Experimenter

SEP2014

Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.

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20 Vol.3 No.9 / September 2014 THE ZIGOLO ULTRALIGHT "EVERYTHING YOU NEED and not much else." Is this any way to start a revolution in flight? I'm sitting with the redoubtable Chip Erwin, veteran sport aircraft manufacturer and once-and-resurgent ultralight en- thusiast, in his hangar of the end of South Lakeland Airport's (X49) lovely grass strip. We're jawing about the light-sport aircraft (LSA) market after 10 years of existence, refl ecting on all those older pilots who sold their Bonanzas and Mooneys for fear of losing their medicals, then bought shiny new $100,000 to $150,000 special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA). In a few minutes, I hope to take a short hop in his proto- type ultralight that lives on the other end of the cost rainbow. First things first: Chip, who brought the SportCruiser and Mermaid LSA to the United States (and plans to do it again soon), has launched a venture to produce the Aviad Zigolo MG, a repurposed Italian version of the Super Goat rigid- wing primary glider created 10 years ago by aeronautical engineer Mike Sandlin. He's already set up what he calls an "assembly shop" in China to sell almost ready to fly (ARTF) Zigolos to that burgeoning market. Chip's also busy getting his Aeromarine "manufactory" in Florida up to speed to produce experimental amateur-built (E-AB) kits or ARTF bolt-together versions of two models of Zigolo; one is gas-powered, the other is electric. He expects to have the electric Zig ready for market by this December. The two-stroke Zigolo costs $14,500 in E-AB kit form and $16,000 as an ARTF. He expects the electric model to come to market at around $21,000. That's a complete package, including airframe parachute (BRS rocket or Comelli pneu- matic), proprietary motor in development, ESC controller, and batteries. Radio-controlled (RC) modelers know all about ARTF. Basically, the airplane is completely fabricated, disassem- bled, and shipped. When it arrives at your door, it's a half- day assembly project with simple tools to an airworthy craft. Given how the LSA market has flown away from the bud- get flier since its inception, Chip and many other sport flying Photography by James Lawrence The BRS ballistic chute mounted on the Zigolo ... one of two chute options; the other being the Comelli pneumatic chute. Chip Erwin reinvents an ultralight.

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