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Aquilae (North American Eagle)

Website: https://www.aquilaestol.com

Email: info@AquilaeSTOL.com

Phone: 847-476-3333

Kent, IL - USA

Latin for Eagle, Aquilae is A New Kit Entry in the STOL space from North American Eagle

By Dan Johnson || 1 Comment

Let's get that name dealt with right away — say "ACK-will-lay." The model name looks more awkward than it is and sounds more graceful than it looks. The word translates from Latin as Eagle. Though unusual, Aquilae is a worthy name for a light aircraft.

G1 photographed some years ago at Aero Friedrichshafen. This aircraft was also fitted with hand controls.

When you glance at the photos nearby, do you get the feeling you've seen this before? You should, but you may be wrong.

Popular Design Configuration

Aquilae looks very much like but is not the G1 STOL seen earlier (see this article). Some years before G1 arrived here in America, I'd written about French-produced version after seeing it equipped with hand controls and with its wings folded compactly on a trailer at the German Aero Friedrichshafen show. The basic design has been flying for close to 25 years. Originally developed as the Yuma by Alisport, a French company, the design was later taken over by G1 Aviation, another French company that does extensive machine shop work for several aircraft builders. Alisport produced plans for their Yuma and that's what G1 used when they took over after the original Alisport engineer retired. It is also what Aquilae is using. Puma itself may have started as a modification of the Zenith CH-701 though these threads get increasingly hard to follow when changes are made.

Aquilae seen in the medium bush plane configuration. A gnarlier Grizzly version is planned with more absorbent shocks on all gear plus a powerful Rotax 916iS engine.

All this made me look twice when I first spotted the gleaming Aquilae in polished aluminum. Mark Mellicker represented the G1 STOL at airshows for the last couple years (see this earlier article). As happens in aviation and any other business, events changed the organization and another company at AirVenture told me they were now representing G1. So I had two clues when I saw Mark by this shiny new airplane. Mark decided to go on his own and, voila!, Aquilae.

Building Aquilae

You see Mark's version has the simple wing-fold system that many buyers like. It’s a large-ish, STOL-capable design like G1 that fits the current-day standard for LSA. Gross weight is 1,320 pounds and the design uses the 100-horsepower 912 ULS. That is the one you see in the nearby images as it was displayed at AirVenture Oshkosh 2023.

Developer Mark Mellicker poses beside Aquilae at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023.

Mark and his Ontario, Canada-based partner Lionel Neels have plans for Aquilae that will transform it into an American-made aircraft. While Lionel will do some builder assistance and service for Canadian customers, his capacity may be too small for the interest. Already Aquilae has generated eight orders (more on that below). Mark and Lionel have teamed up in a cooperative arrangement with AeroPup developer, Don Fielden. Both companies displayed side-by-side at the recent Midwest LSA Expo 2023.

Don Feldman's Aeropup, an Australian design being prepared for US sales.

Fieldman's AeroPup operation is based in Lakeland, Florida (home to Sun 'n Fun). See more about his import of the Australian design which he will be fabricating in Lakeland. Don's Florida base will coordinate similar actives for both design, subletting machine work and other fabrication. Don will do the main kit assembly provide build center work as will Mark in western Illinois (not far from Galena for those who know the area). Lionel will handle Canadian interest. The first Aquilae will use some G1 parts supplied by the French company but most of the airframe components will be sourced the US. Eventually it is planned to become an all-American operation.

Describing Aquilae

Mark said Aquilae is "entirely built with 2024-T3 Alclad aluminum fitted over a 4130 steel tube welded frame. As seen, the wings fold compactly so that it can be towed on a small trailer and could be kept in some garages.

Wing folding a key feature of this STOL design. It is available in tricycle or taildragger configurations.

Builders can choose between engine and propellers; see below. All models have electric flaps and trim. Two fuel tanks holding 9.25 gallons each are mounted in the wings. Hydraulic brakes combine with landing gear composed of half blades made of aluminum, steel, composite. Three models are envisioned. G1 in France developed the tricycle gear model that many pilots may prefer. Those who want a more off-airport-capable Aquilae can choose a taildragger that Lionel and Mark prefer.

Aquilae in medium bush plane configuration. The Grizzly model will feature all digital avionics from MGL. Note forward-folding joystick that greatly aid entry.

