Spirit SE1

[WacoFan]

This is a new design that debuted at Oshkosh this year. Not a kit - they are building them and selling out the door for $70k. New design, folding wings (trailer home keep in garage), and a V-twin engine designed for the airplane. Plus, might sound a little Harley'ish. I've been kind of captivated. Looks a bit like a pre-war Chilton but all metal. Also love how the wings fold a bit like a TBM Avenger. Anyway. I thought it was bigly cool and wanted to share.
SE-1 Aircraft – Spirit Engineering, Inc. SE-1 Aircraft – Spirit Engineering, Inc.

 

[Fixtur]

That’s really pretty.

 

[Inverted]

That was the largest buzz coming out of OSH this year. Looks so freaking cool and the price is right.

 

[Oxman]

Not a XC plane....

Fuel Capacity:​	8 gal
Usable Fuel:​	8 gal
Fuel Consumption – cruise:​	1.8 – 2.2 gph
Fuel Consumption – maximum:​	Up to 4.0 gph

 

[WacoFan]

Not a XC plane....

Fuel Capacity:​	8 gal
Usable Fuel:​	8 gal
Fuel Consumption – cruise:​	1.8 – 2.2 gph
Fuel Consumption – maximum:​	Up to 4.0 gph

Depends how far you want to go - cruises at 100mph on 2 gallons/hr. So a 2 hr flight puts me 200 miles away. And I can't imagine not wanting to get out and walk around after a couple hours in that.

 

[Oxman]

Depends how far you want to go - cruises at 100mph on 2 gallons/hr. So a 2 hr flight puts me 200 miles away. And I can't imagine not wanting to get out and walk around after a couple hours in that.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

 

[Beep]

That thing is a little beauty!

I wish we flew in to Grand Junction where I work, I’d love to go check that thing out in person.

I suppose a trip out there to see friends wouldn’t be out of the question!

 

[WacoFan]

For reference, here is a Chilton DW 1 that I said it reminded me of. But I think the Spirit is prettier.

 

[DropTank]

"Now available in Pre and Post Divorce options"

 

[Skåning]

For reference, here is a Chilton DW 1 that I said it reminded me of. But I think the Spirit is prettier.
View attachment 85325

That looks like an RC airplane some guy lost a bet and had to go for a ride in

 

[knot4u]

That looks like an RC airplane some guy lost a bet and had to go for a ride in

Sharp Nemesis - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[knot4u]

This is a new design that debuted at Oshkosh this year. Not a kit - they are building them and selling out the door for $70k. New design, folding wings (trailer home keep in garage), and a V-twin engine designed for the airplane. Plus, might sound a little Harley'ish. I've been kind of captivated. Looks a bit like a pre-war Chilton but all metal. Also love how the wings fold a bit like a TBM Avenger. Anyway. I thought it was bigly cool and wanted to share.
SE-1 Aircraft – Spirit Engineering, Inc. SE-1 Aircraft – Spirit Engineering, Inc.

View attachment 85320
View attachment 85321

I think you just have a thing for big wheel pants, I get your vibe...

 

[Pilot Fighter]

I’d rather have a proven 2-stroke than an unproven 4-stroke. Not many 4-strokes in the 40-50hp range. A company called ThumpAir was making waves recently with a 50hp engine based on a Honda generator motor. After a couple years in business, they’re done.

Spirit V2 Engine – Spirit Engineering, Inc.

spiriteng.com

 

[WacoFan]

I think you just have a thing for big wheel pants, I get your vibe...

View attachment 85330

My favorite Stags - the A17 (690HP Wright), A17FS (710HP Wright) and the 17R pictured with the 420 HP Wright.

 

[WacoFan]

I’d rather have a proven 2-stroke than an unproven 4-stroke. Not many 4-strokes in the 40-50hp range. A company called ThumpAir was making waves recently with a 50hp engine based on a Honda generator motor. After a couple years in business, they’re done.

Spirit V2 Engine – Spirit Engineering, Inc.

spiriteng.com

Sure sounds like these guys did their homework. I'm really interested in the motor and was hoping @knot4u would wander by the thread. This thing weighs 100lbs putting out 40HP. Looking at some of the early homebiilts - Pietenpols and Corbins - they were using Ford Model A engines putting out 40'ish HP but weighed 350'ish with radiator and water included (deducting flywheel and other accessories). Anyway, a V-twin weighing 100 lbs putting out 40HP - that would be amazing on a Pietenpol or a Corbin Super Ace I'd think - with no hot water to deal with and sounds a bit Harley. Sign me the F up.

