Beriev Be-103

Be-103 Snipe

Role: Amphibian
Manufacturer: KnAAPO
Designed by: Beriev
First flight: 15 July 1997
Introduced: 2003
Status: In production
Unit cost: US$1,500,000

The Beriev Be-103 Bekas (Russian: Snipe) is an amphibious seaplane designed by the Beriev Aircraft Company and constructed by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO) in Russia. Intended for autonomous operation 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 mid-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, as are hydraulic brakes. However, unlike most modern aircraft, the Be-103 is not equipped with wing flaps.

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

Certification

Picture - Be 103

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, the European Union, 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. Domestic and international market demands (until 2015) were estimated at 520 and 250-330 units, respectively.

The Be-103 was the first Russian aircraft to be in the "Normal" category by the FAA. , and along with the Dornier Seawings Seastar is the only twin-engine amphibian currently in production.

Operators

As of 2010, three aircraft were on the United States civil register. In 2004 China signed a US$20mil contract with KnAAPO for the delivery of 20 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 (Be-103)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 1 (Pilot)
Capacity: 5 passengers or 545 kilograms (1,200 lb) cargo
Length: 10.7 m (35 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 12.5 m (41 ft 0 in)
Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 25.1 m (270 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,730 kg (3,814 lb)
Gross weight: 2,283 kg (5,033 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 2,270 kg (5,004 lb)
Fuel capacity: 340 litres (90 USgal)
Powerplant: 2 x— Continental IO-360-ES4 fuel-injected opposed piston engines, 157 kW (211 hp) each
Propellers: 3-bladed MT Propeller MT-12, 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) diameter

Performance

Cruising speed: 235 km/h (146 mph; 127 kn)
Stall speed: 111 km/h (69 mph; 60 kn)
Never exceed speed: 241 km/h (150 mph; 130 kn)
Minimum control speed: 115 km/h (71 mph; 62 kn)
Range: 845 km (525 mi; 456 nmi)
Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,404 ft)
Wing loading: 90.3 kg/m² (18.5 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 11.9lb/hp (7.2 kg/kW)

Comparable aircraft

Lake Renegade

G.M.Beriev Taganrog Aviation Scientific Engineering Complex Press-release No.8, 24 April 1998.
Beriev USA
FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet A55CE

Beriev Be-103 Pictures

More aircraft.

Source: WikiPedia