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, makers of Chipper aircraft kits, was destroyed by a fire, believed to have started in the dust collection system of a CNC router.
- The blaze resulted in extensive damage, consuming offices, inventory, parts, and a crucial Air Force contract sample, and tragically killed the Wiebe's two cats.
- Fortunately, the company's Chipper demo aircraft was spared from the fire as it was located at a local airport.
- Belite had recently shipped multiple airframe kits and had a backlog of orders, with President James Wiebe now working with an insurance adjuster.
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