Chaika L 4

Design and development

Several companies and groups have developed a series of designs which began at an offshoot of the Trod Kuznetsov aircraft engine plant in Samara. 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 an immediate development of the L-6M promoted by AeroVolga. Its design began in August 2004.

All of the L-4 variants have the same layout and are all largely built of composite materials. They are high-wing monoplanes with twin engines mounted close to the fuselage and on top of the wing. The wings have straight taper on both edges and almost square tips. The L-4 has a pair of flaps on each wing. Its hull has two steps and there are small winglets at waterlevel just aft of the trailing edge. The cabin extends from below the leading edge rearwards to the winglets. Fixed floats under the wings stabilze 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 the empennage arrangement. There are twin fins, 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 conventional rudders and the single tailplane is mounted upon the fin tips, extending well beyond them. Tailplane and single piece elevator together are trapezoidal; there is a trim tab at the centre of the elevator. The L-4 has a conventional undercarriage for land use, all three wheels and the water rudder being retractable.

The first flight of the L-4 was in June 2005. The most recent variant, the more powerful L-44 flew in 2009.

Operational history

By mid-2008 sales, probably including L-6s from AeroVolga, had reached 14.

Accident

On 7 August 2014, one L-42 crashed with 4 fatalities, total loss. [1]

Variants

L-4

Original design, no longer produced.

L-42

Improved, with Rotax 912 ULS flat four 73.3 kW (98.6 hp) engines.

L-42M

Further improvements: weight savings, winglets, crew ergonomics. Marketed by Aviatech1.com.

L-44

More powerful Rotax 914 engines, as detailed below. First flown 2009.

Specifications (Chaika L-44)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2012/13

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 914 flat 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 (137 mph; 119 kn)

Cruise speed: 180 km/h (112 mph; 97 kn)

Never exceed speed: 250 km/h (155 mph; 135 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)