FK Lightplanes Excalibur P51 replica fighter aircraft, Sport Aviation Magazine.

FK Lightplanes Excalibur P51 replica fighter aircraft

While at AERO in Friedrichshafen Germany we had the opportunity to talk to Roland Hallam Managing Director of FK Light Planes Poland. FK-Lightplanes has facilities in Poland and in Germany. With the German facility responsible for engineering and certifications while Poland handles sales marketing and production.
 
FK Light Planes had their brand new FK51 Excalibur on display. The FK51 Excalibur is an all composite replica of the 51 Mustang. While the FK51 Excalibur looks to be using metal construction, it is in fact all composite. The molds for the composite are very precise and show every little detail of the original it is modeled after. You can even see all the rivets, screws, metal sheet joints and surface details of the original. Just the rivets alone equal over 100,000 spots of detail on the plane. There is a sound system that makes it sound like the original Merlin engine. A set of pipes in the nose will also emit smoke just like the original.

FK Light Planes is using new technology, originally developed by ScaleWings AeroTec, which allowes for a much higher strength rating but at a much lower weight. Because the weight is low it can still be qualified as an ultralight aircraft in Europe or light sport aircraft in the U.S.

The Excalibur on display was equipped with a Rotax 912, 100 HP aircraft engine but larger engines can also be accomodated. The European version of the Excalibur has retractable landing gear and an adjustable propeller. When the Excalibur is released in the USA it will have fixed gear per the ASTM LSA requirements. If built as an experimental aircraft in the USA the retractable gear and propeller would be allowed.

The Excalibur is slated to begin testing for Germany certification in July, with production slated to begin in September of 2013 with aircraft delivery expected in 2014.

FK Lightplanes Excalibur P51 replica fighter aircraft

FK Lightplanes Excalibur P51 replica fighter aircraft

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