Belite Aircraft, makers of the popular Chipper and Chipper 2 single-engine aircraft kits, said their facility on the northeast side of the air capital in Wichita was destroyed late Saturday night by fire. The blaze apparently began when “the dust collection system on our CNC router was working overtime making parts for kits,” according to James Wiebe, Belite’s president. The company offices and items taller than 6 feet above the ground were melted or burned, including raw inventory and a collection of parts for older aircraft designs on the second floor. Belite‘s Chipper demo aircraft only escaped destruction because it was still sitting at the local airport. Tragically, James and Kathy Wiebe’s two cats who lived at the factory did not survive the blaze.
Belite Aircraft Facility in Wichita Destroyed by Fire
Key Takeaways:
- Belite Aircraft's facility in Wichita was destroyed by fire late Saturday night, with the blaze reportedly starting in the CNC router's dust collection system.
- The fire consumed offices, raw inventory, parts for older aircraft, and tragically, the owners' two cats; however, the Chipper demo aircraft was spared as it was at the airport.
- The destruction impacts recent kit shipments, backordered customer parts, and an Air Force contract sample that was lost in the office debris.
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