Aerokopter AK1-3 Sanka

AK1-3
Role Helicopter
National origin Ukraine
Manufacturer Aerokopter
Status In production (2014)
Unit cost
€110,000 (2011)[1]

The Aerokopter AK1-3 is a Ukrainian helicopter, designed and produced by Aerokopter (also spelled "Aerocopter") of Kharkiv. The aircraft is supplied as complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1][2]

Some sources refer to the AK1-3 as the Sanka or San'ka while others do not.[1][2]

Design and development

The AK1-3 was designed to comply with the Ukrainian AP-27 rules, which are similar to the European Aviation Safety Agency CS-27 standard. The aircraft features a single main rotor with a tail rotor, a two-seats-in side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit, skid-type landing gear and a four-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, 156 hp (116 kW) Subaru EJ25 automotive engine.[1]

The aircraft's 6.84 m (22.4 ft) diameter three-bladed Starflex rotor has a chord of 15 cm (5.9 in) and employs a unique torsion bar blade mounting that allows blade movement to produce pitch angle changes, flapping, as well as lead and lag. The main transmission consists of belt drives, with the tail rotor driven by a solid shaft. The aircraft has an empty weight of 380 kg (838 lb) and a gross weight of 650 kg (1,433 lb), giving a useful load of 270 kg (595 lb). With full fuel of 75 litres (16 imp gal; 20 US gal) the payload is 216 kg (476 lb).[1]

In 2009 Aerokopter (DB Aercopters) was acquired by the Perla Group of companies Perla Aviation division, with the stated intention of moving the assembly line of the AK1-3 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).[3]

Variants

Aerocopter AK 1-3 San'ka
Aerokopter ZA-6 San'ka
Original design forming the basis of the AK1, with a five-bladed main rotor and powered by a 119 kW (160 hp) Subaru EJ22 converted automobile engine.[2]
Aerokopter AK1-5
A development prototype modified from a ZA-6 with a five-bladed main rotor. Registered as GL-0478 and displayed at the 2002 Kiev Manufacturing and Security Exhibition.[2]
Aerokopter AK1-3
A second stage of development resulted in the AK1-3 with a three-bladed rotor, (also displayed incomplete at the 2002 Kiev exhibition). Other changes included a tailplane with end-plate fins and tail rotor transferred to the right side of the tail boom.[2]

Specifications (AK1-3)

Aerokopter AK1-3 Sanka

Data from Bayerl and manufacturer[1][4]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al. (2011). World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12. Lancaster: JWDLA UK. p. 189. ISSN 1368-485X.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Jackson, Paul (2004). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2004–2005. London: Jane's Information Group. pp. 493–494. ISBN 0-7106-2614-2.
  3. ↑ "Perla Group acquires DB Aerocopters in a multi-million dollar deal" (PDF). perlagrp.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Technical Details". aerokopter.co.za. Retrieved 28 December 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AK 1-3 (helicopter).
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, March 06, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.