# Blue Yonder Merlin > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Blue_Yonder_Merlin > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Blue_Yonder_Merlin.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Yonder_Merlin > Source revision: 1353486821 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Canadian monoplane aircraft "Malcolm Merlin" redirects here. For the Arrowverse character, see [Malcolm Merlyn](/source/Malcolm_Merlyn). Merlin series Blue Yonder Merlin EZ General information Type Ultralight personal use and trainer aircraft Manufacturer Blue Yonder Aviation Designer John Burch Number built 308 (2011) History Manufactured 1987-present Introduction date 1987 First flight 1987 The **Blue Yonder Merlin** is a [Canadian](/source/Canada)-designed and -built two-seat, high-wing [monoplane](/source/Monoplane) with [taildragger](/source/Conventional_landing_gear) [undercarriage](/source/Landing_gear). It can be built as a [basic ultra-light](/source/Ultralight_aircraft_(Canada)#Basic_ultra-light_aeroplane), an [advanced ultra-light](/source/Ultralight_aircraft_(Canada)#Advanced_ultra-light_aeroplane) or [amateur-built aircraft](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft).[1][2] ## Design and development [Rotax 912ULS](/source/Rotax_912ULS) 100 hp installation in a Blue Yonder Merlin EZ 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](/source/Lazair)'s wing and used the same [aluminum](/source/Aluminum) "D" cell and foam rib construction techniques and constant-tapered wing planform. The first example flew in 1987.[1][3] The Merlin won the Pilot's Choice Award as Best Ultralight at the Aircraft Sport Expo in 1988.[3] Burch formed [Macair Industries](/source/Macair_Industries) in [Baldwin, Ontario](/source/Baldwin%2C_Ontario) to produce the aircraft. Initially there were two versions: the Merlin M50 powered by the 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) two-stroke powerplant and the Merlin GT and Sport 65 version powered by the 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 532](/source/Rotax_532) and later [582](/source/Rotax_582). The 100 hp (75 kW) Honda-based [CAM 100](/source/Firewall_Forward_CAM_100) engine was also available as an option.[1][3] In 1991 Burch moved production of the Merlin to [Michigan](/source/Michigan), USA under a new company name, [Malcolm Aircraft](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Blue_Yonder_Aviation) of [Indus, Alberta](/source/Indus%2C_Alberta) who continue to produce kits. Marketing in the [United States](/source/United_States) was conducted by Aerocomp (now [Comp Air](/source/Comp_Air)) for some time, but this arrangement has been ended.[1][3] Blue Yonder's current model is the Merlin EZ which has an option of engines: the Rotax 582 of 64 hp (48 kW), the [Rotax 912UL](/source/Rotax_912) with 80 hp (60 kW) and the [912ULS](/source/Rotax_912) with 100 hp (75 kW). The [Rotax 618](/source/Rotax_618) two-stroke powerplant of 74 hp (55 kW) was an option until that engine was discontinued by [Rotax](/source/Rotax).[1] The Merlin was used as the testbed aircraft for development of the [Hexadyne P60](/source/Hexadyne_P60) engine.[4] The Merlin EZ uses the same foam-rib construction as previous models, but with a constant-[chord](/source/Chord_(aircraft)) wing with a [Clark Y](/source/Clark_Y) [airfoil](/source/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.[5][1] ### Merlin Manufacturers Blue Yonder is the fourth manufacturer of the Merlin design. Companies who have built the Merlin were:[1][3] Merlin Manufacturers Company Location Dates Ownership Macair Industries Baldwin, Ontario, Canada 1988-91 John Burch Malcolm Aircraft Michigan, USA 1991-92 John Burch Merlin Aircraft Michigan, USA 1993-96 Blue Yonder Indus, Alberta, Canada 1996–present Wayne Winters ## Variants **Merlin M50** - Initial model, tapered wings, powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) engine[1][3] **Merlin GT/Sport 65** - Initial model, tapered wings, powered by a 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 532](/source/Rotax_532) and later by a [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) or 100 hp (75 kW) [CAM 100](/source/CAM_100) engine[1][3][6] **Merlin EZ** - Current model, constant chord wings, powered by a 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582), 74 hp (55 kW) [Rotax 618](/source/Rotax_618), 80 hp (60 kW) [Rotax 912UL](/source/Rotax_912), 100 hp (75 kW) [Rotax 912ULS](/source/Rotax_912)[1] **Merlin TG** - [Tricycle landing gear](/source/Tricycle_landing_gear) model, constant chord wings, powered by a 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582), 80 hp (60 kW) [Rotax 912UL](/source/Rotax_912), 100 hp (75 kW) [Rotax 912ULS](/source/Rotax_912)[1] ## Specifications (Merlin EZ Rotax 912ULS) *Data from* *Merlin magic revisited*[7] and *Merlin EZ*[8] **General characteristics** - **Crew:** two - **Length:** 23 ft 0 in (7.01 m) - **Wingspan:** 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) - **Height:** 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) - **Wing area:** 235 sq ft (21.8 m2) - **Empty weight:** 700 lb (318 kg) - **Max takeoff weight:** 1,400 lb (635 kg) - **Powerplant:** 1 × [Rotax 912S](/source/Rotax_912S) 4-cyl. air-cooled horizontally opposed four-stroke piston engine, 100 