3 April 2018
An American company developing a new vintage-looking aircraft, Athena Aircraft, is building two prototypes with two different seven-cylinder radial engines so that it can offer potential buyers a choice.
Athena’s high-wing radial-engined aircraft, looking very much like a Cessna 195, is being built around radial engines from Verner and Rotec.
“They are both wonderful engines from companies with a lot of experience manufacturing round engines,” said Athena boss Michael Black. “However, we understand that buyers want choices.
“So, in the future, we plan to post reviews of each of the engine choices with detailed specifications and an analysis of why we feel that engine will work well on our airframe and why we chose to include it in the offering.”
Athena plans to offer the aircraft as a quick-build kit costing $25k-$30k less engine and avionics, and also as a factory-built Light Sport Aircraft for around $150k.
“My plan is for the builder to basically become just an assembler and to require very little to no deburr, no metal finishing, no dimpling, just cleco and go,” said Black.
2 comments
Hope to see you at Sun and Fun or certainly OSH. Good luck with your endeavor.
Is Athena Aircraft still in business? I am very interested in their radial kit airplane.