Photograph:
Australian RAA registered AeroComp Merlin GT 19-7094 (ex VH-UAS) (c/n W187) (Unknown)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Rotax 912 four-cylinder, four-stroke, horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.14 m (30 ft)
- Length: 6.09 m (20 ft)
- Height: 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 15.51 m² (167 sq ft)
- Max speed: 193 km/h (120 mph)
- Cruising speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
- Rate of climb: 427 m/min (1,400 ft/min)
- Stalling speed power off: 61 km/h (38 mph)
- Service ceiling: 5,486 m (18,000 ft)
- Take-off distance: 33.5 m (110 ft)
- Landing distance: 53 m (175 ft)
- Range: 563 km (350 miles)
- Empty weight: 257 kg (567 lb)
- Loaded weight: 590 kg (1,300 lb)
History:
The Merlin, which was originally designed in Canada in 1990 by John Burch, was developed by AeroComp Inc of Merritt Island, Florida, USA and in later years was available from Blue Yonder Aviation. The aircraft was produced in kit form and was available with a variety of engines, including the two-cylinder 521.2 cc Rotax 582, the 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax 618, Rotax 912, the 1488 cc Cam 100 four-cylinder four-stroke, Continental, Subaru, Jabiru, etc. Engines ranging in power up to 86 kw (115 hp) have been installed.
The aircraft was designed for affordable simplicity for pilots looking for an easy-to-build, roomy, rugged, two-seat light sport aircraft. It had good short and rough field capability. Controls were standard stick and rudder, with a centre control column, dual control being optional. Testing was done to +4 and -2G.
The fuselage was of chrome molybdenum steel tubing with fabric covering. The wings were built of 2024 T3 aircraft aluminium.It had I-beam wing spars and was fabric covered. The aircraft was usually fitted with a tailwheel undercarriage, but skis or Lotus amphibious floats could be fitted. Tundra 48 cm x 20 cm (19 in x 8 in) tyres could be fitted for rough fields.
The aircraft was known for its rugged durability, good ground handling stability, and simple construction. A number have been built in this region and most have been registered under Australian Ultralight Federation / RAA Regulations. One in Western Australia became VH-UAS, later becoming 19-7094 (c/n 187) in August 2010 under RAA Regulations. This aircraft was fitted with a Rotax 582 engine.
A few have been completed in New Zealand including ZK-ROS (c/n M1176).