Shane Daly and the team at Innovative Wings know all about high performance aircraft. Having built one of the first Legend airframes from the ground up, the Innovative Wings team are very familiar with what works well and how to ensure your Legend is customized for you.
Legend Aircraft is pleased to partner with Innovative Wings team to support our Legend Aircraft Builder Assist Program. If you wish to build your own aircraft, you can buy the ‘Legend Fast Build Kit’ and do it yourself however, if you’re like most pilots that want a Legend, having someone with expertise and experience to assemble the airframe, install the engine, build the panel, run the mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems, and then put it all together is not only preferred, it ensures you’re flying instead of building.
With the builder assist program from Innovative Wings, you can do as much or as little as you want. Starting with a personal assessment and typical flight profile, an equipment list is determined and the build parameters identified. A production schedule is then created with targeted dates for project milestones. They will work with you to keep you involved and informed each step of the way during the build and when the aircraft is ready for key inspections, you will be invited to attend. From start to finish, your participation in this process is entirely up to you.
Starting with the Fast Build, kit, we require 12 months to complete your Legend Aircraft project. Our goal will be to have the primary aircraft structure assembled and on its gear, with the controls in place and the engine mounted within the first 6 months. This will leave the installation of the panel, heating and ventilation, mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems for the last 6/mo’s prior to applying for a Test Flight permit.
The Firewall Forward is the most expensive part of the build so you need to get this one right!
Legend Aircraft has the finest industry connections with suppliers that know what we are looking for allowing us to source both the engine and prop for your Legend at competitive prices.
Once you’ve made your engine choice, we supply you all the parts needed to make it fit under-cowl including:
If you are taking advantage of Legend Aircrafts Builder Assist program, we will install, fit and wire the engine for you.
We offer four engine choices with two piston engine options and two turbine engines options:
While the piston engine is all new, the turbine engines we supply are ‘used’ and will come with a current inspection or fresh overhaul. While a new turboprop engine is available from the manufacturer, the budget for FWF is the key factor when considering if a used or new engine choice is right for you.
The second most time consuming job of building a Legend is creating the panel, installing the avionics, and then wiring it all together with switches and breakers so that it works. This is an easy procedure if you purchase the panel package or far more challenging process if you plan to do it all yourself.
Legend Aircraft has designed panel layouts for your Legend configuration!
Once your needs are identified, the avionics are supplied and placed in a panel jig, and then an ‘electrical loom’ is made up comprising of a wiring harness, avionics network cabling, and radio coax cables. At first, it looks like a ‘bundle of wires’ running in various directions, but using a wiring fixture, it begins to take shape as wires are terminated and plugs are added where needed. Before long, the loom makes its way into the airframe where wire branches extend to the tail and run into each wing tip. Based on the equipment list, the loom has connections for each item, and once installed it is a simple ‘plug & play’ procedure connecting each component to the system along the way.
While this sounds like a simple process, it is complex and challenging if left to the builder to create on their own. If there was one element of a typical ‘kitplane build’ that separates it from a factory built aircraft, the lack of a wiring loom is the single ‘tell all’ difference between an amateur build as compared to that of a professional one. Again, knowledge and experience makes this look easy when in fact, it is just the opposite.
Avionics … With so many choices on the market the options are numerous, but when it comes to a fully integrated avionics suite that incorporates an EFIS (primary & backup) with moving map, GPS, NAV, COMM, Audio Panel with intercom, Transponder, ADS-B compliant traffic & weather with full Auto Pilot functionality and a comprehensive EMS … our choice is the undisputed leader in glass panel technology, Garmin.
However, depending on your requirements, there are a variety of options from Avidyne, Dynon and others, which provide an integrated solution as a competitive alternative to suit the needs of any project.
As an existing Legend Owner….Contact Us to register your aircraft with Legend!
If you would also like to inquire about updating your aircraft with the latest enhancements, we’d be happy to discuss your options. The most obvious change is the FWF engine conversion from the Walter M601 to the Garrett TPE331-10 and Hartzell prop. Perhaps you may want to have a new wing installed to improve the CG placement, incorporate larger fuel tanks, or to have the new flap and aileron control system to clean up the airframe. Or maybe you simply want to upgrade to the latest avionics from Garmin with a new control panel. We’re also able to provide composite parts, hardware or any replacement part you might need.
© 2021 Legend Aircraft.
