{{Short description|Canadian monoplane aircraft}} {{redirect|Malcolm Merlin|the Arrowverse character|Malcolm Merlyn}} <!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. --> {{Infobox aircraft | name = Merlin series | logo = | logo_size = | image = BlueYonderMerlinEZC-IGSV10.JPG | alt = | caption = Blue Yonder Merlin EZ | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight personal use and [[trainer aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = | manufacturer = [[Blue Yonder Aviation]] | design_group = | designer = John Burch | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 308 (2011) | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = 1987-present | introduction = 1987 | retired = | first_flight = 1987 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Blue Yonder Merlin''' is a [[Canada|Canadian]]-designed and -built two-seat, high-wing [[monoplane]] with [[Conventional landing gear|taildragger]] [[Landing gear|undercarriage]]. It can be built as a [[Ultralight aircraft (Canada)#Basic ultra-light aeroplane|basic ultra-light]], an [[Ultralight aircraft (Canada)#Advanced ultra-light aeroplane|advanced ultra-light]] or [[homebuilt aircraft|amateur-built aircraft]].<ref name="COPA1">Hunt, Adam: ''Merlin Magic'', [[Canadian Owners and Pilots Association|COPA]] Flight publication, page C-1, February 2005</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2011">Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 43. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref>
==Design and development== [[File:Rotax912SEngineInstallationMerlin.jpg|thumb|right|[[Rotax 912ULS]] 100 hp installation in a Blue Yonder Merlin EZ]] [[File:Macair Merlin GT C-ICQE 01.JPG|thumb|right|1990 model Macair Merlin GT]] The Merlin was designed in 1986 by John Burch, who intended to use it in his flight training school. Burch was disappointed with the early ultralights available, in particular their inability to take off and land in crosswinds. The aircraft wing was inspired by the [[Lazair]]'s wing and used the same [[aluminum]] "D" cell and foam rib construction techniques and constant-tapered wing planform. The first example flew in 1987.<ref name="COPA1" /><ref name="Armstrong">Armstrong, Kenneth: ''Choosing Your Homebuilt - the one you will finish and fly! Second Edition'', page 195-201. Butterfield Press, 1993. {{ISBN|0-932579-26-4}}</ref>
The Merlin won the Pilot's Choice Award as Best Ultralight at the Aircraft Sport Expo in 1988.<ref name="Armstrong" />
Burch formed [[Macair Industries]] in [[Baldwin, Ontario]] to produce the aircraft. Initially there were two versions: the Merlin M50 powered by the {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] two-stroke powerplant and the Merlin GT and Sport 65 version powered by the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 532]] and later [[Rotax 582|582]]. The {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Honda-based [[Firewall Forward CAM 100|CAM 100]] engine was also available as an option.<ref name="COPA1" /><ref name="Armstrong" />
In 1991 Burch moved production of the Merlin to [[Michigan]], USA under a new company name, [[Malcolm Aircraft]]. Within a short time that company went out of business and the Merlin was picked up by a new company in 1993 operating under the name of [[Merlin Aircraft]] who marketed the Merlin GT. After three years the company ceased business and the rights to the design were acquired by [[Blue Yonder Aviation]] of [[Indus, Alberta]] who continue to produce kits. Marketing in the [[United States]] was conducted by Aerocomp (now [[Comp Air]]) for some time, but this arrangement has been ended.<ref name="COPA1" /><ref name="Armstrong" />
Blue Yonder's current model is the Merlin EZ which has an option of engines: the Rotax 582 of {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, the [[Rotax 912|Rotax 912UL]] with {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and the [[Rotax 912|912ULS]] with {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}. The [[Rotax 618]] two-stroke powerplant of {{convert|74|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} was an option until that engine was discontinued by [[Rotax]].<ref name="COPA1" /> The Merlin was used as the testbed aircraft for development of the [[Hexadyne P60]] engine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hexatronengineering.com/fire_wall_mounting_photos.htm|title=Hexadyne P60 Fire Wall Mounting|work=[[Hexatron Engineering]]|accessdate=15 July 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705025558/http://www.hexatronengineering.com/fire_wall_mounting_photos.htm|archivedate=5 July 2015}}</ref>
