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What's new
with "Mermaid"?
SEPT 13/2006
There is not much going
on right now. We are hard at work finishing final
tooling for the modified pylon and engine cowlings.
We are also working on sound proofing and noise
reduction at the same time. Other than that the
Mermaid has met all of our expectations and after
finishing these last jobs we will continue with the
final assembly on the Mermaids here in Indiantown.
The factory is moving
into their new facility, setting up new machinery
and composite shop.
August 13, 2006 Update
Here is a short update after
Oshkosh air show. Oshkosh was a great opportunity to
talk to many of our Mermaid customers. We also made
time to fly to the seaplane base two days out of our 7
day show and hopefully some of you saw the Mermaid in
action. If not we shot some more videos.
watch this video
(Danny and Nick)
We are now at the factory, we
will be back in the shop by 25th August. More Mermaids
are being finished in the factory and shipped to
Indiantown, FL for engine installation. We should be
switching from R&D crew to final production in the
beginning of September. At the same time our factory
(Czech Aircraft Works) should be moved to new much
bigger facility with the addition of match-hole
technology machines. We are looking forward to higher
numbers of production, not only the Mermaids but our
other three aircraft as well.
July 19, 2006 Update
A lot of you are complaining about no updates but
Danny is so busy in the shop working on the Mermaid,
flying and working that he won’t come out of the shop.
And the last two weeks are even busier with Oshkosh
preparation and container deliveries. (Find attached
photo of almost finished Mermaid that has just arrived
and we will finish the engine installation here in
Florida sometimes after Oshkosh.)
The good news is the Mermaid is flying better than it
ever has. Danny is very happy with the new sponson
design, it works excellent. The Jabiru is doing great
and he is getting good performance.
The last task he has to finish is the sound insulation
which is always difficult on pusher.
We will be at Oshkosh air show (booth 450 as usual).
We will probably be flying at the Seaplane base on
Thursday or Friday so come and say hi.
Best regards,
Zaneta (and Danny)
06 06 2006
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Good news – I spent this
morning on the water testing a new sponson design.
I noticed that the old design had tendencies of
excessive drag during high speed operations on the
water. After evaluation we decided to go back to
more conventional boat type V haul. It worked!
This new design has very low drag in all operating
speed ranges. As you can see from the photos,the
only addition will be slight refinement with small
spray rails.
The Mermaid is essentially
finished. Cooling problems were resolved with new
engine installation. And only small refinements
(like the one above) are left to do.
We returned from the factory
visit last week. A lot of effort was put towards
final details and some small changes to speed the
production on its way. There are quite a number
of Mermaids backing up waiting for the Jabiru
engine installation. Initially we will ship the
Mermaids to Florida for final assembly and
certification. We think that this way we can start
supplying Mermaids faster and I will have the
chance to personally tune all of the engine
installations prior to delivery.
We are only waiting for a few
small parts from the factory and putting the final
details to the sponson design. As soon as these
last items are done, we are ready for customers to
come down to take overdue demo rides. We will let
you know in time.
We will be at Oshkosh with
the Mermaid – booth 450. We will be flying at the
seaplane base at least one day. This year it will
be difficult to give rides as the show managers
are prohibiting the aircraft from leaving the
aircraft display.
See new video showing the new
sponson testing here:
new videos
Danny
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04/20/2006
I know we have been
delinquent in our montly updates. Just to mention
two excuses - Sun'n Fun and 7/10 R&D schedule on the
Mermaid.
New Jabiru
engine
First the good news
(don't worry there won't be any bad) - JABIRU released
new 3300 engine at Sun'n Fun. This engine has
the same horse power but it's heads and cylinders
have twice the cooling fin area. It also has
hydraulic lifters which should reduce the
maintenance on the engine. The main reason the
installation of Jabiru on the Mermaid has been
dragging was cylinder head cooling problems. We were
able to fly with this engine (the old version) for
20 hours accomplishing much of the design work for
production, but the cooling was never adequate to
meet our goals.
We were able to beg
this new style engine from Andy Silvester from
Suncoast Sportplanes Inc. (Florida Jabiru dealer). I
installed this immediately after the show and have
been flying it for four days with much better
results. With the cooling temperatures all within
limits and with our secondary cooling fans we are
able to step taxi and play on the water with
positive cooling.
Only a few minor
details need to be completed as we go into full
production on this engine installation.
Even more good
news - the exemption
Our exemption was
granted by the FAA to allow the Mermaid to be
registered as an S-LSA with no limitation on gear
position or changing gear position in flight. This
removed the original placard with its restriction
and replaced it with this new one:
LOGBOOK
ENDORSEMENT REQUIRED
FOR OPERATION
BY PERSONS EXERCISING
SPORT PILOT
PRIVILEGES.
We thank
all of you again for your tremendous support helping
the Mermaid to become the only S-LSA flying boat.
Quick-built
production
As you already know
production started many months ago. Unfortunately we
have only been delivering quick-built kits as the
Jabiru installation R&D has kept us from delivering
finished aircraft. So here is an opportunity for any
of our customers who would like to take immediate
delivery of a quick-built kit (QBK). We have four
kits available almost ready to be shipped. Current
kit pricing is $45,500 plus shipping and clearing.
So let us know as soon as possible because these
positions will go fast.
Even if you are not
ready for QBK now but are planning to take delivery
of one in the future, please let us know so we can
update our database.
Production
increase
We are in the early
stages of extending our factory, we plan to
quadruple our facility within the next 6 months.
This will substantially increase our ability to
produce more Mermaids and quick-built kits and
reduce our order back log.
Clear skies!
Danny
Feb 27
2006 A lot has happened since our last
update.
