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pilot error and aircraft design, specifically the cruciform tail’s yaw stability, as a possible culprit to a fatal
Wheeler Express accident in which the pilot failed to maintain airspeed during a maneuver resulting in a stall. All three lives were lost. Critics and Wheeler Express pilots argue that the loss of control was simply pilot error and that any plane involved in a high-angle steep turn would experience a stall below Vs, or stall speed.
132:
168:, inventory, engineering records, and production potential. Together with Larry Olsen, daily operations manager, production was moved to Olympia, Washington. EAC planned to use subcontractors with extensive Glasair experience to build fiberglass components. EAC later became a subsidiary of Exosphere Aircraft Company, Inc. and in 2005 Madison Bay Holding, Inc. acquired a 20% stake in Exosphere.
37:
222:
A crash of an early example of the
Wheeler Express was said to demonstrate the airframe's safety due to the energy absorption during the non-fatal crash. Although the airframe is touted as being structurally sound, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a July 2015 report in which it cited
148:
for cross-country flights, the first of the kit built prototypes was first flown on 28 July 1987, a factory built aircraft first flew in 1990. Wheeler
Technology went into bankruptcy and the assets were bought by Express Design Incorporated (EDI) of Redmond, Oregon. Kits that were under construction
171:
In
September 2007, Darrell Peterson, president of Composite Aircraft Technology, LLC. (CAT), purchased and acquired all assets of the former EAC through bankruptcy court. CAT moved business and production to Toledo, WA. and provides kits, Builder Assistance Programs, and parts supply.
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needed. The design used an unusual seating position where one rear seat faced forward and one aft to maximize interior space. The fuselage was built with similar construction methods to
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153:. EDI closed its doors and disconnected telephone lines after it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on 6 January 1996.
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were completed by EDI and they continued with kit production. A six-seat variant was produced by EDI as the
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In 1997, Paul
Fagerstrom of Express Aircraft Company, LLC (EAC) purchased rights to the Express
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Copeland
Brothers, Inc. (February 1996). "EDI Files Chapter 7 - or: Here We Go Again...!".
203:. The aircraft was only produced in kit form with five main packages that included pre-cut
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634:
Darrl Glover. "Saved By The Plane He
Crashed Kit Aircraft's Design Cushioned Impact".
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Copeland
Brothers, Inc. (June 1997). "We're On Again! The "Orphan" Is "Re-Adopted"".
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Designed by Ken
Wheeler and developed by Wheeler Technology as a high-speed
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676:"Project Summary: Aviation Investigation - 10 Docket Items - CEN15FA321"
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448:"Madison Bay Holdings Acquires Stake in Light-Sport Aircraft Company"
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AeroCrafter - Homebuilt
Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition
128:) is a four-seat low-wing composite homebuilt aircraft.
323:92 U.S. gallons (350 L; 77 imp gal)
191:was chosen to reduce the number of stiffeners and
651:"Airplane's design contributes to fatal accident"
369:47 kn (54 mph, 87 km/h) flaps down
251:Specifications (Express Aircraft Company Express)
619:David Gustafson (August 1989). "Express Lane".
481:, page 153. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998.
649:General Aviation News Staff (July 28, 2017).
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375:1,600 nmi (1,800 mi, 2,900 km)
214:The cabin width is 46 in (120 cm).
8:
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604:Dick Cavin (Nov 1987). "Wheeler Express".
577:"About Composite Aircraft Technology, LLC"
552:"The New Express company owner Darrell..."
363:190 kn (220 mph, 350 km/h)
357:196 kn (225 mph, 362 km/h)
550:Peterson, Darrell (September 24, 2007).
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399:24.6 lb/sq ft (120 kg/m)
705:Composite Aircraft Technology homepage
26:
526:"Express-Aircraft purchased, finally"
211:prebonded to the upper wing surface.
207:, pre-welded steel assemblies, and a
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680:National Transportation Safety Board
498:Godlewski, Meg (September 3, 2009).
296:130.0 sq ft (12.08 m)
575:Peterson, Darrell (February 2011).
80:Composite Aircraft Technology, LLC
581:Composite Aircraft Technology, LLC
290:31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)
284:26 ft 0 in (7.92 m)
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393:1,800 ft/min (9.1 m/s)
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1:
381:24,000 ft (7,300 m)
317:3,200 lb (1,451 kg)
77:Express Aircraft Company, LLC
524:Midniteoyl (July 8, 2005).
333:, 250 hp (190 kW)
311:1,825 lb (828 kg)
73:Express Design Incorporated
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500:"Express Aircraft Returns"
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341:constant speed propeller
242:Retractable landing gear
18:Express Aircraft Company
434:Express Link Newsletter
419:Express Link Newsletter
263:General characteristics
135:Wheeler Express takeoff
555:Express Builders Forum
530:HomebuiltAirplanes.com
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655:General Aviation News
504:General Aviation News
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47:Experimental Aircraft
454:. September 26, 2005
218:Operational history
124:(or later known as
720:Homebuilt aircraft
238:Wheeler Express RG
235:Fixed landing gear
232:Wheeler Express FT
146:homebuilt aircraft
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70:Wheeler Technology
452:GlobeNewswire.com
305:NASA NLF-1(0215)F
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16:(Redirected from
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101:Introduction
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93:First flight
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67:Manufacturer
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61:United States
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686:November 16,
684:. Retrieved
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658:. Retrieved
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621:Air Progress
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477:Purdy, Don:
458:November 16,
456:. Retrieved
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88:Ken Wheeler
348:Performance
337:Propellers:
327:Powerplant:
140:Development
126:EDI Express
714:Categories
636:Seattle Pi
404:References
294:Wing area:
182:fiberglass
387:+8.8 -4.4
385:g limits:
339:2-bladed
288:Wingspan:
276:Capacity:
256:Data from
193:stringers
185:composite
158:cruciform
109:Variants
85:Designer
227:Variants
189:fuselage
30:Express
301:Airfoil
282:Length:
197:Glasair
160:plans,
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373:Range:
176:Design
270:Crew:
104:1984
44:Role
688:2021
662:2021
588:2021
562:2021
537:2021
511:2021
483:ISBN
460:2021
329:1 ×
209:spar
205:ribs
180:The
166:jigs
120:The
272:one
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
