AVweb Flight Trial: Merlin Single-Seat PSA

[@trainroomgary]

Excellent demo flight & kit. • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂

[@BoringFlightVids]

"It pulls up to take off speed extremely fast" Also "I took off with no flaps, it reccomends 20 degrees" Lol 😂😂

[@hogey74]

I wish they did more longer videos like this ...

[@raydreamer7566]

I always like your reviews they are so informative.

[@letvalentino100]

Классный аэроплан! Спасибо за видео!

[@msnpassjan2004]

3:30 Fuel and Range is not on the Merlin website Nov2020. Fuel two 6.5 gallons tanks = 13 gallons provides 2 hours with reserve. Thanks Paul !

[@zaitcev0]

This is the first time I hear about HKS-700E option. Previously, Pegasus DP-1 was suggested as the 4-stroke option.

[@ericcurry1119]

What a great plane. Are they actually available?

[@gordon6029]

Thanks Paul.

[@Yellow_cub]

Great video - more like this one! ☝️

[@terrancestodolka4829]

Would like to see a report on the HKS engine vs Rotax.

[@frankcloskey7789]

Excellent Pilot very well done. 5/21/2021

[@PilotLu]

Hahahaaaaa....love that last bit after the logo at the end...come on Paul, you have the best job in the world, lighten up....(laughing REALLY out loud) (kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6bQZWqCr5JmjZI)

[@tizwicky]

My question is when it's LSA approved does that mean that the max gross can go up to 1320 lbs ? I think that Paul said that the Useful weight was only 300 lbs. So that seems very limiting for a single seater. Nowadays there are a lot of two seat LSA's with 500 600 lbs of useful weight.

[@andrewdalmonte1079]

I'd have one in a heart-beat ... looks like I'm going to have to be the first one downunder.

[@tinolino58]

What a cool aircraft! 🙂

[@BlueBaron3339]

Sure, nobody wants an engine that sounds like a leaf blower - made worse in this video as you can't just shut off the radio...well...unless you're from Texas - but all aircraft are a collection of compromises. And, as such, this one is impressive. Many thanks for this video!

[@rhymereason3449]

So with full tank and about 35lbs of luggage you've got to be 165lbs or less?

[@jazzman5598]

Superb vid Sir. How does she compare (same horse power to weight ratio) to the Aero Lite 103? Thanks!

[@frankcloskey7789]

Perfect pilot. 4/15/2021

[@kabbey30]

Are these still available?

[@williamwurthmann1573]

I love it.

[@seals1288]

Does this remind you of the vixxen AP32...

[@johnwrycza]

begs for telemetry overlay, either GPS track merged with video via Dashware, or just use a Garmin Virb Eite or XE

[@johncarr123]

nice plane

[@MinhTháiTrần-o8i]

Cảm ơn video chia sẻ của bạn rất ấn tượng hay lắm chúc bạn sức khỏe và hạnh phúc

[@scottsipe3989]

How much is this plane as we are looking at

[@sridharp9972]

Wing strud?

[@thatguy6207]

I want one of these

[@thisismagacountry1318]

Don't be That Guy

[@lynnkramer1211]

What is it's mission intended to be? Not training, not STOL, no passengers not much range. Noisy and no carrying capacity. is it aerobatic rated?

[@rjhinnj]

Some people just enjoy flying…

[@homertalk]

I thought they didn't apply parachute weight to the gross weight?

[@ConvairDart106]

I want it!

[@dam4274]

The plane is neat but I hate too noisy two strokes

[@synzcity]

Kinda a cool airplane. Unfortunately with full fuel, my butt makes it 20-25 pounds over gross weight. :)

[@ConvairDart106]

Don't let that stop you. If you have the 582, it will lose weight fast! Like, close to, 40 lbs per hour, putting you at gross, in half an hour. I carry 20 gallons in my 503 powered Mini-Max Eros, and can almost feel it getting lighter by the minute! I burn 4.5 gallons per hour, at 5,800 rpm cruise.

[@ohwell2790]

Fly when it is cold, the fuel will burn off soon enough and it may use slightly more runway. Oh! Loose some weight.

[@thisismagacountry1318]

So you're saying Keto and walking is in your future.

[@KlingonCaptain]

Dang it. Still no folding wings.

[@Randrew]

Pull enough gees in it and maybe you can get the wings to fold!

[@macfan999]

I don't understand, what happened there at the end??

[@AVweb]

+macfan999 In order to record audio, I need sidetone in the headset. The only way to get it is to leave the radio on. It got a little too busy there to switch frequencies and another pilot kept making repetitive CTAF announcements. After the sixth take, I got a little pissed.

[@Cherokee140Driver]

+AVweb -- That's understandable. It made for a great outtake though!

[@gerritdykgraaf2570]

AVweb John, Over all sir, if a guy was to be interested in the Merlin as a personal aircraft !! Would it be one you would say is a good choice!! I am intrigued by the easy 51% mandated build time of the Merlin!! Along with the low purchase pricing!! With all your experience in airplane characteristics and flying abilities! Did it trip your trigger as a PSA!??? Seriously curious!! G- man Email me at [e-mail]

[@PilotPlater]

@@AVweb hah, had me wondering why you didn't turn the radios down. Guess you don't have to worry about talking to passengers in this thing!

[@jameshudson5022]

👍

[@Kev376]

If only this was 85 pounds lighter it would qualify for ultralight... Other than that id just buy a zenith ch701 for the complete kit $13500 then just buy an engine... for a 2 place plane...

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

You know they, now, make an ultralight version of this plane, right?

[@DanielHunterUSA]

$ 38 thousand for une seat you can get a use Cessna 150

[@haggeoromero]

That’s true but my understanding is that you build this plane yourself so you’re authorized to work on it yourself making it cheaper than a certified plane.

[@michaelb.8953]

Full fuel with the Cessna 150 and a 200 lb pilot and it's really a single pilot airplane anyway then with the 150 you're burning 6 gallons an hour vs the Merlin burning 2.5 gallons with the V twin four stroke engine giving it 4 hours endurance the same as the 150 without using more than twice the fuel while the Merlin and the 150 have about the same cruising speed. Overhaul the 150 and you're looking at a price tag in the mid teens or higher but with the Merlin you just replace the engine with a new zero time engine after about 1000 hours at a cost of about $7000. The climb in the Merlin is around 1500 FPM vs the 150's 500-700 FPM on a good day. I'll take the Merlin any day for the $200 hamburger over the beat up 60+ year old air frame of the 150. Getting ready to plunk down a deposit on the Merlin and if I want to carry a passenger I'll just rent a two seater.

[@albertasaugis]

Nyd PPL to dis eroplein ?

[@patrickpowero.n.z.m2773]

No !

[@Yarab-lq4zh]

Я думаю будущее за малой авиацией.

[@shrewm]

Anyone know a similar two seater?

[@GordonThompson]

closest would be aeroprakt a32 vixxen. but any two seater is very different.

[@patrickbovaeng2479]

A small PZL wilga

[@turcitox]

Sounds like a motorcycle

[@sridharp9972]

Reaei need your engine

[@bacek1085]

.

[@glishskiii]

Who the hell wants a single seat airplane?

[@zaitcev0]

+glishskiii Everyone who flies Pitts S1, RV-3, or Aerolite 103, at a minimum.

[@indigo196799]

Your definitely not a pilot for asking ;)

[@Randomadventurelife]

I want one

[@rayfletcher3683]

Who wants a sport bike or snowmobile with 2 seats?

[@Surestick88]

... said no fighter pilot ever.

[@controllineprecisionaeroba7454]

Pfft👎