Don's MiniMax1600R Sport Plane

Ison Aircraft Inc.

The 1600R is one of many light aircraft produced in kit form by the Ison Aircraft Company. NOTE: This site is best viewed at a pixel width setting of 640.

The Company The company's light aircraft experience goes back to the early 70's when Wayne Ison designed and sold kits for a small aircraft called the P.D.Q. This was actually an ultralight ahead of it's time, and was licensed in the Experimental category. Originally powered by a two-cycle engine, it weighed only 220 lbs. Among many of Wayne's designs were aircraft such as the FP-202, the first of the "CUB" style ultralights. This was followed by the FP-303, a folding wing aircraft with the lines of a "military trainer". Wayne decided there was a market for aircraft in the $3000 range and have produced material kits for a wide range of designs. Recently the company has encounterd some legal problems and may have to cease operations. The builder of one of Wayne's aircraft, called an AirBike, crashed it into a swamp in Florida. This guy has alleged that the company provided faulty materials in their kit which caused the accident. The company won the arbitration, but the guy has refiled. Wayne's legal team feels confident in the outcome but the company may not be able to afford the additional legal costs. The folk at Ison Aircraft are extremely helpful to MiniMax builders, and it would be a shame to loose their cordiality and expertisse should the company fold. They have all been very pleasant and helpful every time I have called for their advise in some phase of my plane's construction. The MAX/News, a MiniMax newsletter edited by Steve Vessey, will continue in any case. This newsletter, started in January 1998, provides hints and ideas from MiniMax aircraft builders as well as general information on ultralight aircraft. An Update on the company. As of June 2000 they are back in operation. They have reincorporated simply as "TEAM" and occupy the same facility that formerly housed the Tennessee Engineering and Manufacturing. The latest information from Wayne Ison. (21 June 2001) He writes, "As part of our ongoing legal hassle, we have transferred all our original drawings, etc. of the line of AirBike designs, including the name TEAM, or TEAM Aircraft, or Tennessee Engineering & Mfg., Inc. to the litigant in Florida." Wayne's new address will be Ison Aircraft at the same location and phone number as before. What a shame that the legal system can take away a persons business because of the carelessness of an individual, and then give the business to that person!! After operating as Ison Aircraft for some time now, Wayne Ison has sold the assets and manufacturing rights to a new company now known as JDT. (November 2003). The company will be led by principals John Graber, Dave Trump and Thinus Debeer. Other investors include Jim Holbtook, Larry Israel and Lowell Farrand. It will be located in a 10,000 square foot manufacturing facility at Nappanee Airport in Indiana. We will all miss Wayne, Kathy and Harold Little and their friendly helpful voices on the phone. Wayne and his staff have been so good to MiniMax builders through the years! I wonder if Wayne will really retire (he's 80 years old). I wouldn't be surprised to see something new coming from his active mind?!

My Airplane

I started buiding my airplane in January 1995 with the Vertical Fin starter kit. I was pleased with the plans and materials and so I decided to go ahead and build the rest of the plane. Rather than get the complete kit all at once, I have gone the mini-kit route and obtained the parts requred for a component and built it before getting the next kit. My situation is such that I only get to work on the plane four or five hours a week, more or less. The kits and plans are very complete. They are material kits in that the wood and metal is supplied but the builder must make the parts themselves. The exceptions to this are for some control cables, landing gear wheel assemblies, bolts and nuts, etc. The wood parts are numbered and identified on the drawings, so one can select the right size or shape for each component. So far I have completed the fuselage and tails, and have it all sitting on the gear (see the picture above). I still have to install the engine and insruments. I will use a Rotax 447 engine of 40 HP. The plane is a single seat, mid-wing, strut braced design with a conventional landing gear (tail wheel). I have completed both wings. The aileron is a full span trailing-edge flap that is built as part of the wing and then cut away. The whole airplane is put together using a two part apoxy wood glue. The joints are held together using staples or small brass nails till the glue sets, then they are removed. None of the parts are covered as yet. (See updates in picture section.) I am building the plane in my basement and get asked quite often "How are you going to get it out?" It still comes apart - tail surfaces are removable, landing gear comes apart, etc. - and the components will fit up the steps and out into the garage, I hope!!