| Express | |
|---|---|
| Role | Experimental Aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Wheeler Technology Express Design |
| Designer | Ken Wheeler |
| First flight | 28 July 1987 |
| Introduction | 1984 |
The Wheeler Express (or later known as EDI Express) is a four-seat low-wing composite homebuilt aircraft.
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Developed by Wheeler Technology as a high-speed homebuilt aircraft for cross-country flights and the first of the kit built prototypes was first flown on 28 July 1987, a factory built aircraft first flew in 1990. Wheeler Technology went into bankruptcy and the assets were bought by Express Design Incorporated (EDI) of Richmomnd, Oregon. Kits that were in build were completed by EDI and they continued with production of kits. A six-seat variant was produced by EDI as the Loadmaster 3200.
The composite compound curve fuselage was chosen to reduce the number of stiffeners and stringers needed. The design used an unusual seating position where one rear seat faced forward and one aft to maximize interior space. The fuselage was built with similar construction methods to Glasair aircraft.[1]
A crash of an early example of the Wheeler Express was said to demonstrate the airframe's safety due to the energy absorption during the non-fatal crash.[2]
Data from [3]
General characteristics
Performance
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