Beriev Be-103

Beriev Be-103

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_Be-103

Be-103 Snipe

Role	Amphibian
Manufacturer	KnAAPO ^[1]
Designed by	Beriev
First flight	15 July 1997
Introduced	2003
Status	In production
Unit cost	US$795,000 ^[1]

The Beriev Be-103 is a seaplane designed by the Beriev Aircraft Company. Intended for autonomous operation as an amphibian in the unmarked areas of Russia's far north and Siberia, the Be-103 was designed for short-haul routes in regions that have rivers, lakes and streams, but are otherwise inaccessible.

Design and development

The Be-103 is a low wing monoplane, making use of the modified wing roots as water-displacing sponsons. It features an all-moving slab tail and retractable tricycle landing gear for land operations. Its hallmark and most distinguishing design feature is the water-displacing wing, an unusual feature for a seaplane, with three aquaplaning implements (planing step, port and starboard wing trailing edges) which substantially enhance the aircraft's on-the-water stability and seaworthiness.

The Be-103 features include an advanced, blended wing, swept at 22°, with 11-foot (3.4 m)-long fixed leading edge slats, trailing-link main landing gear, and three-bladed MT-12 reverse pitch propellers. Fuel is stored in the wet wings. The aircraft is built from aluminum-lithium alloy with titanium used in high-stress areas. A 30-parameter, five-hour flight data recorder, engine fire-detection systems and an ice detector are also standard.

When flying solo, ballast must be placed near the right front seat due to center of gravity issues.

Certification

The Be-103 received its Federal Aviation Administration type certification on 21 July 2003 at the EAA AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where the aircraft had arrived via An-124 airlift. The type certificate was handed over by the FAA's co-chairman of regulations and certification, Nicholas Sabatini. The aircraft is also certified in Brazil, the People's Republic of China and Russia.

On 1 August 2003, FAA Director Marion Blakey visited the Be-103's display area at the exhibition in order to familiarize herself personally with the aircraft and to meet representatives of the developer, manufacturer and Air Register.

The obtaining of FAA certification allows official sales of the Be-103 to begin in the USA and Canada. After the exhibition, the first production Be-103 aircraft were officially handed over to its American dealer, Kent Linn of Sky Manor Airport in Pittstown, New Jersey. To date, three aircraft are registered in the USA and situated at the customer's base in New Jersey awaiting resale. Domestic and international market demands (until 2015) are estimated at 520 and 250-330 units, respectively.

The Be-103 "Snipe" amphibious aircraft is the first Russian certified in the "Normal category USA" and remains the only new twin-engine amphibian available for purchase today.

Chinese order

In 2004, China signed a US$20mil contract with KnAAPO for the delivery of 20 Be-103 aircraft.

Variants

Be-103: Twin-engine light utility amphibian aircraft, seating one pilot and five passengers.
SA-20P: Eight-seat single-engined version for the Russian market.

Specifications

Data from AOPA Pilot article (PDF file) [1]

General characteristics

Crew: two
Capacity: 5 passengers
Length: 10.7 m (34 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 12.5 m (41 ft 9 in)
Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 25.1 m² (270.2 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,730 kg (3,810 lb)
Useful load: 545 kg (1,201 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 2,270 kg (5,011 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Teledyne Continental IO-360ES4 fuel-injected opposed piston engines, 157 kW (210 hp) each
Max zero-fuel weight: 2,217 kg (4,888 lb)

Performance

Never exceed speed: 240.76 km/h (130 kn, 150 mph)
Maximum speed: 130 kn, 150 mph (240.76 km/h)
Cruise speed: 235 km/h (127 kn, 145 mph)
Stall speed: 111 km/h (60 kn, 70 mph)
Range: 525 mi, 845 km (460 nmi, 525 mi)
Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,404 ft)
Wing loading: 90.3 kg/m² (18.5 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 7.2 kg/kW (11.9 lb/hp)

Design and development

Certification

Chinese order

Variants

Specifications

See also