hp (75 kW) **Performance** - **Maximum speed:** 100 kn (120 mph, 190 km/h) - **Cruise speed:** 96 kn (110 mph, 180 km/h) - **Rate of climb:** 1,400 ft/min (7.1 m/s) - **Wing loading:** 8.75 lb/sq ft (42.7 kg/m2) ## See also - [Aviation portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Aviation) **Related development** - [Blue Yonder EZ Flyer](/source/Blue_Yonder_EZ_Flyer) **Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era** - [Humbert Tétras](/source/Humbert_T%C3%A9tras) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-COPA1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-COPA1_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-COPA1_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-COPA1_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-COPA1_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-COPA1_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-COPA1_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-COPA1_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-COPA1_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-COPA1_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-COPA1_1-10) Hunt, Adam: *Merlin Magic*, [COPA](/source/Canadian_Owners_and_Pilots_Association) Flight publication, page C-1, February 2005 1. **[^](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2011_2-0)** Vandermeullen, Richard: *2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide*, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 43. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Armstrong_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Armstrong_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Armstrong_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Armstrong_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Armstrong_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Armstrong_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Armstrong_3-6) Armstrong, Kenneth: *Choosing Your Homebuilt - the one you will finish and fly! Second Edition*, page 195-201. Butterfield Press, 1993. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-932579-26-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-932579-26-4) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Hexadyne P60 Fire Wall Mounting"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150705025558/http://www.hexatronengineering.com/fire_wall_mounting_photos.htm). *[Hexatron Engineering](/source/Hexatron_Engineering)*. Archived from [the original](http://hexatronengineering.com/fire_wall_mounting_photos.htm) on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-BYMerlinEZPricing_5-0)** Winters, Wayne (n.d.). ["Merlin EZ Price Lists"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090124185230/http://ezflyer.com/page24BYA.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.ezflyer.com/page24BYA.html) on 2009-01-24. Retrieved 2009-01-25. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_6-0)** Purdy, Don: *AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition*, page 93. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9636409-4-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9636409-4-1) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-COPA2_7-0)** Hunt, Adam: *Merlin Magic Revisited*, [COPA](/source/Canadian_Owners_and_Pilots_Association) Flight publication, page C-1, October 2005 1. **[^](#cite_ref-BYMerlinEZ_8-0)** Winters, Wayne (n.d.). ["Merlin EZ"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090122200016/http://ezflyer.com/Page8BYA.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.ezflyer.com/Page8BYA.html) on 2009-01-22. Retrieved 2009-01-25. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Blue Yonder Merlin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Blue_Yonder_Merlin). - [Blue Yonder Aviation](https://web.archive.org/web/20090222062859/http://ezflyer.com/) v t e Blue Yonder aircraft Aircraft EZ Flyer EZ Fun Flyer EZ Harvard EZ King Cobra Merlin Twin Engine EZ Flyer Predecessor companies Macair Industries Malcolm Aircraft Merlin Aircraft Marketing partner companies Comp Air v t e Comp Air aircraft Aircraft Merlin Comp Air 3 Comp Air 4 Comp Air 6 Comp Air 7 Comp Air 8 Comp Air 9 Comp Air 10 Comp Air 11 Comp Air 12 Comp Air Jet v t e Uncertified aircraft developed in Canada ASAP Beaver RX 550 Plus Beaver SS Chinook Plus 2 Summit 2 Summit SS Ameri-Cana Eureka Birdman Chinook Blue Yonder Merlin EZ Flyer EZ Fun Flyer EZ Harvard EZ King Cobra Twin Engine EZ Flyer Bushcaddy/CADI/CLASS L-160 R-80 R-120 Fisher Avenger Celebrity Classic Dakota Hawk FP-202 Koala FP-303 FP-404 FP-505 Skeeter FP-606 Sky Baby Horizon 1 Horizon 2 R-80 Tiger Moth Super Koala Youngster Froebe Brothers Froebe helicopter Murphy Aircraft Moose Rebel Yukon Norman J6 Karatoo Nordic I Nordic II Nordic III Nordic IV Nordic V Nordic VI Nordic VII Nordic 8 Mini Explorer Normand Dube Aerocruiser Aerocruiser Plus Aerocruiser 450 Turbo Spectrum Aircraft/ Freedom Lite/Legend Lite Beaver SS-11 Skywatch UltraFlight Lazair Ultravia Pelican Zenair CH 601 CH 701 CH 801 CH 2000 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Blue Yonder Merlin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Yonder_Merlin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Yonder_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.