The latter will be available in two forms, one with more mild bush qualities and one more robust. The standard model still boasts the STOL capabilities but uses conventional gear legs albeit with larger tires. Those what want the full bush plane experience may prefer the Grizzly, which will offer a shock-absorbing tailwheel with large, longer-extension shock absorbers on the main gear. The Grizzly model was also envisioned for the 141-horsepower Rotax 915iS but may now move to the newer, even more power 916iS with 160 horsepower. The more potent model will also feature a glass cockpit by MGL. A float model is also in development with aluminum floats. Mark envisions these available in straight or amphibious gear. "At North America Eagle, we are committed to revolutionizing the aviation industry by producing innovative and sustainable aircraft that meet the evolving needs of our customers," said the company. "Our vision is to become the go-to manufacturer for STOL airplanes that offer exceptional performance, reliability and safety, while minimizing environmental impact." "We offer a range of services to meet the needs of our customers," said Mark. "From design and manufacturing to maintenance and support, we are committed to providing the best possible experience for our clients. Our team of experts is always ready to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have." "We presume that many customers may have zero experience in airplane construction so we decided to make it simple for our customers," said Mark. "The kit will come 49% preassembled and we believe that with basic home tools you will be able to complete the airframe (before engine installation or painting) in about 150 hours." Mark added in early October that the team was upgrading their assembly manual with improved instructions and lots of pictures to ease the building process.

Affordable STOL?

In summer 2021, a G1 complete airframe kit listed for $39,500. Even after two years of the highest inflation we've seen in many decades, here's a surprise: the price of Aquilae is lower than G1 two years ago.

Mark Mellicker first built this G1 model. His Aquilae will use these components in slightly modified configuration. Kits will be fabricated and supported in the USA.

Mark has already collected eight deposits for Aquilae. He believe first shipments will occur by summer 2024. Of the eight, three want nose wheel models and two want the Grizzly. Having such options helps pilots make the purchase decision. In summer of 2023, an Aquilae kit was priced at $34,950. The builder can add a choice of engines, avionics as desired, any interior finish, and paint or accent graphics. Mark thought you could get airborne for $70,000 although choosing the Grizzly model with the more costly Rotax engine and fuller avionics will be more expensive. It might still stay under $100,000 ready-to-fly and as we move into 2024, that price sounds fairly reasonable.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Aquilae by North American Eagle all specifications supplied by manufacturer

  • Empty weight — 731 pounds*
  • Max Gross Weight — 1320 pounds*
  • Wingspan — 32.5 feet
  • Length — 22 feet
  • Height — 7.67 feet
  • Folded Wing Width — 8 feet
  • Cabin Width — 48 inches
  • Wing Surface — 153.6 square feet
  • Max. Wing Load — +4/-2 g
  • Rate of Climb — 1.000 to 1.500 feet per minute
  • Never-Exceed Speed — 125 miles per hour
  • Stall Speed — < 31 miles per hour
  • Take-off Distance — 60 feet to 200 feet
  • Landing Distance — 95 feet to 200 feet
  • Range — 500 miles to 585 mile * not including floats or parachute​

ARTICLE LINKS:

Let’s get that name dealt with right away — say “ACK-will-lay.” The model name looks more awkward than it is and sounds more graceful than it looks. The word translates from Latin as Eagle. Though unusual, Aquilae is a worthy name for a light aircraft. When you glance at the photos nearby, do you get the feeling you’ve seen this before? You should, but you may be wrong. Popular Design Configuration Aquilae looks very much like but is not the G1 STOL seen earlier (see this article). Some years before G1 arrived here in America, I’d written about French-produced version after seeing it equipped with hand controls and with its wings folded compactly on a trailer at the German Aero Friedrichshafen show. The basic design has been flying for close to 25 years. Originally developed as the Yuma by Alisport, a French company, the design was later taken over by G1 Aviation, another French company that does extensive machine shop work for several aircraft builders.

AirVenture Oshkosh 2023 Is Done; Here’s an Overview Done On-Air with EAA Radio

By Dan Johnson || 15 Comments

It's all over — EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the world's largest-attendance airshow event. It's a delicious, if somewhat overwhelming, drink out of a firehose for an entire week. Oshkosh has something for every pilot and more than any one person can see. I'll mention this news briefly as I wish to pay respect to fellow pilots. Two crashes on the weekend after we departed resulted in four fatalities reportedly including one passenger. My sincere condolences to the surviving families. Oshkosh has had safe years with no loss of life but when so many airplanes assemble, mathematical odds suggest a crash is going happen despite heroic efforts to make the event as safe as possible.

In the heat of Oshkosh 2023, people proved adept at finding shade where they could, in this case, that offered by a tailplane and fuselage… well, except for one fellow who was still enjoying the plentiful sunshine.

