Being a tail dragger aficionado since my Citabria ownership days probably gave me a leg up on taking to Belite Aircraft‘s Chipper when I first saw it at Sun N Fun in April. Belite’s president, James Wiebe, made it clear from the start of our conversation in Lakeland that the Chipper was a work in progress and indeed had been shipped to Lakeland aboard a truck. Wiebe said he was creating the experimental Chipper two-place tail dragger as a kit powered by either an 80 or a 100 hp Rotax engine. The Chipper would be a fun airplane to build and fly, especially if short-field characteristics were important to a pilot.
Belite’s Chipper Aircraft Continues Evolving
Key Takeaways:
- The Belite Aircraft Chipper is an experimental two-place taildragger kit airplane, developed rapidly by IT-veteran James Wiebe with a focus on ease of building and continuous design improvement.
- It demonstrates impressive short-field performance, with very quick takeoffs and landings, and features a VFR-equipped panel including custom Belite Electronics instruments.
- Constructed using modern materials like composites and honeycomb for efficient manufacturing, the Chipper kit costs $8,995, with a finished aircraft estimated at $32,000.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
