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Lisa Akoya

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Akoya
Role Two seat amphibian
National origin France
Manufacturer LISA Airplanes
First flight 22 August 2007
Instrument panel

The Lisa Akoya is a French single engine light aircraft, seating two in side-by-side configuration. It is an amphibian capable of alighting on land, water or snow without adaptation. It has a high aspect ratio folding wing, with trailing edge extensions rather than flaps, and a rear mounted tractor configuration engine.[1]

Design and development

The LISA Akoya (Akoya is a species of pearl oyster) is an innovative light aircraft designed to operate off land, water or snow without adaptation and incorporating a wing of variable area. Some other features are also unusual: it has a wing which folds for transportation by horizontal rotation through almost 90° and a single engine mounted high on the fin in tractor configuration. It is built entirely from carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composites.[2]

The cantilever wings of the Akoya have an aspect ratio of about 18:1, very high for a powered aircraft. They have constant chord apart from the angled tips. Instead of conventional hinged flaps, the inner ⅔ of the trailing edge can be extended rearwards, exposing new fabric surface stored within the wing in roller blind fashion. Fully extended for landing and half extended for take-off, these surfaces provide a large increase in wing area. Conventional ailerons are fitted outboard. High mounted, the wings attach at a rotatable fairing on the highest point of the fuselage, allowing the rotation for storage.[2]

The fin and rudder together form a swept, short and parallel chord surface which carries at its top both the tailplane in T-tail configuration and the engine. The tailplane, like the wing, is of high aspect ratio and has full span elevators. The engine is a 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) Rotax 912 ULS flat four, driving a three bladed tractor propeller.[2]

The Akoya's fuselage is pointed at the nose and almost circular at its greatest diameter. In elevation it has a curved underside and, above, the large one piece canopy over the side-by-side, dual control cabin forms an unbroken line with the fuselage. There is an electrically operated retractable tricycle undercarriage, with the mainwheels moving inwards into the fuselage and the nosewheel rearwards. All wheels have hydraulic brakes. Operation from water, without a planing bottom or floats, is performed undercarriage up on the round fuselage underside with the aid of a pair of fixed hydrofoils, called shark-fins, sharply tapered planes set at about 50° to the vertical just outboard of the mainwheels. Small tip floats are an option for better lateral stability on water. The Akoya, it is claimed by the manufacturer, can also land on snow, though skis are an option.[1][2]

A full size mock up appeared at the Friedrichshafen Aero '07 show in April 2007 and the prototype flew in August 2007 at Chambery. By May 2009 F-WURE had flown 150 hours and 50 orders placed. Production was initially expected by mid-2011.[2]

In March 2012 the company was pursuing light-sport aircraft approval of the design to facilitate sales in the United States.[3]

In July 2012 the prototype had flown its first passenger and has been exhibited at AirVenture 2012. LSA approval and the start of production was still pending.[4] Also in July 2012, the company was placed in receivership for financial restructuring after existing investors were not forthcoming with additional funds.[5][6]

By February 2013 a 75% controlling interest in the company had been purchased by the Heima Mining Company of China for US$20 million. The Heima Mining Company will name its own chairman of LISA and plans to open two new production lines in France.[7]

Variants

Akoya
  • Standard version as described.
Hy-Bird
  • Electrically powered version with fuel cell and batteries charged by photovoltaic cells in upper wing and tail surface. First flight planned for 2012.

Specifications (Akoya)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011/12[2]

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 2
  • Length: 6.90 m (22 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 2.35 m (7 ft 9 in) including propeller
  • Wing area: 6.70 m2 (72.1 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 550 kg (1,213 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 70 LO (18.5 USgal, 15.4 Impgal) with optional additional 100 L (26.4 USgal, 22.0 Impgal) tank
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912 ULS flat four cylinder piston with 1:2.34 reduction gear, 73.5 kW (98.6 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 210 km/h (130 mph, 110 kn) economical
  • Stall speed: 64 km/h (40 mph, 35 kn) flaps down
  • Never exceed speed: 290 km/h (180 mph, 160 kn)
  • Range: 1,650 km (1,030 mi, 890 nmi) at economical cruising speed without optional tank
  • Rate of climb: 5.2 m/s (1,020 ft/min) maximum

Avionics

  • VHF, intercom, transponder. Two screen EFIS with emergency backup instruments.

References

  1. ^ a b Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 64. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ^ a b c d e f Jackson, Paul (2011). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011-12. Redhill, UK: IHS Jane's. pp. 207–8. ISBN 978-0-7106-2955-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Niles, Russ (24 March 2012). "French Amphib Seeks LSA Nod". AVweb. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  4. ^ Pew, Glenn (13 July 2012). "Sleek High-End AKOYA LSA Hopeful Flies". AVweb. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Lisa Airplanes in receivership, says company". Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  6. ^ Pew, Glenn (16 August 2012). "LSA Hopeful Faces Financial Restructuring". AVweb. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  7. ^ Pew, Glenn (21 February 2013). "Akoya LSA Amphib Finds Chinese Backing". AVweb. Retrieved 25 February 2013.