James Wiebe and his Belite Aircraft team wanted to build a strong, lightweight airplane that would demand a minimal amount of labor to complete. In the early days of 2017 he created a clean-sheet aircraft with great short-field performance that he called the Chipper. It moved from the CAD system he and his team used to design it to a working prototype in just 90 days, barely missing North American’s 88-day record for creating the P-51 Mustang.
Chipper Leaps Into the Air
Key Takeaways:
- Belite Aircraft's new Chipper, designed by James Wiebe, is a strong, lightweight light sport aircraft optimized for minimal labor completion and excellent short-field performance.
- Developed from CAD to prototype in just 90 days, the 440-pound aircraft recently completed its first flight, boasting a takeoff run under 400 feet and a top speed of 100 mph.
- Its construction features a honeycomb aluminum design with pre-cut parts and a pre-painted Oratex covering, aiming for an estimated 800-hour build time for experienced builders.
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