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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]
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]
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)
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