Samson Motors e-Newsletter -
Update 07-02-2009
Well, we are ‘cutting metal’, as the phrase goes. Although we are working in composite wing construction, the saying tells the tale. You can see images of the wing construction, being done at Free Flight Composites by Burrall Sanders and his competent crew, at the bottom of this page (click for larger view). This is for the engineering mockup to be unveiled at AirVenture in less than a month. The mock-up will show the wing swing mechanism, how we are getting more span out of the wing than before, and how we are taking the major wing loading off the hinge to reduce maintenance. Although we may not be driving the prototype around AirVenture, it is anticipated that you would be able to sit in the vehicle to get a feel for the size (roomy!) and layout for the Switchblade. We will have a surprise announcement at the show, so we hope to see you there.
Samson motors recently made a very tough decision regarding future development on the Samson Switchblade. A review was done at the end of the last engineering cycle in February, where it was apparent that a three-surface aircraft design may be the winning ticket. It was a hard decision, as Swift has a very good reputation. In the end, however, it was difficult to turn away from the engineers at Design Analysis Research Corp (DAR Corp) with their hard-won commercial experience working on the Piaggio Avanti, also a three-surface design. They also have engineers with vehicle design experience on staff, which fills out the experience needed to pull off this kind of design.
The decision was made and we are now moving ahead rapidly, working with Willem Anemaat, PHD, of the DAR Corp in Lawrence, Kansas. Samson CEO and Founder, Sam Bousfield, and Anemaat have been collaborating on finalizing the design for the Samson Switchblade Multi Mode Vehicle. Additionally DAR has been tasked with creating the engineering mock-up which we will have on display at Oshkosh next month. Branching out has speeded progress and we are expecting to have the first of the wings shipped to DAR this coming Monday.
Our efforts to have a full-scale fiberglass mock-up of the Samson Switchblade at AirVenture turned out to be an exercise in chasing gremlins. A very frustrating month and a half later, we are back to providing the engineering mock-up we promised at Sun-n-Fun showing the wing-swing mechanism. The frustration came when it was found that the 3D program used for our design work could not be utilized for computerized milling machine work needed to produce molds. It was a hard lesson but we move ahead with this experience behind us and look forward to seeing many of you at AirVenture
We should have some news out early next week on the ongoing aerodynamic work. We can tell you that it is almost all good news, but you are going to have to wait for it.
Stay Tuned!!!!!
Samson Motors Team
Well, we are ‘cutting metal’, as the phrase goes. Although we are working in composite wing construction, the saying tells the tale. You can see images of the wing construction, being done at Free Flight Composites by Burrall Sanders and his competent crew, at the bottom of this page (click for larger view). This is for the engineering mockup to be unveiled at AirVenture in less than a month. The mock-up will show the wing swing mechanism, how we are getting more span out of the wing than before, and how we are taking the major wing loading off the hinge to reduce maintenance. Although we may not be driving the prototype around AirVenture, it is anticipated that you would be able to sit in the vehicle to get a feel for the size (roomy!) and layout for the Switchblade. We will have a surprise announcement at the show, so we hope to see you there.
Samson motors recently made a very tough decision regarding future development on the Samson Switchblade. A review was done at the end of the last engineering cycle in February, where it was apparent that a three-surface aircraft design may be the winning ticket. It was a hard decision, as Swift has a very good reputation. In the end, however, it was difficult to turn away from the engineers at Design Analysis Research Corp (DAR Corp) with their hard-won commercial experience working on the Piaggio Avanti, also a three-surface design. They also have engineers with vehicle design experience on staff, which fills out the experience needed to pull off this kind of design.
The decision was made and we are now moving ahead rapidly, working with Willem Anemaat, PHD, of the DAR Corp in Lawrence, Kansas. Samson CEO and Founder, Sam Bousfield, and Anemaat have been collaborating on finalizing the design for the Samson Switchblade Multi Mode Vehicle. Additionally DAR has been tasked with creating the engineering mock-up which we will have on display at Oshkosh next month. Branching out has speeded progress and we are expecting to have the first of the wings shipped to DAR this coming Monday.
Our efforts to have a full-scale fiberglass mock-up of the Samson Switchblade at AirVenture turned out to be an exercise in chasing gremlins. A very frustrating month and a half later, we are back to providing the engineering mock-up we promised at Sun-n-Fun showing the wing-swing mechanism. The frustration came when it was found that the 3D program used for our design work could not be utilized for computerized milling machine work needed to produce molds. It was a hard lesson but we move ahead with this experience behind us and look forward to seeing many of you at AirVenture
We should have some news out early next week on the ongoing aerodynamic work. We can tell you that it is almost all good news, but you are going to have to wait for it.
Stay Tuned!!!!!
Samson Motors Team
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