. Seaplane pilot for 35 years
  • 3-time winner of Piccolo Schneider Cup seaplane race (Italy)
  • Invited to Olympic trials in sailing (twice)
  • Non-Traditional Defense Contractor – Began supporting the DoD 2 years ago as a SME as a Consultant on Aircraft Design and Test Activities – Has gained an in-depth understanding of user needs.
  • Security Clearance

Chip W. Erwin

Erwin after another Schneider Cup win. CZAW Amphib floats
CZAW designed and built Mermaid. 1st LSA Amphib. Inspired ICON
Erwin established LSA factory in China
CZAW SportCruiser/Piper-Sport
Erwin with 1 of 3 Schneider Cup wins
CZAW Mermaid LSA Amphib
CZAW Parrot LSA
China LSA Factory
CZAW SportCruiser/Piper-Sport
CZAW Floats and 1 of 300 CZAW-built CH601s
CZAW Floats and 1 of 500 CZAW-built CH701s
Schneider Cup win

Kudos!

I watched your latest AV Web interview and was most impressed with your Merlin presentation. I realize you have matched your airframe to the Rotax 582 and the electric drive train but I am curious if there is any possibility of fitting a D-Motor into this package. Building a Jabiru-style firewall-forward kit, designing a cowling and getting the balance right might be asking for too much but the narrow side-valve configuration of this engine made me curious about its application in your Merlin.

I realize you are crazy busy so this is definitely low priority.
Thanks

Happy Birthday! Chip, You did a great job building my plane after ten years it still runs and fly’s like new.

Congratulations to Chip Erwin, and praise to the factory for the installation and approval of the HKS engine. Am eager to see test-flight performance figures (specifically rates-of-climb) between the HKS and Rotax 582.

One of the top three things I saw at Airventure this year. It was great to see it in person. Very roomy (and I’m 5’9″ 200+). One of the top three things I saw at Airventure this year. Now if there was only an O100 to put under that cowling.

Thanks, Chip! BTW, Good luck with the Stinger project. I will be following it with great interest. Based on the one construction photo it looks to be a very solid little airplane; kind of like a modernized RV-3. Actually, it reminds me of the “Endeavor” Reno air racer. Smart move on the part of the guys over at Sprite. Hope this partnership really pays off for you. Bridging the gap between open-cockpit ultra-light and LSA with lightweight single-seaters was brilliant. Offering that direct-drive electric motor and innovative battery should put you in a leadership position, as well. The future looks exciting!

I have flown the Merlin in some turbulent conditions and can say it is very stable with only light inputs needed to keep on track. I know from experience that if I was flying my flexwing trike (Quik GT450) I would have had a very good workout to say the least.
Have I made the correct decision in purchasing this aircraft, So far the answer is defiantly YES! YES! YES !!!.
My thanks go to Graham Smith of Sprite Aviation (Importer/dealer who struggles to understand northern English banter and dialects) and fellow builder Bernard Carpenter for their help, support and encouragement in getting this project off the ground.