The Russians are very serious about selling this airplane in the US.
http://www.airventure.org/2003/news/antonov.html
Robin and I are working on organizing a trip (very soon before it
gets cold over there) to the factory for a ride in the Vaz/Lada
rotary powered version. Preliminary itinerary: We will fly into Moscow,
take the Siberian Express train to the factory in central Russia
and come back by way of Beijing. Anybody want to come along.
Paul Lamar
Here is a picture of the airplane in the water.
Paul Lamar
Jack Beale wrote:
P,
How can they expect this aircraft to operate on ANYTHING but a DEAD-FLAT sea...?
From looking at the picture, I'd think that even a light swell would tear the wings off...
Jack Beale
jack.beale@att.net
Stephen Innes wrote:
Dear Paul,
You are correct that this aircraft can handle a sea state of 2, and is certified for operations on
1.5 foot waves. The Lake Amphibian is certified at 8 inches. The Be-103 has actually landed and
taken off in 1.5 meter swells, but this is not recommended, especially by the pilots who were forced
to do it!!
Mr. Beale's is a popular misconception. Although the aircraft sit primarily on its boat type hull,
once it gets up near flying speed the wing tips are well away from the water. Read up on the Coot
Amphibian, a similarly low winged homebuilt seaplane designed by Molt Taylor, which at the time was
advertised as safer, because it was nearly impossible to catch a wing tip. Think of the torque
lever arm and moment of an aircraft with a pontoon way out near the wing tip [Grumman] vs the short
arm of an inboard, near the hull water contact.
By the way, the factory is located in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Russian far east. Closest airport
is Khabarovsk. If it's a flight you want, the design bureau in Taganrog probably has a Continental
engine equipped Be-103 you could fly. Both these facilities are military-industrial so you'll need
to give them at least a month for visas, invitation, and background checks. But if you want a trip
that includes, Russia, Rotary engines and seaplanes, hold out until August 2004 for the
Hydroaviation show on the Black Sea in Gelendzhik. Google "Gidrosalon" +seaplanes +Che-25 and you
should fine some photos. Many twin rotary powered homebuilts along with the mammoth jet powered
seaplanes Beriev is famous for.
www.beriev.com [links to Hydroaviation site]
If you need help setting anything up over there let me know. If you want to go before it gets cold,
leave now!
Steve> --
Stephen Innes
Aerocorp International
tel/fax [+1] 972.547.0686
www.beriev-usa.com
Thanks Steve. Maybe we will hold off for that airshow.
Paul Lamar
The AirCraft Rotary Engine NewsLetter. Powered by Linux.
ACRE NL web site. http://home.earthlink.net/~rotaryeng/
Copyright 1998-2003 All world wide rights reserved.