Firm Details Of Pricing, Availability, Special Offers At AirVenture

Wichita, Kansas-based Belite Aircraft makes its debut at the annual EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI this week by announcing pricing and availability for two versions of the Belite aircraft, the Belite 254 Kit with carbon fiber wings and the Belite 254 Classic Kit with wood and aluminum wings in either fully-assembled or kit form.  In addition, the firm is offering special incentive pricing and purchase options at the show, including free engines when purchased with a kit.

Belite is exhibiting a fully assembled aircraft at AirVenture in exhibit spaces 612 and 615 in the North Display area.  A separate display featuring a partially assembled Belite 254 is located in the Low Cost Flying Pavilion.  The Belite 254 is a fully compliant FAR Part 103 aircraft that flies like an airplane but does not require a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot's license to operate, nor does it require any medical or aircraft registration.

"We are extremely pleased to be at AirVenture and to announce that Belite 254 airplanes are available now and at prices that allow pilots to experience the independence and excitement of flying at an affordable price," said James Wiebe,  president of Belite Aircraft.  "We are taking orders at AirVenture for both fully assembled aircraft and kits.  The airplanes included in our EAA display are, in fact, on sale at special prices during the show and we are announcing today that we are beginning initial production at a rate of two aircraft per month and plan to increase that to four aircraft per month in 2010.   We have developed processes and procedures during the development of the aircraft that give us confidence we can adjust production rates and efficiencies as market demand dictates, as well," he said.

The Belite 254 with carbon fiber wings that is on display is a fully assembled, flyable aircraft, equipped with a derated 45 horsepower MZ-201 engine.  The basic list price for the Belite 254 is currently $34,995. The demonstrator aircraft adds factory assembly, which is valued at $19,000, and a list of options that range from a baggage sack ($195) to seat cushions ($250) to LIPO electrical ($495) to panel-mounted avionics ($4000) to a transport kit ($395).  The display airplane is also offered with an optional BRS Parachute Recovery System priced at $4,500.  Its 45 horsepower engine is valued at $4,300 and its 52-inch, three-bladed Powerfin propeller adds another $800 to the package.  However, during EAA AirVenture, Wiebe announced a "free engine, free options" discount of $5,240, which lowers the price of the assembled demonstrator aircraft to $64,090.

Belite is also offering a Belite 254 Classic Kit, with wood and aluminum wings, a fully-compliant FAR Part 103 airplane, which does include carbon fiber firewall, seat bottom and dash top. It is priced at $24,995, less engine.  During AirVenture the "free engine, free options" package price for this display aircraft is $24,995, FOB Wichita. The package includes a 28 horsepower MZ-201 engine, as well as a baggage sack and seat cushions.  Other kits and assembled aircraft packages are available with special AirVenture savings.

"The Belite 254 is FAR Part 103 compliant," James Wiebe noted.  "It includes carbon fiber or aluminum spars, pre-assembled ribs and lift struts and brackets as well as a carbon fiber firewall and seat bottom.  It even includes a unique feature-a fishing rod compartment baggage kit that takes advantage of the tubular construction of the carbon fiber main wing spar.  This feature will be especially attractive to the angler who wants to fly to his favorite fishing holes," he added.

FMI: www.beliteaircraft.com