CERTIFICATION
Of course most
of you know the big news – the Mermaid was certified
in S-LSA category.
Also we had a
very positive response to our petition for the
exemption on repositionable gear (thanks again to
everyone who helped). This petition is currently
winding its way through the FAA labyrinth and we
should hear from them hopefully within the next 30
days. We see no reason why the exemption should not be
granted at this time.
Many of you have
asked the question how the exemption effects our
current certification. Under
Mermaid’s current certificate we were instructed to
place placard which reads “Gear not to be repositioned
in flight by Sport Pilot”. And this is where the
petition comes into play. Once the petition is granted
we will be able to remove this placard and the Mermaid
will have no further operating restrictions placed on
gear operation. Additionally the FAA is in the process
of amending the wording for the Light Sport Aircraft
rule. All indications are that they will eliminate any
restrictions on repositionable gear. I hope this
clarifies this issue of repositionable gear. It should
be resolved shortly in one of these two ways but in
the meantime we can have fun flying the Mermaid.
ENGINE UPDATE
Our R&D shop has
worked tremendous amount of hours on the Jabiru 3300
installation. Some people ask why it takes so much
time to do simple engine change. While a tractor
configuration can be accomplished in 3-4 weeks, the
pusher configuration is much more difficult. Many
issues that are magnified by the pusher configuration
need to be resolved, such as cooling, aerodynamic flow
patterns and exhaust systems, just to mention few.
Additionally the Jabiru needs special attention for
its installation in order to cool properly and be
tuned properly for maximum horse power in our
Mermaids. I’m happy to announce that we have made
great progress and solved all the issues. We now
consider the installation finished with only small
details to mop up. During my test flights with this
power plant I have been continually impressed by the
performance when compared to the Rotax. We should have
confirmed performance numbers posted shortly.
ON THE MOVE
At the same time
we are also relocating to Indiantown airport (X58).
This is where you will be able to visit us and receive
demo rides as soon as the Mermaid is ready. (Hopefully
in few weeks.)
Thanks again for
all your support!
Danny
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Newest S-LSA is an Amphibian: Sport Aircraft
Works’ Mermaid
February 15, 2006, Palm
City, FL:
It’s official: The FAA has
granted S-LSA status to the newest amphibious
airplane in the world, the Mermaid, distributed
by Sport Aircraft Works.
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Factory photos August 05
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Oshkosh 2005
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Mermaid Amphibian Facts
The all-new Mermaid is the first
amphibian to be designed especially to comply with the FAA’s
new Light Sport Aircraft rules. It is also the first new
certified single-engine amphibian to reach production in
decades.
The design parameters were challenging: make a certifiable,
roomy amphibian that will fit the LSA rules (2-place, 1432
pounds gross, low stall speed), and that will be affordable,
reliable, and fun to fly; then give it the speed and range
to be practical as a transportation device, and dual
controls, for training and peace of mind. The Mermaid does
it all, and more.
Of conventional all-metal design, the Mermaid is built by
European craftsmen, with US-sourced materials. Its five
watertight compartments are built with EDO-style pump-outs.
The slipper-clutch Rotax 912ULS puts out 100 reliable
horsepower while burning well under 5 gph. The useful load
is over 500 pounds, and the large baggage area is located
nearly on the CG, to make its capacity truly usable. The
wide cockpit is comfortable; and it affords a large panel
area.
Versatility is the hallmark of true amphibians: even the
energy-absorbing seats are quick-removable, so the Mermaid
can double as a dockside bed, making those remote camping
trips all the more enjoyable.
The hydraulic-damped tricycle gear retracts, and the pilot
has visual confirmation of gear position, as well as the
usual indicator lights; and the stable, quick-planing hull
allows water takeoffs, at gross, in just 750 feet.
The fast (for a Sport Pilot-class aircraft) yet docile air
manners are made possible by a streamlined fuselage and
modern-design airfoil that provides very high lift and low
drag, throughout the Mermaid’s speed range. This wing,
coupled to fowler flaps, permits landings on land or water
in just 500 feet.
CZAW president Chip Erwin noted, “The Mermaid makes it
possible to cruise high above more than four hundred miles
of land and water, at an easy 100 knots, in great comfort –
and still carry the things you need for the trip. Until now,
the only options were floatplanes, landplanes, or expensive,
old-technology amphibians. Today, you can have a true
amphibian, with its great comfort and capabilities – it’s
fast enough, and has enough range, that it competes well
with other LSA landplanes – and it simply leaves floatplanes
in its wake.”
At roughly the price of a luxury sedan, the Mermaid offers
what that car simply cannot: point-to-point navigation,
no-speeding-ticket cruising, with an incomparable view… and
of course, the ability to float.
CZAW designed the Mermaid after its experience in building
over 600 all-metal aircraft and hundreds of aluminum floats.
In fact, the company’s airplanes and floats have taken home
the Schneider Cup three times: CZAW is recognized throughout
Europe as a premier design, engineering, and manufacturing
center for seaplane technology.
Everything about the Mermaid indicates long and reliable
service: full zinc chromate coating, AN and MS-series
fasteners, US-sourced aircraft aluminum and tubing; and its
solid, conventional design promises not only outstanding
longevity – it is repairable anywhere, without relying on
“special” production and inspection techniques.
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Tel: 772/223-8915 Fax:
772/382-0607
P.O. Box 1007, Palm City, FL 34991
Send us a message |
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CZECH AIRCRAFT
WORKS, spol. s r. o.
Address Lucni 1824, 686 02 Stare Mesto, Czech Republic
Tel +420 572 543 456
Fax +420 572 543 692
Fax USA (772) 264 0936
Email aircraft@czaw.cz |
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