Aviat husky
| Aviat A-1 Husky | |
|---|---|
 Aviat A-1B Husky |
|
| Type: | Light aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1986 |
| Commissioning: |
1987 |
| Production time: |
1987 until today |
| Number of pieces: |
approx. 650 |
The Aviat Husky is a two-seat light aircraft produced by the US aircraft manufacturer Aviat Aircraft .
history
Christen Industries' development began in 1985. The aircraft is one of the few in its class to be designed using a computer-aided design program. The first flight of the prototype took place in 1986, the FAA type certificate was granted in 1987.
The two pilot seats of the strutted shoulder wing are arranged one behind the other (tandem arrangement). The fuselage of the aircraft consists of a tubular steel frame covered with the very weather-resistant plastic PET . The nose box of the wings is made of all-metal construction with sheet metal planking up to the spar, the rear part of the wing is also covered with PET. The shoulder-wing construction was chosen because of the optimal view, which is important and necessary for the purposes of the husky - especially observation and patrol flights. The machine has a relatively high performance for its low all-up weight, as it is equipped with a 135 kW (180 PS) four-cylinder boxer engine O-360 from Textron-Lycoming and a controllable pitch propeller. This high power-to-weight ratio and the wing area, which is quite large at 17 m², result in optimal short take-off and landing capabilities .
Upon request, the aircraft is also available with floats or snow runners of various sizes as well as hydraulically retractable skis (RF8001), which can be used from deep snow to concrete slopes. The Husky can also be equipped with a tow release for towing banners or gliders .
For the manufacturer Aviat Aircraft, the Husky has become one of the best-selling aircraft in the last twenty years. More than 450 pieces have already found their owners. The aircraft is used for observation, patrol or border control flights, for glider towing, for agricultural flight and many other tasks.
In addition to the US Department of the Interior, customers also include the Kenya Wildlife Service, which uses a total of seven of these machines to protect herds of elephants from poachers from the air.
variants
The Husky is available in different versions: the original A-1, A-1A, A-1B and the A-1C. The "Pup" (English: puppy) only has optional flaps or a controllable pitch propeller and only has the 160 HP Lycoming O-320 engine. The A-1C is also available with a 200 HP injection engine, which, unlike all other Husky engines, is not approved for operation with Mogas.
The main difference between the different versions is the higher take-off weight. Technically, they are identical. Only the horizontal stabilizers of the A-1B with 2200 lbs Mtow and those of the A-1C have an angle of incidence that has been reduced from −0.9 ° to −1.3 °. This achieves a straighter flow towards the elevator at the rear center of gravity. Retrofitting is easy and takes around two hours.
From the A-1B onwards, another hatch was installed to make the cabin trunk easier to reach. However, large pieces of luggage must be loaded through the cabin. The A-1B is also available with an even more powerful 200 HP engine than the MD version. However, this makes the machine heavier and relatively top-heavy.
Depending on the propeller used, tires of the size 600X6, 800X6, 850X6, 26 "goodyear blimp tires and tubeless Tundra tires from 26" to 32 "are permitted on all versions. The best all-round tire is the 850X6.
Technical specifications
| Aviat Husky 1-A1 : | |
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| length | 6.88 m |
| Wingspan | 10.73 m |
| Height estimated | 2.3 m |
| drive | Textron Lycoming O-360 with 180 hp |
| Cruising speed | 225 km / h |
| Minimum speed | 67 km / h |
| crew | 2 pilots |
| Empty weight | 580 kg |
| Max. All-up weight | 816 kg / 1800 lbs |
swell
- ↑ Technical data and optional equipment for the Husky A-1B-160 ( Memento from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) ( PDF ; 359 k B ; 367 kB)
Web links
- Aviat website
- Type certification of the Husky A-1 - EASA-TCDS-A.294 (PDF; 52 kB)