Aeromarine Merlin

{{Short description|American homebuilt aircraft}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Merlin | logo = | logo_size = | image = Aeromarine Merlin N71EP.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Homebuilt aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States]] | manufacturer = [[Aeromarine LSA]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = In production (2016) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = One | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 2016 | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Aeromarine Merlin''' is an American [[homebuilt aircraft]] that was designed by [[Czech Aircraft Works]] and is produced by [[Aeromarine LSA]] of [[South Lakeland Airport]], [[Florida]], introduced at the [[Sport Aviation Expo]] in 2016. The aircraft is supplied as a kit, for amateur construction.<ref name="avweb.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/Sport-Aviation-Expo-A-Lively-Start-225552-1.html|title=Sport Aviation Expo: A Lively Start|work=avweb.com|accessdate=22 January 2016|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160318181454/https://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/Sport-Aviation-Expo-A-Lively-Start-225552-1.html|archivedate = 18 March 2016|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name="avweb.com1">{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Merlin-PSA-Offers-a-First-Gas-or-Electric-Power-225554-1.html|title=Merlin PSA Offers A First: Gas Or Electric Power|work=avweb.com|accessdate=22 January 2016|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160629101846/https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Merlin-PSA-Offers-a-First-Gas-or-Electric-Power-225554-1.html|archivedate = 29 June 2016|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name="avweb.com2">{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/videos/Video-Merlin-PSA-The-34000-LSA-225555-1.html|title=Video: Merlin PSA — The $34,000 LSA|work=avweb.com|accessdate=22 January 2016|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160404085607/http://www.avweb.com/videos/Video-Merlin-PSA-The-34000-LSA-225555-1.html|archivedate = 4 April 2016 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

==Design and development== The aircraft features a cantilever [[high-wing]], a single-seat enclosed cabin, fixed [[tricycle landing gear]] and a single engine in [[tractor configuration]].<ref name="avweb.com"/><ref name="avweb.com1"/><ref name="avweb.com2"/>

The aircraft is made from [[aluminum]] sheet, with the engine cowling made from [[composite material]]. The design employs access doors that hinge vertically and a conventional low tail. Its {{convert|25.6|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing mounts [[Flap (aircraft)|flaps]]. The cabin width is {{convert|27.5|in|cm|abbr=on}}. The standard engine used is the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] twin-cylinder [[two-stroke]] powerplant.<ref name="avweb.com"/><ref name="avweb.com1"/><ref name="avweb.com2"/><ref name="aeromarine-lsa.com">{{cite web|url=http://aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin-psa/performance-specs/|title=Merlin PSA Performance & Specs|work=Aeromarine LSA|accessdate=22 January 2016|archive-date=January 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126183746/http://aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin-psa/performance-specs/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as two weeks at the factory completion center.<ref name="avweb.com2"/>

While initially offered as an amateur-built kit, future development plans include an [[Electric aircraft|electric powered version]] and a [[light-sport aircraft]] version that will be sold ready-to-fly.<ref name="avweb.com"/><ref name="avweb.com1"/><ref name="avweb.com2"/>

== Development ==

The Merlin originated from a Czech-designed single-seat aircraft platform later adapted for the American experimental and sport aviation market through Aeromarine-LSA.<ref>{{cite web

|url=https://www.kitplanes.com/the-aeromarine-merlin/

|title=The Aeromarine Merlin

|publisher=KITPLANES

|date=November 19, 2025

|access-date=May 24, 2026

}}</ref>

Aeromarine-LSA positioned the aircraft as an affordable alternative to increasingly expensive light sport aircraft, offering rapid-build kit construction supported through factory-assisted builder programs.<ref>{{cite web

|url=https://planeandpilotmag.com/the-little-airplane-that-could-merlin-can-and-it-will-not-cost-much-either/

|title=The Little Airplane That Could

|publisher=Plane & Pilot

|date=October 21, 2018

|access-date=May 24, 2026

}}</ref>

==Variants== ;Merlin-PSA :Initial "personal sport aircraft" version powered by a [[Rotax 582]] two-stroke engine for the US ''Experimental Amateur-Built'' category.  It features an enclosed cockpit, aluminum construction, flaps, baggage capacity, and engine options including Rotax and Aeromarine proprietary powerplants.<ref>{{cite web

|url=https://www.aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin/

|title=Merlin

|publisher=Aeromarine-LSA

|access-date=May 24, 2026

}}</ref>

The aircraft has been promoted as a low-cost entry into sport aviation compared with conventional certified or light sport aircraft.<ref>{{cite web

|url=https://planeandpilotmag.com/the-little-airplane-that-could-merlin-can-and-it-will-not-cost-much-either/

|title=The Little Airplane That Could

|publisher=Plane & Pilot

|date=October 21, 2018

|access-date=May 24, 2026

}}</ref> === Merlin Lite ===

The '''Merlin Lite''' is a redesigned ultralight variant developed to comply with U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Part 103 ultralight regulations.<ref>{{cite web

|url=https://www.aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin-lite/

|title=Merlin Lite

|publisher=Aeromarine-LSA

|access-date=May 24, 2026

}}</ref>

Unlike many ultralight aircraft, the Merlin Lite features:

* enclosed cockpit

* all-metal construction

* optional glass instrumentation

* hydraulic brakes

* self-launching motor-glider capability

The design emphasizes low drag and short-field capability.

=== Merlin II ===

The '''Merlin II''' is a larger and more capable derivative intended to extend the Merlin concept into a higher-performance category.

Aeromarine has described the Merlin II as featuring increased capability, additional powerplant options, and expanded utility compared with the original Merlin.<ref>{{cite web

|url=https://www.aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin-ii/

|title=Merlin II

|publisher=Aeromarine-LSA

|access-date=May 24, 2026

}}</ref>

=== Electrolite ===

The '''Electrolite''' is an electric propulsion experimental derivative based on the Merlin Lite airframe concept.<ref>{{cite web

|url=https://www.aeromarine-lsa.com/electrolite/

|title=Electrolite

|publisher=Aeromarine-LSA

|access-date=May 24, 2026

}}</ref>

The aircraft was developed as an exploration of electric recreational flight within the ultralight category. == See also ==

[[Experimental aircraft|* Experimental aircraft]]

[[Light-sport aircraft|* Light-sport aircraft]]

[[Ultralight aviation|* Ultralight aircraft]]

[[* Federal Aviation Regulations Part 103]]

==Specifications (Merlin-PSA) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Manufacturer<ref name="aeromarine-lsa.com"/> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=17 |length in=5 |length note= |span m= |span ft=25 |span in=7 |span note= |height m= |height ft=6 |height in=11 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=396 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=660 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 582]] |eng1 type=twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, [[two-stroke]] [[aircraft engine]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=64

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=112 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=38 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note=flaps down |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph=150 |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|http://aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin-psa/}}

[[Category:Aeromarine-LSA aircraft|Merlin]] [[Category:2010s United States sport aircraft]] [[Category:2010s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:2010s United States civil utility aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]]