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Phönix-Aviatechnica LKhS-4

The Phönix-Aviatechnica LKhS-4[1][2] (also transliterated Phoenix-Aviatechnica LKhS-4[3] or Feniks-Aviatechnica LKhS-4;[4] in Cyrillic script Феникс-Авиатехника ЛХС-4) was a 1990s Russian design for a civil utility aircraft of unusual[4] configuration. Its designation is an acronym of Legkiy Khozyaystvennyy Samolet (Легкий Хозяйственный Самолет) — "light utility aircraft" in Russian.[4] In addition to general aviation purposes, the LKhS-4's intended use was air-taxi and commuter roles throughout the CIS and it was therefore designed to be able to operate from soft snow or mud.[5]

LKhS-4
Role Civil utility aircraft
National origin International joint venture: Russia and Bulgaria
Manufacturer Phönix-Aviatechnica
Status Unbuilt design

It was to have been produced by an international joint venture between Russia and Bulgaria.[1][2] Construction of a prototype began in 1992.[6] First flight was anticipated by 1993,[1][6][7] then by 1994,[8] but did not eventuate at all.[8]

Design and development

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Although designed in the 1990s, the LKhS-4 was a single-bay, equal-span, unstaggered biplane design.[5][8][9] The wings were braced with I-struts at mid span,[5][8][9] and were designed to fold backwards for storage.[5][8][9] The fuselage was to have a pod-and-boom layout,[5][8][9] with a conventional tail[5][8][9] and fixed, tricycle undercarriage.[5][8][9] Seating for a pilot and three passengers was to be provided in two rows of two seats[5][8][9] inside an enclosed, extensively-glazed cabin.[5][8][9] Power was to be provided by two piston engines mounted to the fuselage sides in the interplane gap,[5][8][9] driving pusher propellers.[5][8][9] At one stage, the engines were specified as VAZ-3187[a] two-cylinder engines of 60 kilowatts (80 hp) each,[3][9] but the LOM M132 was also considered.[8]

Construction was to be a light alloy frame, with wing spars of steel tube, covered in panels of composite material.[9]

In September 1990, Bulgarian aircraft engineering company Aviatsionna Tehnika (a division of VMZ) and Russian aircraft engineering company Interavia signed an agreement to develop and manufacture light aircraft.[6] This led to the foundation of Phönix-Aviatechnica as a joint company the following year,[6] with 51% Bulgarian and 49% Russian ownership.[6] The two designs selected for production were the LKhS-4 and SL-90.[6]

Production of the LKhS-4 was planned to start in May 1994 at Aviation Repair Factory ARZ-411 in Mineralnye Vody, Russia,[8] but the aircraft would never be completed, much less manufactured.[8]

Specifications (as designed)

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Data from Lambert, Munson & Taylor 1992, p.134

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Capacity: 3 passengers
  • Length: 5.55 m (18 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 8.20 m (26 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 2.77 m (9 ft 1 in)
  • Empty weight: 440 kg (970 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 820 kg (1,808 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × VAZ-3187 two-cylinder piston engine, 60 kW (80 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 260 km/h (160 mph, 140 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn)
  • Range: 500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 6.4 m/s (1,260 ft/min)

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Some Western sources[7][9] mistake the Cyrillic letters ВАЗ ("VAZ", the Volga Automotive Factory) for two Latin letters and a numeral: "BA3"
  1. ^ a b c Taylor 1993, p.952
  2. ^ a b Gunston 1993, p.236
  3. ^ a b Guston 1995, p.285
  4. ^ a b c Gordon & Komissarov 2013, p.471
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Guston 1995, pp.285–86
  6. ^ a b c d e f Lambert, Munson & Taylor 1992, p.133
  7. ^ a b Guston 1995, p.286
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Gordon & Komissarov 2013, p.472
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Lambert, Munson & Taylor 1992, p.134

Bibliography

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  • Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Sergey (2013). Unflown Wings: Soviet and Russian Unrealised Aircraft Projects 1925-2010. Manchester: Créey Publishing.
  • Gunston, Bill (1993). World Encyclopaedia of Aircraft Manufacturers. Anapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
  • Gunston, Bill (1995). The Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995. Oxford: Osprey.
  • Lambert, Mark; Munson, Kenneth; Taylor, Michael J.H., eds. (1992). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1992-93 (83rd ed.). Coulson, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1993). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
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