Published: 7/24/1998

The Be-103 was the brightest star of the recent Geledzhik Hydroaviation show held in the first week of July on the Black Sea coast. This light amphibian aircraft was conceived in the early-90s aspart of the conversion programme for the aviation enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex. It is intended for carrying passengers and cargo on short domestic routes in parts of the region lacking a developed network of airfields, but having suitable places like small lakes and rivers for operations. The Be-103 is a low-wing monoplane with extensive wing extensions to the forward fuselage. It has two piston engines, Teledyne Continental TCM IO-360ES4, placed on pylons above the wing, high up on the fuselage. Such a layout protects the engines from water injestion on take-off and landing. The aircraft, flown by a single pilot, can carry five passengers or 400kg of cargo. On-board equipment includes Bendix-King avionics, but, for Russian clients, Beriev is ready to install an indigenous set of instruments. On request, a weather radar and autopilot can also be fitted. The Be-103 production line is set at KnAAPO, Gagarin's Aircraft Production Association of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. For certification trials, the factory assembled two prototypes. The first one, Unit 3001, had its maiden flight on 15 July 1997 from the airport near the city of Taganrog, where the Beriev design bureau is based. It crashed on 18 August 1997, during a training flight before the MAKS'97 air show in Zhukovsky. Investigations revealed that the Beriev test-pilot, Vladimir Ulianov, inadvertently reached a high angle of attack, leading to a deep stall at very low altitude. The test programme was resumed on 17 November 1997, with the first flight of the second prototype, Unit 3002. Beriev test pilot, Vladimir Dubnensky, took the aircraft from water surface for the first time on 24 April 1998. Oficially, the Be-103 has not yet been submitted for certification trials. KnAAPO says that it will be done after completion of the third prototype, scheduled for the end of July. The process of certification to AP-23, similar to FAR-23 airworthiness requirements, is expected to end in the first half of 1999, just before the factory starts series production of the aircraft. KnAAPO and Beriev believe that the market for the Be-103 will exceed 600 units, including 230 outside of the CIS. Marketing studies conducted by the two companies say Russia needs 385 such aircraft, including 30-40 for the Federal Wood Service and 60-80 for the Border Guards Service. Other potential users are the Defence Ministry, Ministry for Emergencies, Militia, tourist companies, small regional airlines, corporate air operators and private pilots. (IN798.5) (VK)

Article ID: 211