The Merlin EZ uses the same foam-rib construction as previous models, but with a constant-[[Chord (aircraft)|chord]] wing with a [[Clark Y]] [[airfoil]] replacing the previously tapered wing. The fuselage is of 4130 welded steel tube construction, covered in aircraft fabric. The factory estimates build times at 350–450 hours of labour.<ref name="BYMerlinEZPricing">{{cite web|url = http://www.ezflyer.com/page24BYA.html|title = Merlin EZ Price Lists|accessdate = 2009-01-25|last = Winters|first = Wayne|date = n.d.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090124185230/http://ezflyer.com/page24BYA.html|archive-date = 2009-01-24|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="COPA1" />
===Merlin Manufacturers=== Blue Yonder is the fourth manufacturer of the Merlin design. Companies who have built the Merlin were:<ref name="COPA1" /><ref name="Armstrong"/>
{| class="wikitable" align=center style="font-size:90%;" |- |+ align=center style="background:#BFD7FF"| '''Merlin Manufacturers''' |- style="background:#efefef;" ! Company ! Location ! Dates ! Ownership |- |align=left| '''[[Macair Industries]]''' |align=center| [[Baldwin, Ontario]], [[Canada]] |align=center| 1988-91 |align=left| John Burch |- |- |align=left| '''[[Malcolm Aircraft]]''' |align=center| [[Michigan]], [[United States|USA]] |align=center| 1991-92 |align=left| John Burch |- |- |align=left| '''[[Merlin Aircraft]]''' |align=center| [[Michigan]], [[United States|USA]] |align=center| 1993-96 |align=left| |- |- |align=left| '''[[Blue Yonder Aviation|Blue Yonder]]''' |align=center| [[Indus, Alberta]], [[Canada]] |align=center| 1996–present |align=left| Wayne Winters |- |}
==Variants== ;Merlin M50 :Initial model, tapered wings, powered by a {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] engine<ref name="COPA1" /><ref name="Armstrong" /> ;Merlin GT/Sport 65 :Initial model, tapered wings, powered by a {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 532]] and later by a [[Rotax 582]] or {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[CAM 100]] engine<ref name="COPA1" /><ref name="Armstrong" /><ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition'', page 93. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref> ;Merlin EZ :Current model, constant chord wings, powered by a {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]], {{convert|74|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 618]], {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912|Rotax 912UL]], {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912|Rotax 912ULS]]<ref name="COPA1" /> ;Merlin TG :[[Tricycle landing gear]] model, constant chord wings, powered by a {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]], {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912|Rotax 912UL]], {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912|Rotax 912ULS]]<ref name="COPA1" />
==Specifications (Merlin EZ Rotax 912ULS)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=''Merlin magic revisited''<ref name="COPA2">Hunt, Adam: ''Merlin Magic Revisited'', [[Canadian Owners and Pilots Association|COPA]] Flight publication, page C-1, October 2005</ref> and ''Merlin EZ''<ref name="BYMerlinEZ">{{cite web|url = http://www.ezflyer.com/Page8BYA.html|title = Merlin EZ|accessdate = 2009-01-25|last = Winters|first = Wayne|date = n.d.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090122200016/http://ezflyer.com/Page8BYA.html|archive-date = 2009-01-22|url-status = dead}}</ref> |prime units?=kts <!-- General characteristics --> |crew=two |length ft=23 |length in=0 |span ft=35 |span in=6 |height ft=7 |height in=0 |wing area sqft=235 |empty weight lb=700 |max takeoff weight lb=1,400 <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 912S]] |eng1 type=4-cyl. air-cooled horizontally opposed four-stroke piston engine |eng1 hp=100<!-- prop engines --> <!-- Performance --> |max speed mph=120 |cruise speed mph=110 |climb rate ftmin=1,400 |wing loading lb/sqft=8.75 |power/mass= }}
==See also== {{Portal|Aviation}} {{aircontent| |related= * [[Blue Yonder EZ Flyer]] |similar aircraft= * [[Humbert Tétras]] |sequence= |lists= |see also= }}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Blue Yonder Merlin}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090222062859/http://ezflyer.com/ Blue Yonder Aviation]
{{Blue Yonder Aviation}} {{Comp Air}} {{Uncertified aircraft developed in Canada}}
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