Dark Aero 1

tspear said:
Previously disclosed early on. They are self funded. All were multiple years into their professional careers, living at home and saving every penny they could until they started on the project.
Based on a few other comments, I believe, but have no proof, they are now effectively funded by family.

Tim
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Sounds like a crap business model. Even at 200k a pop they're going to have to sell a lot of kits to pay for 5 years salary for three engineers.
 
They do classes in composites and mold making as a money maker. Think they do OK at that.
 
steingar said:
Sounds like a crap business model. Even at 200k a pop they're going to have to sell a lot of kits to pay for 5 years salary for three engineers.
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I did not bother to go back and watch the videos. But this was a labor of love, not a retirement goal.

Tim
 
steingar said:
Sounds like a crap business model. Even at 200k a pop they're going to have to sell a lot of kits to pay for 5 years salary for three engineers.
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But most of us have a number in mind where you say screw it, and take less now to chase a dream and hope it works out later.

I applaud that.

But after 5 years of not eating, I'm getting hungry.
 
I like these guys and their thoroughness but begin to wonder why they don't start flying the damn thing.
They keep tinkering with (apparently) little stuff that was maybe not optimal but seemed good enough.

Frankly, I doubt that funds are a big concern for them, otherwise they would have started flying and selling their DarkAero1 2 years ago...
 
Last update on the thread approaching a year old, any updates on possible flight tests?
 
I think its cool and i hope theyre successful. I see some of the crazy stuff bought by people with more dollars than sense and i hope these guys can get in on some of that action. It might even inspire other folks to start fabricating a dream, even if its not a financial success.
 
They're certainly being very thorough.

I put down a deposit a few years ago. My plan is to install a Deltahawk in it.
 
Wow! That's dreaming big! I'd love to see more diesels AND more kit varieties. The deltahawk is a great concept and i hope i can order one someday.
 
alfadog said:
I like the concept, just a little hot rod built for speed and not much else.
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Yeah, agreed - the Porsche model applied to a plane.....but at their current rate of progress I'll be in a retirement home before they get one flying.

I also have zero reason to believe that they can deliver that kit for the $200K stated on their website.

Meanwhile, there's JMB, and they're delivering actual planes today.
 
Last YouTube video posted 6 months ago. Crazy that we thought the plane would fly in 2023.
 
Been wondering about that one myself recently, but instagram posts as recently as a couple of weeks ago.
 
So they did a taxi test in July 2022. Then "Flight Test Preparation" in November 2022. Then in May 2024, they removed the engine and started doing drop testing on the landing gear.

Probably won't do the first flight until 2030 at this rate.
 
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