5 March 2007
France-based LISA Airplanes (where Lisa stands for Light Innovative Sport Aircraft) is expecting to fly the first example of its Akoya light aircraft, which will is intended to be the ‘only aircraft able to land on the ground, water and snow,’ over the next few days.
The Akoya is expected to boast some impressive numbers and features, including an integral parachute, a 1,500 km range, a 300 kph max speed, a maximum takeoff weight of 495 kg and a pivoting wing and skis which can retract in flight. The landing and takeoff is quoted as less than 330 ft.
The powerplant is a Rotax 912S.
Those performance figures are helped by an innovative wing design – called the ‘Ri&Flex’ wing – which involves the rigid carbon wing having a flexible textile ‘flap’ fitted at its trailing edge. When the flap is extended it increasing the wing surface byup to 70 percent.
The design also has retractable hydrofoils, which add to the short performance take-off on water.
To make life easier, the company is planning to include the price of your ULM (microlight) licence in with the approx €300,000 which is the working price. As they point out, this will allow the manufacturer to train the pilot on the aircraft which he will be flying.
The aircraft is due to be on display at some of the leading European airshows this year, including Friedrichshafen, Eur-Avia, EBACE and the Monaco Yacht Show.
