The three-brother team of Keegan, River, and Ryley Karl came up with the idea to develop a better composite kitplane several years ago while helping Ryley to construct a Cozy Mark IV kit airplane shortly after graduation from college. All three have degrees in the fields of aerospace, electrical or mechanical engineering, and they were working full-time as engineers between 2014 and 2017 before quitting their jobs and launching DarkAero, their kitplane company.
DarkAero’s Composite Kitplane to Flight Test in Spring 2020
Key Takeaways:
- Three engineer brothers founded DarkAero to develop a faster, more efficient composite kitplane, addressing frustrations with the dated and inefficient build process of traditional kits.
- Their DarkAero 1 kitplane is designed for high performance (275 mph cruise, 1,700 sm range) and a significantly simplified build experience, as DarkAero handles complex composite work and utilizes innovative "Hollow Grid" technology.
- The company is 100% self-owned and funded by the brothers, allowing them to maintain creative control and even build their own specialized manufacturing equipment to keep costs low.
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