 

[Pilot Fighter]

Sure sounds like these guys did their homework. I'm really interested in the motor and was hoping @knot4u would wander by the thread. This thing weighs 100lbs putting out 40HP. Looking at some of the early homebiilts - Pietenpols and Corbins - they were using Ford Model A engines putting out 40'ish HP but weighed 350'ish with radiator and water included (deducting flywheel and other accessories). Anyway, a V-twin weighing 100 lbs putting out 40HP - that would be amazing on a Pietenpol or a Corbin Super Ace I'd think - with no hot water to deal with and sounds a bit Harley. Sign me the F up.

Very likely that the aircraft will outlive the company. Consequently, I wouldn’t want a proprietary engine. They should have offered a secondary option like a Rotax 912. I would have designed the proprietary engine to use a motor mount that fits another popular and well-supported powerplant, not that a custom motor mount would be hard to fabricate.

 

[knot4u]

Sure sounds like these guys did their homework. I'm really interested in the motor and was hoping @knot4u would wander by the thread. This thing weighs 100lbs putting out 40HP. Looking at some of the early homebiilts - Pietenpols and Corbins - they were using Ford Model A engines putting out 40'ish HP but weighed 350'ish with radiator and water included (deducting flywheel and other accessories). Anyway, a V-twin weighing 100 lbs putting out 40HP - that would be amazing on a Pietenpol or a Corbin Super Ace I'd think - with no hot water to deal with and sounds a bit Harley. Sign me the F up.

I'm unsure why you'd hope for my input, other than you'd know I'd agree that a dirt simple aviation appliance should always be an option and if you need to wear goggles and some sort of helmet and it looks cooler than the dork in a C150 it's even better. I've never flown in a open cockpit though. I like the look of the airplane but as others have suggested the engine brings questions, it would be nice if there was more than one option. I'm not talking about reliability, I'm thinking about support, a young orphaned engine with very few examples is going to be a headache when you have to start making your own parts for a fairly new airplane and the cost of ownership suddenly skyrockets. I love the idea of a sexy alternative to a J-3 but I'm not your average consumer. And I'd want landing lights on the wheel pants because, well you know...

 

[knot4u]

I thought about this engine choice issue some more. It took a long time in ICE tech until one finally made 1hp/1ci (the first was of course a 3350), I have no knowledge of current hp/lb but I'm quite certain that historically the engines were overbuilt and tuned down hoping to not overstress them with catastrophic results. I'm fully aware that tech has advanced but airplane engine development has always been very conservative for very valid reasons. I hate to bring up air racing all of the time but have a look at the engine program for the Pond Racer, on paper it should have been blisteringly fast but it wasn't. Aviation is hard and the second most important thing (pilot being first) needs to be as bulletproof as possible.

 

[WacoFan]

I'm unsure why you'd hope for my input, other than you'd know I'd agree that a dirt simple aviation appliance should always be an option and if you need to wear goggles and some sort of helmet and it looks cooler than the dork in a C150 it's even better. I've never flown in a open cockpit though. I like the look of the airplane but as others have suggested the engine brings questions, it would be nice if there was more than one option. I'm not talking about reliability, I'm thinking about support, a young orphaned engine with very few examples is going to be a headache when you have to start making your own parts for a fairly new airplane and the cost of ownership suddenly skyrockets. I love the idea of a sexy alternative to a J-3 but I'm not your average consumer. And I'd want landing lights on the wheel pants because, well you know...

Because you understand mechanical things at a level I do not. You brought up a point regarding the possibility of an orphaned engine which was really good.

 

[ahw01]

I'm unsure why you'd hope for my input, other than you'd know I'd agree that a dirt simple aviation appliance should always be an option and if you need to wear goggles and some sort of helmet and it looks cooler than the dork in a C150 it's even better. I've never flown in a open cockpit though. I like the look of the airplane but as others have suggested the engine brings questions, it would be nice if there was more than one option. I'm not talking about reliability, I'm thinking about support, a young orphaned engine with very few examples is going to be a headache when you have to start making your own parts for a fairly new airplane and the cost of ownership suddenly skyrockets. I love the idea of a sexy alternative to a J-3 but I'm not your average consumer. And I'd want landing lights on the wheel pants because, well you know...

If you're near Newport News