What you didn't know is that this idea was unique enough to win a patent. That's uncommon in recreational aviation, though, of course, an idea like this may go far beyond sport flying.
Chip Erwin is one of those restless people who probably lays awake night cooking multiple ideas in his brain at the same time. Many industries have their "Elon Musk" type who moves forward on several fronts despite plenty of people telling him he can't do what he does every day.
As the mainstream media hyperfocuses on multicopter air taxi ideas consuming vast amounts of money (why media pays attention in the first place), people like Chip have different thoughts about using electric power on aircraft. Depod is one of those concepts.
Depod is not intended for 
Indeed, Chip's term sounds made-for-military. DEPOD is awkward but does describe the idea.
NASA likes distributed electric propulsion (DEP), spending millions. Chip added the "on demand" part, spending thousands. His appears to be a clever, effective, and simpler way to use electric propulsion on an aircraft.
Let's learn what Chip has to say about the development.
"Now covered by two U.S. patents (see at bottom) this new on-demand propulsion system gives the pilot instant added thrust for takeoff or for a go-around, and instant reverse thrust to allow shorter landing rolls," explain Chip.. "It helps achieve extreme short takeoff and landing performance in three ways, and it provides added aircraft 'envelope protection'."
Chip continued…
These small wing motors, used briefly to enhance a phase of flight, need only a battery you can hold in your hand because they are not primary thrust power (though they add a good measure to the total).
Accelerating airflow over ailerons is very helpful to slow speed flight but it is not a new theory. You may have seen photos of a modified Tecnam Twin with multiple small electric motors lined up all along the leading edge. NASA calls this "distributed lift" and at its base, this and Depod are not so different.
By pushing air across the aileron, a Merlin Lite with these small motors buried in the wings could maintain control down to nearly zero airspeed. The small wing-mounted motor also helps generate more lift, making for very short takeoffs. “It could cut takeoff roll by three times,” Chip suggested.
https://youtu.be/2EACB8-3wDE
Naturally, sharp-eyed ByDanJohnson.com readers already know about Chip’s big idea. See this article; scroll down. What you didn’t know is that this idea was unique enough to win a patent. That’s uncommon in recreational aviation, though, of course, an idea like this may go far beyond sport flying. Chip Erwin is one of those restless people who probably lays awake night cooking multiple ideas in his brain at the same time. Many industries have their “Elon Musk” type who moves forward on several fronts despite plenty of people telling him he can’t do what he does every day. As the mainstream media hyperfocuses on multicopter air taxi ideas consuming vast amounts of money (why media pays attention in the first place), people like Chip have different thoughts about using electric power on aircraft. Depod is one of those concepts. Depod is not intended for Merlin Lite.
Let's begin with a focus on the modest cost of Merlin. I promote affordable aviation all day long. That word "affordable" means something different to every single pilot so every time I use the word someone is going to tell me, "It's still too expensive."
Look I get it. I'm a consumer, too. Plus, who doesn't enjoy a deal? So here's the short answer: "Finished Price: $34,000." That's a direct quote from 
The last two-stroke offered by the big Austrian engine manufacturer — builder of the ubiquitous 9-series four-stroke engines — was the Rotax 582. Producing 65 horsepower and earning a good reliability rating over many years, the 582 has been a dependable powerplant for the lightest powered aircraft that are larger and heavier than genuine Part 103 ultralights.
At Midwest 2020, Chip also introduced an engine he called Hybird. No, not hybrid (I had to correct my spellchecker three times on that one; it did not like Chip's alteration of the letters).
"The Aeromaine Vtwin is a 60 horsepower, liquid cooled, four-stroke, fuel-injected, electronic-ignition engine with electric starting," Chip summarized. "This engine incorporates state-of-the-art technology with decades of reliable history and many in service," he reinforced.
An engine built in the thousands per month makes a solid foundation yet it isn't factory ready to be mounted on an airplane. That requires some added components.
"Our matching reduction drive with custom CAD-designed and matched propeller results in the perfect power system for the Merlin aircraft at an excellent price," Chip maintains. "The Vtwin engine is supplied with a reduction drive and complete Merlin firewall forward package including including: engine mount, Merlin cowl, Aeromarine-LSA carbon propeller and spinner, radiator, and all fittings.
Why did Chip venture down this path? Wasn't developing an airframe and its many aspects enough challenge? The departure of HKS from the aviation market was one driver.
"The void in the availability of a 50-60 horsepower, four-stroke aircraft engine may be one reason that there are few single-seat aircraft," Chip speculated. "Rotax has reduced their offers of two-stroke engines and most pilots prefer four-cycle."
To install on the Merlin, Aeromarine LSA offers a complete package of firewall-forward components for $10,750, including engine mount, Merlin cowl, Aeromarine carbon propeller and spinner, radiator, and all fittings.
If you want features that exceed a Part 103 Merlin Lite, you will need to assemble a kit so you might like to see an example of the instruction quality. 
Maybe I should clarify: I mean the on-site camera work plus the keeping track of what we're doing next, handling a load of gear, planning the next day's video stories, downloading huge video files each evening and placing them somewhere to be used later, and charging up everything you own as you sleep. While we're shooting a video, Dave takes a director's view of where we're going and guides us along. He's also very aircraft-savvy so if we lack a piece of information, he can often provide it. The show must go on, you know.
