The VNS-41 is the first amphibious microlight aircraft made in Vietnam. The A41 Factory (officially Aircraft Repair Company A-41) under the Air Force and Air Defence Department (Ministry of Defence) manufactured the aircraft based on the Russian Che-22 Korvet design by Boris Chernov and E. Yungerov.[1] A Che-22 was acquired by Vietnam in the late 1990s and from the Philippines.[2] Technicians began developing the VNS-41 in June[3] or July 2003.[1] On 12 September 2004, the prototype performed its maiden flight with test pilot Nguyễn Duy Lê at the controls.[4]
| VNS-41 | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | amphibious microlight |
| National origin | Vietnam |
| Manufacturer | A41 Factory |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 2005- |
| First flight | 12 September 2004 |
Fitted with two 65 hp Rotax 582 engines, the VNS-41 used the A92 fuel type, and each of its engines consumed about 19–22 litres per hour (5.0–5.8 gal/h; 19,000–22,000 cm3/h). The VNS-41's hull, tail, and middle wing are made from high-quality composite material. On land, the aeroplane can take off after a 50–70 metres (160–230 ft) run. Meanwhile, the VNS-41 can take off on water after a 200–300 metres (660–980 ft) run. The cost of the aircraft is under two billion Vietnamese đồng.[5]
The VNS-41 will initially be used in forestry patrol and agriculture but will also be marketed for sport, travel and commercial applications.[3][5]
Specifications
editData from https://repository.vnu.edu.vn/bitstream/VNU_123/96653/1/KY_02139.PDF, https://vnexpress.net/che-tao-thanh-cong-ba-chiec-thuy-phi-co-dau-tien-1997613.html, and https://vietnamembassy-usa.org/vi/node/3674
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: three
- Length: 6.98 m (22 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 11.650 m (38 ft 3 in)
- Height: 2.535 m (8 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 11.650 m2 (125.40 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 520 kg (1,146 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 700 kg (1,543 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 80
- Powerplant: 2 × Rotax 582 two-stroke, two-cylinder, liquid-cooled, gear-reduction-drive piston engine, 48 kW (65 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 140–160 km/h (87–99 mph, 76–86 kn)
- Cruise speed: 120–135 km/h (75–84 mph, 65–73 kn)
- Range: 300 km (190 mi, 160 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "THIẾT KẾ VÀ CHẾ TẠO MÁY BAY LƯỠNG DỤNG SIÊU NHẸ VNS-41" (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Che-22 amphibian by B. Chernov and E.Yungerov". Archived from the original on 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
- ^ a b "Vietnam Tests More Locally-made Light Planes | Đại sứ quán Việt Nam tại Hoa Kỳ". vietnamembassy-usa.org. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ "'Huyền thoại bay' thầm lặng: Người bay thử nghiệm". Báo Gia Lai điện tử (in Vietnamese). 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ a b VnExpress. "Chế tạo thành công ba chiếc thủy phi cơ đầu tiên". vnexpress.net (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2023-12-10.