Amphibious Ski Plane
New light airplane is able to land on land, water, or snow
December 1, 2011
Newly designed aircraft a hit for recreational flyers.
LISA Airplanes, Le Bourget-du-Lac, France, is shaking up the aerospace industry with its new Akoya, a two-seater airplane.
The aircraft features the company's patented Multi-Access™ technology, which enables it to take off and land on water, snow, or the ground. Pivoting wings enable it to be stored or transported easily.
This technical feat is made possible by the development of Seafoils™, hydrofoils located under the fuselage and connected to a retractable landing gear equipped with skis and pivoting wings.
With just 18.5 gal. of gas, the plane can fly nearly 700 miles at a speed faster than 130 miles per hour.
"In addition to its design, which immediately captivated me, the Akoya is a very pleasant airplane to pilot. The Seafoils are truly revolutionary and offer both fast liftoff and stability. They also considerably simplify landing maneuvers and taking off from water. In spite of its impressive technical capabilities, the Akoya is a very accessible aircraft that will fully satisfy future purchasers," said test pilot Gérald Ducoin.
The plane is made entirely of composite materials and powered by a 100-HP Rotax engine. It can take off and land using less than 650 ft. of space. The mechanical systems are made of titanium and aluminum with corrosion inhibitors to extend their lifespan.
"Offering more than just another new plane on the market, LISA Airplanes brings a further dimension to light aviation by developing the concept of recreational flying, where going from Point A to Point B becomes both simpler and faster, making it a real pleasure once again," said LISA President Erick Herzberger.
After finalizing the first prototype test trials in 2009 and completing industrialization, LISA Airplanes is currently carrying out flight tests on its preseries airplane on the runway of the Chambéry-Savoie Airport and on the nearby Lac du Bourget in France.
The company also has developed the Hy-Bird, an aircraft that uses only renewable energy to fly.
A hydrogen fuel cell powers the aircraft during cruise flight, and photovoltaic (PV) cells on the wings and horizontal tail power batteries to complete the fuel cell power for the takeoff and climb phases of flight.
This plane is propelled by an electric motor, which is quieter and more effective at high altitudes than heat engines, the company reports.
The aircraft will soon be able to use only renewable energies without greenhouse gas emissions and to decrease the noise pollution associated with gas-powered engines.
blog comments powered by Disqus
