Progress is not easily measured in just calendar time. Some sequences take long time and the result is hard to detect while the same amount of man-hours spent on other items gives you a large wing panel or fuselage half. Another parameter is quality that doesn't come easy in composit construction. You just have to be careful all the time.

As of early January we have one wing panel completed and the second ready in a week. We have also made a rudder, a flaperon and a part of the fuselage nose.

The first wing panel have been used for strength verification and of course weighing. No weight-watch maniac can be more focused on that subject than we are. The wing panel weighed just a little more than 17 kg and the flaperon slightly over 5 kg, making us quite sure that the total wing panel weight including paint, of 30 kg should not be exceeded. Maybe it can even end up a little lighter.

For a preliminary strength test we supported the wing panel at each end and loaded it in the middle with 246kg. This resulting in a bending moment equaled 5.7 g's to the wing in normal position on the aircraft and the deflection was 10.3 mm.
Much encouraging.

We have received questions whether the Seagull may qualify as an ultralight. That was never in our minds in the beginning but seeing the results of our extended use of carbon and titanium instead of glass and aluminum have somewhat changed our minds. Recent calculations of the stall speed indicates that minor redesigns should make it possible to reach the required 35 knots that is the only obstacle in the basic concept right now.

Along with the prototype growth we will have a vigilant eye on this and of course keep you posted.

Thanks for your interest!

Lage

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