Chaika L-4

{{Short description|2000s Russian twin engine amphibious aircraft}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = | logo = | logo_size = | image = Chaika L-42.jpg | alt = | caption = Chaika L-42 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Twin engine [[amphibious aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Russia]] | manufacturer = Chaika (Seagull Experimental Design Bureau), [[Samara, Russia|Samara]] | design_group = | designer = G. Annenkov | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = Private operators | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 14 by mid-2008. all L-6 based aircraft | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = June 2005 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Chaika L-4''' (чайка, {{langx|en|gull}}) is a twin engine [[amphibious aircraft]], designed and built in Russia in the 2000s. It has sold in small numbers and remains in production.

==Design and development==

Several companies and groups have developed a series of designs which began at an offshoot of the Trod{{cn|date=June 2019}} [[Kuznetsov Design Bureau|Kuznetsov]] aircraft engine plant in [[Samara, Russia|Samara]]. Beginning with the L-3, they differ in size and engine type but all are twin engine amphibians with a characteristic V tail. The L-4 is a direct development of the L-6M, promoted by AeroVolga. Its design began in August 2004.<ref name=JAWA12/>

All L-4 variants have the same layout and all are largely built of [[composite material]]s. They are [[monoplane#Types|high-wing monoplanes]] with twin engines mounted close to the [[fuselage]], on top of the wing. The wings have straight taper on both edges and almost square [[wing tip|tips]]. The L-4 has a pair of [[flap (aircraft)|flaps]] on each wing. Its hull has two [[step (hull)|steps]] and there are small winglets at [[water level]] just aft of the [[trailing edge]]. The cabin extends from below the [[leading edge]] rearwards to the winglets. Fixed [[Float (nautical)|floats]] under the wings stabilize the L-4 on water; it is operable with waves to 400 mm (15 in) high. The most unusual feature of the L-4 is the [[empennage]] arrangement: it has twin [[fin]]s, mounted on the fuselage and extended forward with long, curved dorsal fillets, separated at the base by the full fuselage width and leaning slightly outwards. The fins carry conventional [[rudder]]s and the single [[tailplane]] is mounted upon the fin tips, extending well beyond them. Tailplane and single piece [[elevator (aircraft)|elevator]] together are [[trapezoidal]]; there is a [[trim tab]] at the centre of the elevator. The reason for the design is that the spine serves as a walkway to access the plane from behind, when moored at shore. The L-4 has a [[conventional undercarriage]] for land use, all three wheels and the [[water rudder]] being retractable.<ref name=JAWA12/>

The first flight of the L-4 was in June 2005. The most recent variant, the more powerful L-44 flew in 2009.<ref name=JAWA12/>

==Operational history== By mid-2008 sales, probably including L-6s from AeroVolga, had reached 14.

==Variants== ;L-4: Original design, no longer produced. ;L-42: Improved, with [[Rotax 912]] ULS [[flat four]] 73.3 kW (98.6 hp) engines. ;L-42M: Further improvements: weight savings, winglets, crew ergonomics. Marketed by Aviatech1.com. ;L-44: More powerful [[Rotax 914]] engines, as detailed below. First flown 2009. ;L-65: Improved with [[Rotax 915 iS]] engines. <ref name=SeaBearWebsite/>

== Specifications (Chaika L-44) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2012/13<ref name=JAWA12/> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|perfhide=

|avionics= }}

{{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==References== {{commons category}} <references>

<ref name=JAWA12>{{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft : development & production : 2012-13|last= Jackson |first= Paul A. |year=2012|publisher=IHS Global|isbn=978-0-7106-3000-1 |page=514}}</ref> <ref name=SeaBearWebsite>{{cite web|url=http://www.seabearaircraft.com/aircraft/ |title=AIRCRAFT — SeaBear Aircraft |accessdate=16 April 2023}}</ref>

</references>  ==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.aviakb.ru/product/index_eng.html}} * [http://www.seabearaircraft.com/ English website]

[[Category:Amphibious aircraft]] [[Category:2000s Russian aircraft]]