SAM Aircraft On The Sale Block

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Just a year and a half after first flight of the prototype SAM aircraft, President Thierry Zibi has put the company up for sale. Why, after so much work – design, fixturing, successful flight test, certification and orders – would that be a good time to sell the company? Zibi says, “I came to the realization that I love designing airplanes, but I am not so keen on running a production company.” According to Zibi, the stage is well set for a new owner. He said that the SAM has flown a full test regimen, which has shown it to be spin-proof at both full-forward and full-aft CG; its Canadian certification has been awarded (and LSA is completely documented, awaiting only another production example). Tooling and fixtures are done, production has already started and orders are in the books.

Zibi said he has reached that point when he is ready to hand off his “child” to a team that wants to build the population. “The entire project is laid out to be manufacturable, for both factory and kit-builder,” Zibi, a designer by trade and training, emphasizes. “We have made ease of building second only to the flying qualities, comfort and safety of the SAM.” The SAM is certified in Canada as an Advanced Ultralight, and is fully compliant with the LSA rule in the USA. It is an all-metal, two-place tandem machine, with what the company calls remarkable room and flying manners. Its classic looks (the Ryan STA was the inspiration for its eye appeal) set it apart on the ramp.

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