Designer
Brian Carpenter
Brian founded Rainbow Aviation Services in 1991 to serve experimental, light-sport, and ultralight aviation. The EMG-6 is a project of passion — the airplane he designed, built, and test-flew. The last EMG-6 is the 36th aircraft he has built.
US Navy 4 years AMS-2. 10 years at Aero Union as lead mechanic, chief inspector, and director of maintenance. EAA Flight Advisor and Technical Counselor. Sport Aviation columnist. AirVenture forum and webinar presenter. Co-author, with Carol, of A Professional Approach to Ultralights.
Credentials
- 2017 FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year
- 2006 USUA John Moody Award
- Experimental test pilot
- FAA DAR
- Sport Pilot Instructor Examiner (SPIE)
- A&P / IA
- Commercial / Instrument
- CFII
- Commercial glider
- EAA Technical Counselor / Flight Advisor
- 36 aircraft built — the last EMG-6 is number 36
The long road
California stopped making sense. The drawings stayed public.
The first EMG-6 used Quicksilver tooling so the airplane would not have to carry a full manufacturing bill. Two years in, Quicksilver filed bankruptcy without notice. Cover templates disappeared. The redesign cost more than the original design.
California’s business climate had gotten onerous enough that it no longer made financial sense to stay. The Hangar 7 break-ins were the final straw. Roughly $60,000 of equipment left the building. Insurance found a loophole. N103MX — the first EMG-6 — was damaged. A lot of the parts were stolen.
The project is in Kingsville now. Hangar 8 is the eighth hangar we have owned. N751ZB is almost flyable. The plans are still free. Support is not, not yet.