Chip Erwin
Aircraft Designer, Aeromarine-LSA
Biography
- Established and managed a $14mm annual sales aircraft manufacturing company with global sales and >250 employees
- Successfully petitioned the FAA to modify the LSA rules to allow retractable gear on seaplanes thereby creating the opportunity for amphibious aircraft
- Intensively studied seaplane design including rebuilding and flying a Lake Buccaneer amphib
- Designed and LSA-certified the Mermaid amphibious flying boat and collected some 350 orders. Built hundreds of light aircraft floats.
- Established an aircraft manufacturing company in Zhuhai, China (ongoing)
- 4 + years’ experience doing aviation business in China. Currently creating one of China’s first private seaplane bases
- BS in General Business from Arizona State University and MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of North Dakota (completed MBA in school record 9 months with 4.0 GPA)
- Test pilot & amphibious aircraft pilot experience. Seaplane pilot for 34 years
- 3-time winner of Piccolo Schneider Cup seaplane race (Italy)
- Invited to Olympic trials in sailing (twice)
- Past Greek National UL aircraft champion
