LAK-12

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LAK-12
Role Open Class sailplane
National origin Lithuania
Manufacturer LAK
Sportine Aviacija
Sport Aviation USSR
Status Production completed
Number built More than 25

The LAK-12 is a Lithuanian mid-wing, single-seat, FAI Open Class glider that was designed and produced by LAK (Litovskaya Aviatsionnaya Konstruktsiya) (English: Lithuanian Aircraft Builders) and later by Sportine Aviacija and Sport Aviation USSR.[1][2]

Design and development

The LAK-12 was designed in the 1980s as an open class racer.[1]

The aircraft is made from fibreglass, foam and carbon fibre. Its 20.42 m (67.0 ft) span foam-core wing employs a Wortmann FX67-K-170 airfoil at the wing root, transitioning to a FX67- K-150 section at the wing tip. The wings feature both double-panel upper surface air brakes and flaps that can be set to -7°, -4°, 0°, +5°, +11° and +15°. Water ballast is 190 L (50 US gal) held in the wing leading edges and dumped through a centre-fuselage valve. The landing gear is a single retractable monowheel suspended by an oil/nitrogen oleo, plus a tailskid. The cockpit canopy is of one-piece and forward hinged.[1][3]

Operational history

In August 2011 there were 24 LAK-12s listed on the United States Federal Aviation Administration registry, all in the Experimental - Racing/Exhibition category and one registered with Transport Canada in the Limited Class.[2][4]

Variants

LAK-12 Lietuva
20.42 m (67.0 ft) span open-class sailplane.
LAK-12 Lietuva 2R
Two-seat version of the LAK-12 with tandem cockpit in an extended fuselage.

Specifications (LAK-12)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 7.23 m (23 ft 9 in)
  • Wingspan: 20.42 m (67 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
  • Wing area: 14.63 m2 (157.5 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 28.5:1
  • Airfoil: Root: Wortmann FX67-K-170, tip: FX67- K-150
  • Empty weight: 360 kg (794 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 650 kg (1,433 lb) with ballast
  • Water ballast: 190 L (50 US gal; 42 imp gal)

Performance

  • Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph; 35 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 250 km/h (155 mph; 135 kn) in smooth air
  • Max aero-tow speed: 140 km/h (76 kn; 87 mph)
  • g limits: +6 -3
  • Maximum glide ratio: 47:1
  • Best glide speed: 95 km/h (51 kn; 59 mph)
  • Rate of sink: 0.48 m/s (94 ft/min)
  • Minimum sink speed: 75 km/h (40 kn; 47 mph)
  • Wing loading: 44.42 kg/m2 (9.10 lb/sq ft) max

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

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External links