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A-24 VIKING Amphibian |
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John Long - Jul 06,2006
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VIKING: An Amphibian With Style<br /><br /> By John Long<br /><br /> In the cold, still, morning air, the Viking seemed so serene. As the pilots tended to their checklist, the little seaplane waited, bobbing alongside the dock. As one might come upon the scene, you would have the feeling of looking at a picture postcard, not live action.<br /><br /> The setting, a small, lonely lakeshore in Eastern Europe seemed so out of place for a new amphibian designed to sell in America. When I read the Russian name on the airframe, Aeroprakt, I wonder who that is and why anyone should care. But I found myself entranced as the test pilots ignored the cold and wind, while methodically adhering to a preflight checklist, laminated just hours before.<br /><br /> Finished, the pilots jump in and fire up the Rotax 912-ULS. With its 100 HP creasing the morning stillness with the familiar sound of four-strokes. Listening to the engine humming away, smooth and rhythmic, I feel less an alien and a little more at home. While the Viking A-24 warms up, the pilots check out instruments, fuel levels and the flight plan, intended to test out this new aircraft, built for comfort and performance.<br /><br /> As the test pilot prepared to taxi out from the dock, the 44” of shoulder room and the surprisingly high head room became apparent. The third seat area was a storage space in this configuration, a third seat would be added to the air frame later. <br /><br /> The full wing flaperons complimented by fully operational ailerons are a surprise. It seems impossible to believe that the flaps and ailerons could coexist and operate in such a configuration but as the plane lifted cleanly off the lake, it was obvious that the pilots weren’t handicapped by the unusual set up.<br /><br /> This little amphibian surged off the water and climbed lustily off the mirrored surface. After reaching about 1500 feet and turning smartly 90 degrees to the left, the pilot ran the plane through a series of S-turns, stalls, turns about a point and full three-sixties, the 360's were really amazing with full flaperons, you feel as if you are turning about the Vertical access of the aircraft, truly turning on a dime, without steep banks! <br /><br /> It was about then that I realized how very much I wanted to fly the Viking. It seemed like that plane spoke to me, somehow. I found myself leaning into the turns and bending forward and back as the test pilot challenged Viking’s aerodynamics.<br /><br />Float Planes and Amphibs, has the exclusive North American rights to the Aeroprakt line of aircraft. Starting with the amphibious, Viking, the line of aircraft runs the gamut of light sport and experimental aviation. The Viking was undergoing some desired alterations to make it even more attractive for the North American flying public and the first, finished, certified, S-SLA version is scheduled to arrive in Sebring this Summer.<br /><br /> The little seaplane really wasn’t very little. In fact, the Viking A-24, from Float Planes and Amphibs, in Sebring, Florida, is very much a serious plane and very little, hobby. It has an enormous useful load and great take off performance. If you want to climb out of the water, smartly and continue that climb with a cruise speed well over 100kts, the Viking is well worth the look. <br /> <br /> Something that truly catches the eye is the re-engineered hull. As a plane, the Viking is one heck of a boat! The hull manages the water and funnels it back smoothly. There is very little wallowing when you turn in the water. Though you expect a certain amount of drag and really can’t avoid it, the Viking pulled itself admirably across the water at 2400 rpms without burning up a lot of fuel. There is some forward momentum to expect and adjust for when pulling off the throttle, when you taxi. The rocking is more pronounced when there’s very much wind.<br /><br /> If you are a capable pilot, you can taxi, take off and land in less than perfect conditions with very little to fear. The third seat, in the experimental version, gives you added freedom and if you choose the S-LSA version, the extra cargo space can lead to lots of options.<br /><br /> With the tractor mounted engine above the cockpit, you not only have great handling, but the weight distribution favors safety. Unlike many other Amphibs, an engine failure does not result in a tail heavy machine. <br /> <br /> Float Plane and Amphibs strives to provide aircraft that are strong, safe and economical. Combine that with an airplane burning 4 - 5 gallons an hour of auto gas, at cruise and you can save money without major performance loss. With the incredible engineering of Aeroprakt behind it, the Viking is safe and has outstanding load capability. <br /><br />The Aeroprakt line is the brain child of Yuri Yakovlev, who also designed the Soviet Mig fighter. When the Soviet military machine suddenly went out of business, Yuri turned to private aviation for his flying fix. The Aeroprakt company developed soon after. Yuri had won every major Eastern Block aerobatic contest and was European Aerobactic Champion when he met Shawn Okun, President of Float Planes and Amphibs. They had so much in common a merger of goals was obvious. For them to combine forces, to bring Aeroprakt to America, was inevitable.<br /><br />By Eastern European standards, the Viking is very Americanized, thanks to FPNA ’s step by step input. Literally dozens of design changes were made to satisfy FPNA ’s desire to bring the Viking to America as an aircraft to which American flyers would feel a kinship. <br /><br />As the Sport Pilot license gave the sky back to many pilots seeking a way to fly without a medical, FPNA recognized the value of comfortable, sling style seating, convenient shoulder room, full, slide back doors to make entry and exit easier and not so visible things such as the electro - hydraulic landing gear and fail safe gravity back up. If people were going to move out of their comfort zones to buy into an Eastern European plane, Float Planes and Amphibs wanted to make the transition as palatable as possible.<br /><br />The S-LSA version can handle all but the most imprudent flight maneuvers in addition to sleek styling and economical engineering.<br /><br /> With and electro / hydraulic gear system, backed up by a 'free fall' or gravity drop, there is no concern about what to do if the main gear retract system fails. The gear will come down, on their own and they manually lock in place. If all else fails, the hull is capable of handling a gear up landing on concrete, without compromising the hull. It might seem impossible to imagine, but isn’t it nice that the builder added a protection beyond that which is necessary, required and economical.<br /><br /> Float Planes and Amphibs is taking it's first delivery of many, certified, (Pending it FAA Exemption approval) S-LSA Vikings starting in July. You can view the airplane at <a href="http://www.fpna.com/">www.fpna.com</a> or by calling <br />(863) 655-3770.<br /><br />Max. cruise speed 106 mph Stalling speed (flaps down) 43 mph <br />Fuel capacity 23 gal Max. range (still air) 432 nm <br />Max. endurance 4.5 h Rate of climb (ISA, sea level , MTOW ) 1050 fpm <br />(LSA) 800 fpm (Experimental) <br />Takeoff/landing run (ground) 492 ft Takeoff/landing run (water) 656 ft <br />Wing span 36’3” Length 23’11” <br />Height 10’6” Wing area 161.2 sq ft <br />Max. TO weight 1430 lbs (LSA) <br />1652 lb (Experimental) <br />Empty weight 882(LSA) 969 lb (Experimental) <br />
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John Robert Dunlop - Jul 06,2006
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John, I expect to fly the A-24 here in Canada before the end of August. Great looking amphib!
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John Long - Jul 07,2006
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We have another A-24 VIKING coming in about three weeks from now. By the time it clears customs and is built, I think it will be ready to show off around August 15. The changes made to the hull to make the water performance better, came out fantastically. We are truly excited about the re-engineered hull.<br /> We look forward to all four pre-sold A-24's this summer being outstanding aircraft.<br /> Check us out at <a href="http://www.fpna.com/">www.FPNA.com</a><br /> We are looking for dealer / representatives in the US and Canada if anyone is interested.
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