This Merlin has nothing to do with kids in colorful costumes seeking sweets from their neighbors. It does have to do with pilots liking interesting airplanes that they can fly over their neighbors… especially when they can afford the airplane. In the last couple years, I’ve created videos with Merlin developer, Chip Erwin that have been among the most-watched on Dave Loveman‘s Light Sport and Ultralight Flyer YouTube channel. I interviewed numerous industry leaders like Chip in around 1,000 videos. The 50 most popular of those productions have been watched more than 10 million times. In addition, when I write about Merlin on this website, lots of readers seem to love it. So it’s hardly any wonder that I would be pleased to continue our Top 50 video series with one from just a couple of years ago. In a short time, it passed the 275,000-views mark. Since then, I did another on Merlin that went over well on my own channel (see below).
Innovative, Versatile Merlin — a Video Series You Loved (because?) It’s Affordable
Catching Chip
In a few short years, this energetic Florida-based developer has created an entire line of aircraft around the name Merlin — Merlin PSA, Merlin Lite, Electrolite, and a coming Merlin II. In addition, he offers the also-affordable TrueLite, about which I've written in this article. We start off some years ago with Merlin PSA, for Personal Sport Aircraft. Merlin PSA was an aircraft with several tempting features and a short build time, but it was just the beginning.Merlin Production
So vigorous and thorough has been Chip's development of the Merlin line that the one element of criticism I hear is that production suffered. As anyone with small business experience is aware, when you have a lot of irons in the fire, it can be challenging to keep on schedule. Chip must not sleep much because he's always thinking and networking.Paul Mather (L) has also assembled Zenith CH-751s for customers. Here Paul and I go aloft in one. CONGRATULATIONS to Paul as this year's honored inductee into EAA's Ultralight Hall of Fame.
A two-seat Merlin II has already been flying in Europe. It is not Chip's present focus.
Magical Merlin
Now that we've been through the line, and you've heard some update, consider this: the airplane you see in the pictures, on floats, is truly a Part 103 aircraft, but one which can also qualify as a motorglider. This gives this aircraft some very unique privileges.STANDARD FEATURES: AeroMarine LSA Merlin Lite So many, Chip "feels compelled" to list them
- All-aluminum construction
- BRS-500 emergency airframe parachute
- Polini 303 DS liquid-cooled engine
- Electric starting
- 3-blade ground adjustable carbon propeller
- Interior fully epoxy primed
- Electric trim
- Tundra tires
- Dual hydraulic brakes
- Parking brake
- Airspeed indicator or full EFIS
- Fuel gauge
- Engines instruments: Tach, water temp, CHT
- Tricycle gear
- 12-volt power supply/charger
- EarthX battery
- Dual air vents
- 5 windows
- Pushrods with triple bearings
- 4-position slotted flaps
- 25-pound baggage capacity
- 4.15-gallon wing tank
- Cabin heat
- Defroster
ARTICLE LINKS:
- Aeromarine LSA, full contact info plus all content on this website
- Merlin article from Sun 'n Fun 2023, describing the line, on this website
- Article with video introducing Merlin Lite and weighing it, live
- 2017 article describing the kit-building effort for Merlin
- M-Squared aircraft plus contact info for Paul Mather
- Article on TrueLite, another very affordable aircraft Chip offers
- Dave Loveman's YouTube channel with more than 1,500 videos