Designed by Ken Wheeler and developed by Wheeler Technology as a high-speed homebuilt aircraft 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 were completed by EDI and they continued with kit production. A six-seat variant was produced by EDI as the Loadmaster 3200. EDI closed its doors and disconnected telephone lines after it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on 6 January 1996.[1]
In 1997, Paul Fagerstrom of Express Aircraft Company, LLC (EAC) purchased rights to the Express cruciform plans, machine tools, jigs, 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.[2] EAC later became a subsidiary of Exosphere Aircraft Company, Inc. and in 2005 Madison Bay Holding, Inc. acquired a 20% stake in Exosphere.[3][4]
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. [5][6][7][8]
Designedit
The fiberglasscomposite compound curved fuselage was chosen to reduce the number of stiffeners and stringers 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 Glasair aircraft[9] with a Cruciform tail. The aircraft was only produced in kit form with five main packages that included pre-cut ribs, pre-welded steel assemblies, and a spar prebonded to the upper wing surface.[10]
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.[11] Although the airframe is touted as being structurally sound, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a July 2015 report in which it cited 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.[12][13]
^ abDick Cavin (Nov 1987). "Wheeler Express". Sport Aviation.
^David Gustafson (August 1989). "Express Lane". Air Progress.
^Darrl Glover. "Saved By The Plane He Crashed Kit Aircraft's Design Cushioned Impact". Seattle Pi.
^General Aviation News Staff (July 28, 2017). "Airplane's design contributes to fatal accident". General Aviation News. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
^"Project Summary: Aviation Investigation - 10 Docket Items - CEN15FA321". National Transportation Safety Board. May 31, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
External linksedit
Composite Aircraft Technology homepage
January 01, 1970
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The Wheeler Express or later known as EDI Express is a four seat low wing composite homebuilt aircraft Express Role Experimental Aircraft National origin United States Manufacturer Wheeler TechnologyExpress Design IncorporatedExpress Aircraft Company LLCComposite Aircraft Technology LLC Designer Ken Wheeler First flight 28 July 1987 Introduction 1984 Variants Express Series 90 Wheeler Express takeoff Contents 1 Development 2 Design 3 Operational history 4 Variants 5 Specifications Express Aircraft Company Express 6 References 7 External linksDevelopment editDesigned by Ken Wheeler and developed by Wheeler Technology as a high speed homebuilt aircraft 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 were completed by EDI and they continued with kit production A six seat variant was produced by EDI as the Loadmaster 3200 EDI closed its doors and disconnected telephone lines after it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on 6 January 1996 1 In 1997 Paul Fagerstrom of Express Aircraft Company LLC EAC purchased rights to the Express cruciform plans machine tools jigs 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 2 EAC later became a subsidiary of Exosphere Aircraft Company Inc and in 2005 Madison Bay Holding Inc acquired a 20 stake in Exosphere 3 4 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 5 6 7 8 Design editThe fiberglass composite compound curved fuselage was chosen to reduce the number of stiffeners and stringers 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 Glasair aircraft 9 with a Cruciform tail The aircraft was only produced in kit form with five main packages that included pre cut ribs pre welded steel assemblies and a spar prebonded to the upper wing surface 10 The cabin width is 46 in 120 cm 4 Operational history editA 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 11 Although the airframe is touted as being structurally sound the National Transportation Safety Board issued a July 2015 report in which it cited 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 12 13 Variants editWheeler Express FT Fixed landing gear Wheeler Express RG Retractable landing gearSpecifications Express Aircraft Company Express editData from Cavin and Purdy 4 9 General characteristicsCrew one Capacity three passengers Length 26 ft 0 in 7 92 m Wingspan 31 ft 6 in 9 60 m Wing area 130 0 sq ft 12 08 m2 Airfoil NASA NLF 1 0215 F Empty weight 1 825 lb 828 kg Gross weight 3 200 lb 1 451 kg Fuel capacity 92 U S gallons 350 L 77 imp gal Powerplant 1 Lycoming IO 540 250 hp 190 kW Propellers 2 bladed constant speed propeller Performance Maximum speed 196 kn 225 mph 362 km h Cruise speed 190 kn 220 mph 350 km h Stall speed 47 kn 54 mph 87 km h flaps down Range 1 600 nmi 1 800 mi 2 900 km Service ceiling 24 000 ft 7 300 m g limits 8 8 4 4 Rate of climb 1 800 ft min 9 1 m s Wing loading 24 6 lb sq ft 120 kg m2 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wheeler Express Copeland Brothers Inc February 1996 EDI Files Chapter 7 or Here We Go Again Express Link Newsletter Copeland Brothers Inc June 1997 We re On Again The Orphan Is Re Adopted Express Link Newsletter Madison Bay Holdings Acquires Stake in Light Sport Aircraft Company GlobeNewswire com September 26 2005 Retrieved November 16 2021 a b c Purdy Don AeroCrafter Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook Fifth Edition page 153 BAI Communications 15 July 1998 ISBN 0 9636409 4 1 Godlewski Meg September 3 2009 Express Aircraft Returns General Aviation News Retrieved November 16 2021 Midniteoyl July 8 2005 Express Aircraft purchased finally HomebuiltAirplanes com Retrieved November 16 2021 Peterson Darrell September 24 2007 The New Express company owner Darrell Express Builders Forum Retrieved November 16 2021 Peterson Darrell February 2011 About Composite Aircraft Technology LLC Composite Aircraft Technology LLC Retrieved November 16 2021 a b Dick Cavin Nov 1987 Wheeler Express Sport Aviation David Gustafson August 1989 Express Lane Air Progress Darrl Glover Saved By The Plane He Crashed Kit Aircraft s Design Cushioned Impact Seattle Pi General Aviation News Staff July 28 2017 Airplane s design contributes to fatal accident General Aviation News Retrieved November 16 2021 Project Summary Aviation Investigation 10 Docket Items CEN15FA321 National Transportation Safety Board May 31 2016 Retrieved November 16 2021 External links editComposite Aircraft Technology homepage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wheeler Express amp oldid 1120381374, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
