Spirit SE 1 to New Zealand!

Some readers of the blog may be aware of the all metal single seat Spirit SE 1 which was sensationally revealed at Oshkosh 2025 when four of them were flown in from their factory in Grand Junction Colorado.  As well, the SE 1 was powered by a brand new 42 HP 4 stroke inverted vee 2 cylinder engine that was also designed and built by Spirit in-house.  And not only all that, but Spirit Engineering Inc showed photos of dozens more of them back in the factory.  And before Oshkosh 2025 virtually no-one knew anything about the aircraft!

The specifications for the Spirit SE 1 are:  length 18 feet, wingspan 24 feet 7 inches, height 5 feet, width 7 feet 5 inches with wings folded.  Empty weight 420 pounds, MAUW 740 pounds.  Cruise speed at 75% power 100 mph with a maximum cruise speed of 112 mph.  And the price was US$69,500.

One year later at Oshkosh 2026, Flyer TV interviewed Steve Wood, CEO of Spirit Engineering Inc and the designer of the SE 1 about progress in their first year which has resulted in 42 aircraft delivered.  Here is the link to the Flyer TV interview:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiDmdvCQnZM&t=3s 

Around 7 minutes and 50 seconds into the interview Steve Wood reveals that a Spirit SE 1 is on the water to New Zealand and due to arrive in Blenheim in late August!  When it gets here it will only be a matter of wheeling it out of the container and unfolding the wings, and it should be ready to go!