During the week of Oshkosh, a few days were rather warm. Cooling rains came mostly at night, sparing the airshow but surely soaking campers in tents. The campgrounds were full to the edges and EAA opened multiple other locations to handle the overflow. AirVenture's campground metric — Camp Scholler handles 40,000 campers and that wasn't enough — plus thick throngs of people to weave around anywhere I walked the show grounds suggested a great turnout to me. Indeed, EAA president Jack Pelton reported more than 677,000 visitors.

Mosaic and More

Given FAA's earlier-than-predicted release of the highly-anticipated NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rule Making), Mosaic was on the minds of many aviators. The one thing that is no longer included is drones or multicopters. Once they were removed, the regulation went forward swiftly.

The Federal Register document was posted on Monday July 24, 2023. This is the official version you should use to comment. Click or tap the image to view the full document.

Mosaic burst upon the scene bearing unanticipated surprises. Through their proposal FAA has confirmed industry did well regulating itself. FAA has said repeatedly, "We want industry to do more." ASTM's F37 LSA committee members have clearly done an impressive job. Join ASTM here if you'd like to help! In the video below I highlight several aspects of the new proposal but in the days and weeks ahead I will dive much more deeply into the NPRM. Various groups will closely examine the NPRM, producing summaries as soon as possible so you can digest the NPRM and compose your response. I hope each of you will let FAA know what you think, but write your own words. Scanning technology lets FAA group identical responses as one response, so say whatever you think but don't copy and paste language others have proposed. Also, be polite and constructive; ranting will not help.

In FAA briefings like this one by LSA manager John Stoll last year, community leaders and manufacturers learn details.

The good news is that you don't have to wait. I am quite impressed with nearly 200 comments to my earlier article. Some commenters have clearly dug into the details intensively. Fly at Night? — Here's one part of the NPRM that generated many comments. The question raised: "Can a Sport Pilot fly at night …without a medical." Commenter Rich wrote, "FAA stated at a forum yesterday [at Oshkosh 2023] that, yes, the intent is that for night flight a medical or BasicMed is required. The reason given was that they did not have enough trust in state driver agencies to adequately check eyes." I'm sure Rich heard and quoted the FAA guys correctly, however, reading the Federal Register release of Mosaic, I still believe the FAA will use endorsements to allow Sport Pilot certificate holders to receive training in pursuit of skills for night flying, retractable gear, adjustable props, and even IFR. The language in the NPRM supports this on page after page.