Despite the challenges of working at a great distance, I've been sending loads of raw video up to Dave in Canada and he has been editing away hour upon hour. In this article, I want to introduce you to four recently released videos I think you will enjoy.
Billionaires are investing in, uh, what to call them? …drones, multicopters, eVTOLs, UASs, UAVs, Powered Lift aircraft, the list literally goes on and on. The lack of a widely accepted generic name is one of several indications these air taxis of tomorrow are still in a fairly distant tomorrow.
Two industry experts gave me their judgment after viewing the Volocopter and BlackFly demonstrations. Both agreed the Volocopter presented better, performing a true demonstration of its vertical launch then transitioning to forward flight, manuevering, and then doing a landing. Both also said the BlackFly was much less impressive. "They just kind of bobbed and floated around, not doing any maneuvering or making a transition to forward flight," each agreed. Both wanted to like each aircraft but one clearly won in their minds.
This story is not about either of these developmental vehicles, but here are two links for those interested in the 
I recall when 
Fusion eNano
Getting stall down to 24 knots (27.6 mph, where Chip saw "30") is tougher but with full flaps, it will be closer; he reported using deep but not full flaps ("32°" when 50° is available). However, a surer way to achieve the right speeds may be a longer wing that is already built and has flown; see the engineering drawings (below video). Weight from a longer wing may require that the pilot fly without the door, but Chip believes room still exists to lighten Merlin Lite enough for buyers to have it all — full enclosure including door, engine cowl, and most or all of the options seen in the photos and video.
The video documents the weighing action conducted inside a hangar that Mt. Vernon airport manager, Chris Collins generously provided so Merlin Lite was not affected by wind. Although I witnessed this using bathroom scales, I checked these with my own weight to see they were within one pound or so of one another (about one-half of one percent deviation). However, Chip will shortly perform a formal weighing using certified scales and an official observer. He's confident Merlin Lite will still qualify and based on what I saw, I agree.
Thor 250 outputs 36 horsepower from a single cylinder that Evolution Trikes boss Larry Mednick describes as a smooth running engine that rivals Rotax's 912. That's a big statement but it appears this Polini powerplant dominates the market for the lightest aircraft. Evolution's 
Are you looking for an affordably-priced airplane? On this website, you can find many choices of aircraft that qualify, with something to fit the budget of almost any pilot.
Using the Search bar at the top of the page, you can look for any text anywhere on this website. Have you tried it? More on this below…
However, such "alternative aircraft" may not be what you had in mind. Many are open cockpit and pilots trained in a Cessna or Piper can feel uneasy being out in the open (even if behind a pod and windscreen). Also, weight shift trikes, powered parachutes, or gyroplanes handle differently from stick (or yoke) and rudder.
Other pilots may want an aircraft that can cope with the elements better. Metal can offer better endurance. 
Chip believes his new Part 103 "magic" ultralight is truly revolutionary.
“This is not your 1980s ultralight," claimed designer Chip. “I know, I was there. Our new Merlin Lite has real aircraft features and appeal: seven windows, a cockpit door, decent baggage capacity and space, an instrument panel with an EFIS and GPS. And the list goes on.”
Merlin Lite is available with either tricycle gear or taildragger, Chip reported, and features all-aluminum construction, dual independent hydraulic brakes, tundra tires, five-position flaps, pushrod controls with bearings, and substantial aft cabin area with the CG envelope to use it. "Deep deploying 50-degree Fowler flaps and tundra tires with independent dual brakes make the Merlin Lite an ultralight bush plane," he added.
"Based on Merlin PSA, a popular single seat personal sport aircraft that costs less than $40,000 and cruises at 120 mph, Merlin Lite's cockpit is almost as large as the Merlin's, but the powerplant is scaled down and the 3-D tapered wing aspect ratio is increased," said Chip.
Merlin Lite is available completed and ready to fly away, or can also be built as an Experimental and flown with a Sport Pilot ticket, or even a glider certificate, flying Merlin Lite as a motorglider.
"Its cantilevered high wing means no lift strut," explained Chip, "making Merlin Lite quite easy to get in and out, a feature with increasing importance. Plus, the large baggage area can carry a full-size airline roll-on bag, camping gear, or even your favorite pet."
Merlin Lite finished and ready-to-fly — $31,000 equipped with electric-starting 
To find truly affordable aircraft, for one example, search for "vintage ultralights" you will be lead to our April 2020 series on ten super-affordable airplanes, all of which are available second hand for less than $10,000. You may not know that Search can be more specific. After you use Search, a page shows you whatever is found but you can drill down further — click "Try our advanced search option."
After your initial search, you will see, "Not finding exactly what you expected? Try our advanced search option." Click on the "Try our advanced search option" link and you can narrow the search to: 1️⃣ specific brands of aircraft manufacturers, 2️⃣ specific aircraft models, or 3️⃣ FI.R.M. List companies, meaning products and services that do not make airframes or engines. This Advanced Search is quite powerful to sift through more than two million words or hundreds of different aircraft reported on ByDanJohnson.com.
