The LA-8 has its origin with the Chaika L-6, first flown in 2000, and its immediate successor the L-6M, promoted by AeroVolga and first flown in 2001. Both of these were twin engine, V-tailed amphibious aircraft, the latter differing in its hull design, undercarriage and maximum take-off weight. Chaika developed the L-6M into the L-4 and AeroVolga developed it into the LA-8. These are very different designs: the LA-8 has a T-tail and is some 25% longer than the L-4, with tricycle gear.[1][2]
The LA-8 is largely built from plastic foam and PVC filled glass fibre sandwich. Its wing is divided into watertight compartments. The amphibian is a cantileverhigh-wing monoplane with straight tapered wings; most of the sweep is on the trailing edge. The prototype originally had downturned wing tips but these were replaced with extended upturned tips by 2006 and by early 2011 a later aircraft had winglets which extended both above and below the tips. There is no dihedral. Its twin engines are placed above and ahead of the wing leading edge, as close to the centre-line as the clearance between propeller and fuselage allows. The prototype was powered by two LOM M337AK air-cooled six-cylinder supercharged inverted inline engines. Two engine types have been fitted to production aircraft: the LA-8C models have more powerful 185 kW (248 hp) LOM M337Cs and the LA-8L variants 175 kW (235 hp) Lycoming IO-540 air-cooled flat-sixes.[2]
The two-step hull is also subdivided into watertight compartments. Two fixed underwing stepped floats at about 75% span stabilize the aircraft on water. The cabin is under the wing, with two long continuous transparencies, one on each side plus two shorter panels in the main entry hatch in the rear roof behind the trailing edge. There is seating for eight, including one or two pilots. The LA-8's T-tail has a slightly tapered, straight-edged, swept fin with a sub-fin extension; both the rudder and the single piece, externally mass balancedelevator have electrically actuated trim tabs.[2]
The LA-8 has a tricycle undercarriage with mainwheels retracting into the fuselage sides and the nosewheel retracting rearwards. A ballistic parachute is an option.[2]
The LA-8 first prototype flew for the first time on 20 November 2004. The first production aircraft flew in August 2006 and the first Lycoming powered machine was completed in mid-2010.[2]
By mid-2012 six LA-8s had been produced for customers as well as the three prototypes. Two were with Russian operators, one flying around Lake Baikal and the other on Lake Seliger. Two went to an operator in Montenegro. By 2023, 22 had been delivered.[3]
^Jane's (2013) warns that the manufacturer has, in 2013, given contradicting dimensions and weights, so the following data "should be regarded with suspicion." In addition, all performance figures are estimates.
