LiteFighters - Hawk Series
Now taking preorders and taking beta-builder applications!
3-in-1
The first generation LiteFighter gives the homebuilder a chance to build three planes with one design. Choose from the pre-war P-36A Hawk which flew for the French and the Finns before seeing its only US combat action during Pearl Harbor. Or the P-40B Warhawk, the main US Army Air Corp fighter at the onset of WWII, and also famously shipped to Burma to fly with the AVG ‘Flying Tigers.’ As the Tomahawk IIA, these were flown by the Commonwealth from Singapore to Sussex and Tobruk to Tuvalu. Lastly, we will offer a P-40E/Kittyhawk (and later models) with it’s iconic extra large air intake, six .50 cal guns, and a sleeker canopy. This second generation of the P-40 saw service with the US, England, India, France, China, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and Turkey and served in every theater of the war. A truly iconic warbird.
Just let us know the model you want and what engine you plan on using. More than 90% of the airframe is common between all three models, we will provide all of the cowlings, fairings, and details that help set each version apart from one another.
Engine Selection
If you are doing the P-36A, we would highly suggest allowing us to set you up with the same Verner Scarlett 7U you can see on our prototype. If you want a little more power, the Verner Scarlett 9S at 158 hp gives best-in-class torque-to-weight allowing you to spin a big, meaty 1940s style propeller. If you are looking to do a P-40 variant, we have designed a firewall forward that is extremely adaptable to most of today’s most popular engines. We have already ran the numbers and recommend the following engines:
Jabiru 3300
Continental CD135
ULPower 350iS
Rotax 914 UL/F
Rotax 915 IS/ISC
Viking 130
AeroMomentum AM15
In addition to this list, our engineers would be happy to help you run the numbers for whatever engine you may be considering. That said, we do not recommend any engine over 225 lbs (102 kg) and 160 hp (120 kW) given the weight and balance of the aircraft.
Kit Assembly
No one likes things to be harder than they need to be. With a simple frame, all pull-rivet construction, and common aircraft hardware our design was created for the first time homebuilder and the veteran alike. We also know committing to build an entire airplane is a pretty big leap. Whether you want to test your skill at working in aluminum, commit just far enough that the wife (or husband) can’t say no when you go and buy the rest of the plane, or are just unsure if you want to pursue to the whole endeavor, we believe a kit based approach works for everyone.
We plan to offering four kits which allow the builder to eat this elephant one bite at a time. We plan to roll out these kits in the following order:
Empennage Kit - This kit is the perfect way to get started and hone your aircraft building skills while still setting up your shop. It includes six separate parts that allow you to hone your skill: the vertical stabilizer, the horizontal stabilizer, the rudder, the elevators, ailerons, and the aft empennage internal fuselage structure. And yes, we know the ailerons don’t go in the empennage, but it lets you do all of the fabric work done at the same time.
Estimate to complete- 300 hours
Estimated Cost - $TBD
Available - April 2024 (Beta Builder kits now in production)
Fuselage Kit - The tail looks great! Now it’s time to start building an airplane. This is the point where you need to decide which model you want to finish your LiteFighter as (P-36 or P-40). The second kit is the tube and gusset fuselage frame and the all aluminum skin. The kit is designed to be built by anyone that has the room for a 4’x8’ piece of plywood to act as both a form and work bench. Once you have the frame together, lightweight standoffs provide the framing to support your skin. The seat, canopy, and cockpit controls will let you sit in your airplane for the first time. From here on out, no one will have to ask what you are building.
Estimate to complete- 300 hours
Estimated Cost - $TBD
Available - Fall 2024
Wing Center Section and Firewall Forward - The 3-part wing design allows for the modularity of the overall design, as well as allowing for easy storage and transportation of your plane. The center section includes the main spar, the rear spar, the fuel tanks and the landing gear. This is also the deadline to make your decision as to the engine you will be using for a bespoke firewall forward design. If you went with a Verner we can also provide you with the oil system, ignition system, exhaust, and electrical.
Estimate to complete- 400 hours
Estimated Cost - $TBD
Available - 2025
Wing Outer Sections and Finishing Kit - So close you can taste it! The taper, the composite wing tip, and faux armament provide all of those vintage lines that set a ScaleBirds LiteFighter apart from the rest. While this kit may take longer to build than the competition, you will be rewarded with an aircraft with lower drag and a more ramp appeal than a straight chocolate-bar wing. The finishing kit also include the nav lights, all of the fairings, the authentic Curtiss-style retractable tie down loops, the cowling, and the composites to finish the airframe and paint. We will also hook you up with all of the cables and hardware to connect your control surfaces. Options for the finish kit will include the brake system, avionics, electrical system, an authentic style retractable landing light, and a custom designed spinner.
Estimate to complete- 400-500 hours (depending on options)
Estimated Cost - $TBD
Available - 2025
Now it is time to befriend your local FAA DAR and get your airworthiness certificate!
