Chaika L-4
| |
| Chaika L-42 | |
| Role | Twin engineamphibious aircraft |
| National origin | Russia |
| Manufacturer | Chaika (Seagull Experimental Design Bureau),Samara |
| Designer | G. Annenkov |
| First flight | June 2005 |
| Number built | 14 by mid-2008. all L-6 based aircraft |
| Developed from | Chaika L-6, AeroVolga L-6M |
TheChaika L-4(чайка, English:Seagull) is a twin engineamphibious aircraft,designed and built in Russia in the 2000s. It has sold in small numbers and remains in production.
Design and development
[edit]Several companies and groups have developed a series of designs which began at an offshoot of the Trod[citation needed]Kuznetsovaircraft engine plant inSamara.Beginning with the L-3, they differ in size and engine type but all are twin engine amphibians with a characteristic V tail. The L-4 is a direct development of the L-6M, promoted by AeroVolga. Its design began in August 2004.[1]
All L-4 variants have the same layout and all are largely built ofcomposite materials.They arehigh-wing monoplaneswith twin engines mounted close to thefuselage,on top of the wing. The wings have straight taper on both edges and almost squaretips.The L-4 has a pair offlapson each wing. Its hull has twostepsand there are small winglets at waterlevel just aft of thetrailing edge.The cabin extends from below theleading edgerearwards to the winglets. Fixedfloatsunder the wings stabilize the L-4 on water; it is operable with waves to 400 mm (15 in) high. The most unusual feature of the L-4 is theempennagearrangement: it has twinfins,mounted on the fuselage and extended forward with long, curved dorsal fillets, separated at the base by the full fuselage width and leaning slightly outwards. The fins carry conventionalruddersand the singletailplaneis mounted upon the fin tips, extending well beyond them. Tailplane and single pieceelevatortogether aretrapezoidal;there is atrim tabat the centre of the elevator. The reason for the design is that the spine serves as a walkway to access the plane from behind, when moored at shore. The L-4 has aconventional undercarriagefor land use, all three wheels and thewater rudderbeing retractable.[1]
The first flight of the L-4 was in June 2005. The most recent variant, the more powerful L-44 flew in 2009.[1]
Operational history
[edit]By mid-2008 sales, probably including L-6s from AeroVolga, had reached 14.
Variants
[edit]- L-4
- Original design, no longer produced.
- L-42
- Improved, withRotax 912ULSflat four73.3 kW (98.6 hp) engines.
- L-42M
- Further improvements: weight savings, winglets, crew ergonomics. Marketed by Aviatech1.com.
- L-44
- More powerfulRotax 914engines, as detailed below. First flown 2009.
- L-65
- Improved withRotax 915 iSengines.[2]
Specifications (Chaika L-44)
[edit]Data fromJane's All the World's Aircraft 2012/13[1]
General characteristics
- Crew:1
- Capacity:3 passengers
- Length:8.50 m (27 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan:13.50 m (44 ft 3 in)
- Height:2.52 m (8 ft 3 in) excluding propellers
- Wing area:22.45 m2(241.6 sq ft)
- Empty weight:830 kg (1,830 lb)
- Max takeoff weight:1,460 kg (3,219 lb)
- Fuel capacity:230 kg (507 lb)
- Powerplant:2 ×Rotax 914flat four,turbocharged,mixed air and water cooling, 84.5 kW (113.3 hp) each
- Propellers:3-bladed Airmaster AR332
Performance
- Maximum speed:220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
- Cruise speed:180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn)
- Never exceed speed:250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn)
- Range:1,598 km (993 mi, 863 nmi)
- Service ceiling:4,000 m (13,000 ft) service
- Power/mass:8.64 kg/kW (14.20 lb/hp)
- Take-off run:250 m (820 ft)
References
[edit]
- ^abcdJackson, Paul A. (2012).Jane's All the World's Aircraft: development & production: 2012-13.IHS Global. p. 514.ISBN978-0-7106-3000-1.
- ^"AIRCRAFT — SeaBear Aircraft".Retrieved16 April2023.