The amphibious Mermaid light sport aircraft is back in production almost a year after it was shelved amid budget shortfalls and a dispute for control of Czech Aircraft Works.
American distributor Sport Aircraft Works formed Wet Aero in August to license and manufacture the two-seat aircraft. "With the latest problems they're having I felt its necessary to try to get it back into production," says Danny Defelici, president of Sport Aircraft Works and Wet Aero.
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© Sport Aircraft Works |
The latest court hearing was held on 11 November in Prague, as major investor Slavia Capital continue to search for a third party to purchase their ownership share while simultaneously pursuing an insolvency ruling and trying to buy full control.
Wet Aero has set up its own facility in Kunovice in the eastern Czech Republic to manufacture the flying boat's aluminium elements. Final assembly is undertaken at the company's Indiantown, Florida base. "We have five aircraft that are in the finishing stages of putting the engines on," says Defelici.
The $149,000 Mermaid is available with a Rotax 912 or Jabiru 3300 engine.
Source: Flight International
