Unusual Offering Comes Across the Public Auction Block

The University of Wisconsin-Madison listed a surprising bit of public surplus in the form of an Aeromarine Electrolyte, a converted Zigolo ultralight that runs on pure battery power.

The listing has so far been well into the realm of affordability, and unless demand for the piece really starts to soar, it may not be impossible to come back from the register only a couple thousand dollars poorer. The aircraft is an Aviad Zigolo ultralight, a high-wing, single-seat taildragger that meets Part 103 requirements. Where it differs from the usual Zigolo, however, comes courtesy of Aeromarine, who replaced its combustion engine with a Geiger Engineering electric drivetrain. The package is known by that firm as the Electrolite, and even sports the appropriate tail branding denoting its special status. As far as auctions go, this is one way to get serviceable battery-powered flight at a fraction of the cost of a new aircraft.

The aircraft has evidently never been flown while in the University's care, despite some indication that the Zigolo type had been pressed into service with their Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Back in 2018, the school had issued a short press release about a similar ultralight Zigolo MG12, expecting to press it into use with low-level atmospheric data gathering. Researchers sounded optimistic about the utility of a Part 103 aircraft in the role, saying that a small, lightweight aircraft equipped with anemometers, thermometers, pressure, and humidity sensors was a fine way to capture data invisible to satellite-based systems. The sales listing doesn't quite say where this aircraft came from, save that it was "donated to the University by the previous owner". They admit to "some repairs and technical upgrades (throttle lever, reversible thrust)" as a part of their stewardship of the Zigolo. As is the usual, the aircraft is presented 'as-is' with no firm warranty aside from "it was running just fine when we parked it".

FMI: www.publicsurplus.com