More Aircraft Coming

I know what most readers enjoy and fortunately I have the same interest. The following flying machines are ones I will be writing about in the days and weeks ahead. As with those aircraft already reported from the show, by no means are these all the intriguing aircraft at Oshkosh but they are ones I hope you will enjoy. AEROPRAKT — I simply have to admire the Aeroprakt team, led by designer Yuri Yakovlev. Everyone on the planet is aware how their home country of Ukraine is under immense pressure from every direction including missiles flying and bombs dropping. How they can keep it together is something of a miracle and certainly a credit to their dedication and resolve. During AirVenture, former importer Dennis Long (who's still helping) texted to say Aeroprakt had built their 1,500th aircraft. They aren't just repeating though; they're still innovating. One Aeroprakt on display had a third door (similar to Jabiru J-230D, Montaer MC-01, and KFA's Safari XL). This makes loading baggage easier and allows use of the aft space in A-32 Vixxen's roomy cockpit. New importer, Andy Humphrey, who operates as Heaven Bound, showed me another Aeroprakt at Oshkosh that was fully equipped for IFR, a use he noted is "permitted for Special LSA when used for IFR flight or recurrent training." A standard in development by ASTM should allow flight into IMC that is not presently advised. HAWK ULTRA AIR — You know Hawk for many years; they celebrated 40 years in 2022  (as did the Part 103 regulation). Today, one organization, CGS Aviation, builds the Special LSA version. In Oshkosh, I met a new engineer hire at CGS Aviation who confirmed they are going through the two seater carefully, creating all-new CAD files that never existed with the original. This is a very worthy effort but prevented them from displaying at AirVenture. Bob Santom and son LB focus solely on the single place CGS Hawks including models that qualify for Part 103's wonderful privileges. It turns out both CGS enterprises can stay busy. At AirVenture 2023, Bob and LB exhibited their open-cockpit Hawk Ultra Air. I thought it looked good with no Dacron skin covering the structure. I observed different pilots enter the cockpit — one weighing 165 pounds and one at 240 — and both seemed to fit easily. A 200-250 hour build for beginners, the display Hawk Ultra Air makes 103 with an airframe parachute, tipping the scales at a completely proper 278 pounds empty. Read this article to learn more about Hawk as it celebrated 40 anniversary in 2022 (along with Part 103; botht came out in 1982). AQUILAE — The name means Eagle in Latin, a great name for an airplane even if everyone will ask how to spell it and say it — "Ack-will-lay." Does it look familiar to you. It did to me as I toured the ultralight area at AirVenture 2023. I had a hint, though. Mark Mellicker represented the G1 STOL at airshows for the last couple years (see this earlier article). As happens in aviation and any other business, events changed the organization and another company at AirVenture told me they were representing G1. So I had two clues when I saw Mark by this shiny new airplane. Mark decided to go on his own and, voila!, Aquilae. When I write more about this, you will see it has a wing-fold system that many buyers like. It's a large-ish, STOL-capable design like G1 but both G1 and Aquilae owe their design heritage to Alisport's Yuma from Italy, though even that design signficantly resembles the Zenith 701, the granddaddy of such designs. FUSION NANO GYRO — I will readily admit I was charmed by Fusion's Nano gyro when I saw it and reported on it from AirVenture 2021 (article). However, it needed a different engine and Jeffrey Boyd was already on it with European producer, Fusion Copter. At AirVenture, Jeffrey of FUN, or Fly Ultralight Nano, showed an example propelled by a Hirth F23 engine producing 50 horsepower. He says it has behaved well for him and he's actually had quite a success with this modestly-priced (less than $30,000) Part 103 aircraft. Big two seat gyros are fun and essential for training but once you know how to fly this type aircraft Nano might be the last aircraft you ever need. I tried it on for size in 2021 and loved the way it felt and fit. Now with more substantial and dependable power I'd bet many more will arrive in the USA. However, it's already been a good run as Fusion now has 35 flying around the world and Jonathan has lead the charge selling 21 units in the USA. That's a performance of which he can be proud. GOGETAIR 750 — As I wrap up this preview, I come to an aircraft I've seen for a few years at the German Aero Friedrichshafen show that I have enjoyed for 25 years. As I close this article, it may be appropriate to bring attention to a four seater — as that category will be coming in 16 months when we get Mosaic LSA or mLSA. Shannon Hankins & Alan Jackson from Scissortail Aerosport, LLC are representing the G750 to North America. GoGetAir is a fairly new company, arriving on the scene during what might be called the Covid era. They started before but had to immediately survive that trying period with their handsome aircraft. The timing of Scissortail and GoGetAir is marvelous, being right on the cusp of Mosaic being released. In the meantime, FAA has registration categories such Experimental Exhibition that allow import of a small number of fully-assembled aircraft to test the market. By late 2024 or early 2025, we should see Mosaic become official regulation and then G750 will easily fit the mLSA category assuming the company chooses to pursue and declare compliance with ASTM standards. Naturally, we have yet to learn how FAA will audit a new producer like GoGetAir although third-party audits have been discussed. In case you didn't notice the subtle suggestion in the photo, G750 is a four-seater, powered by the Rotax 915iS. This will be a very common combination when Mosaic officially arrives, but G750 also demonstrates style and a beautifully compound-curved leading and trailing edge wing. All the preceding aircraft will get their own fuller treatment beyond this summary.

ARTICLE LINKS:

AIRCRAFT LINKS:

In the following 12-minute video EAA Radio host J Mont G interviewed me about AirVenture 2023 — the aircraft, the anniversaries, Mosaic and more. I hope you'll enjoy this lively give and take. Thanks to EAA Radio for permitting this video. https://youtu.be/c9mEq31DwmI

It’s all over — EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s largest-attendance airshow event. It’s a delicious, if somewhat overwhelming, drink out of a firehose for an entire week. Oshkosh has something for every pilot and more than any one person can see. I’ll mention this news briefly as I wish to pay respect to fellow pilots. Two crashes on the weekend after we departed resulted in four fatalities reportedly including one passenger. My sincere condolences to the surviving families. Oshkosh has had safe years with no loss of life but when so many airplanes assemble, mathematical odds suggest a crash is going happen despite heroic efforts to make the event as safe as possible. During the week of Oshkosh, a few days were rather warm. Cooling rains came mostly at night, sparing the airshow but surely soaking campers in tents. The campgrounds were full to the edges and EAA opened multiple other locations to handle the overflow.

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