# Aeromarine Merlin

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American homebuilt aircraft

Merlin General information Type Homebuilt aircraft National origin United States Manufacturer Aeromarine LSA Status In production (2016) Number built One History Introduction date 2016

The **Aeromarine Merlin** is an American [homebuilt aircraft](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft) that was designed by [Czech Aircraft Works](/source/Czech_Aircraft_Works) and is produced by [Aeromarine LSA](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aeromarine_LSA&action=edit&redlink=1) of [South Lakeland Airport](/source/South_Lakeland_Airport), [Florida](/source/Florida), introduced at the [Sport Aviation Expo](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sport_Aviation_Expo&action=edit&redlink=1) in 2016. The aircraft is supplied as a kit, for amateur construction.[1][2][3]

## Design and development

The aircraft features a cantilever [high-wing](/source/High-wing), a single-seat enclosed cabin, fixed [tricycle landing gear](/source/Tricycle_landing_gear) and a single engine in [tractor configuration](/source/Tractor_configuration).[1][2][3]

The aircraft is made from [aluminum](/source/Aluminum) sheet, with the engine cowling made from [composite material](/source/Composite_material). The design employs access doors that hinge vertically and a conventional low tail. Its 25.6 ft (7.8 m) span wing mounts [flaps](/source/Flap_(aircraft)). The cabin width is 27.5 in (70 cm). The standard engine used is the 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) twin-cylinder [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke) powerplant.[1][2][3][4]

The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as two weeks at the factory completion center.[3]

While initially offered as an amateur-built kit, future development plans include an [electric powered version](/source/Electric_aircraft) and a [light-sport aircraft](/source/Light-sport_aircraft) version that will be sold ready-to-fly.[1][2][3]

## 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.[5]

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.[6]

## Variants

**Merlin-PSA**
- Initial "personal sport aircraft" version powered by a [Rotax 582](/source/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.[7]

The aircraft has been promoted as a low-cost entry into sport aviation compared with conventional certified or light sport aircraft.[8]

### Merlin Lite

The **Merlin Lite** is a redesigned ultralight variant developed to comply with U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Part 103 ultralight regulations.[9]

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.[10]

### Electrolite

The **Electrolite** is an electric propulsion experimental derivative based on the Merlin Lite airframe concept.[11]

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

## See also

[* Experimental aircraft](/source/Experimental_aircraft)

[* Light-sport aircraft](/source/Light-sport_aircraft)

[* Ultralight aircraft](/source/Ultralight_aviation)

[* Federal Aviation Regulations Part 103](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=*_Federal_Aviation_Regulations_Part_103&action=edit&redlink=1)

## Specifications (Merlin-PSA)

*Data from* Manufacturer[4]

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** one

- **Length:** 17 ft 5 in (5.31 m)

- **Wingspan:** 25 ft 7 in (7.80 m)

- **Height:** 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)

- **Empty weight:** 396 lb (180 kg)

- **Gross weight:** 660 lb (299 kg)

- **Powerplant:** 1 × [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke) [aircraft engine](/source/Aircraft_engine), 64 hp (48 kW)

- **Propellers:** 3-bladed ground adjustable

**Performance**

- **Cruise speed:** 112 mph (180 km/h, 97 kn)

- **Stall speed:** 38 mph (61 km/h, 33 kn) flaps down

- **[Never exceed speed](/source/V_speeds#VNE):** 150 mph (240 km/h, 130 kn)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-avweb.com_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-avweb.com_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-avweb.com_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-avweb.com_1-3) ["Sport Aviation Expo: A Lively Start"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160318181454/https://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/Sport-Aviation-Expo-A-Lively-Start-225552-1.html). *avweb.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/Sport-Aviation-Expo-A-Lively-Start-225552-1.html) on March 18, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-avweb.com1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-avweb.com1_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-avweb.com1_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-avweb.com1_2-3) ["Merlin PSA Offers A First: Gas Or Electric Power"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160629101846/https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Merlin-PSA-Offers-a-First-Gas-or-Electric-Power-225554-1.html). *avweb.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Merlin-PSA-Offers-a-First-Gas-or-Electric-Power-225554-1.html) on June 29, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-avweb.com2_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-avweb.com2_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-avweb.com2_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-avweb.com2_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-avweb.com2_3-4) ["Video: Merlin PSA — The $34,000 LSA"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160404085607/http://www.avweb.com/videos/Video-Merlin-PSA-The-34000-LSA-225555-1.html). *avweb.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.avweb.com/videos/Video-Merlin-PSA-The-34000-LSA-225555-1.html) on April 4, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aeromarine-lsa.com_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aeromarine-lsa.com_4-1) ["Merlin PSA Performance & Specs"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160126183746/http://aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin-psa/performance-specs/). *Aeromarine LSA*. Archived from [the original](http://aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin-psa/performance-specs/) on January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The Aeromarine Merlin"](https://www.kitplanes.com/the-aeromarine-merlin/). KITPLANES. November 19, 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["The Little Airplane That Could"](https://planeandpilotmag.com/the-little-airplane-that-could-merlin-can-and-it-will-not-cost-much-either/). Plane & Pilot. October 21, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Merlin"](https://www.aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin/). Aeromarine-LSA. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["The Little Airplane That Could"](https://planeandpilotmag.com/the-little-airplane-that-could-merlin-can-and-it-will-not-cost-much-either/). Plane & Pilot. October 21, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Merlin Lite"](https://www.aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin-lite/). Aeromarine-LSA. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Merlin II"](https://www.aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin-ii/). Aeromarine-LSA. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Electrolite"](https://www.aeromarine-lsa.com/electrolite/). Aeromarine-LSA. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

## External links

- [Official website](http://aeromarine-lsa.com/merlin-psa/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aeromarine Merlin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeromarine_Merlin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeromarine_Merlin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.