Utva Lasta

Utva Lasta "(lasta S1)" is a tandem-seat low-wing trainer slated for production by Utva Aircraft Factory in Pančevo, SFR Yugoslavia. The aircraft is capable of all basic training functions including aerobatics, instrument, tactical and night flying. Although never entering series production, it was intended to replace the Utva 75 in use as basic training aircraft with the SFR Yugoslav Air Force. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

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Lasta in Serbo-Croatian stands for "swallow" (the "Hirundinidae" family).

Development

In view of a domestic requirement and the potential for a strong export market, the Yugoslav government issued a directive to industry for the development of a new and highly maneuverable tandem-seat prop trainer. This was seen as a preferable option for the replacement of Utva 75, than in use by the SFR Yugoslav Air Force in the basic training role.

The design phase was undertaken at the Aviation Technical Institute - Žarkovo (VTI Žarkovo). Utva was selected as the manufacturer, and SOKO of Mostar as the main partner and supplier.

The first prototype (serial #54001) was completed by the spring of 1985. And, following completion of the initial testing phase, the first flight was achieved on September 2, 1985. Even at this stage the Lasta prototype has seen substantial changes; in the choice for a new propeller, changes in the weight and balance and an improved fuel and hydraulic system.

By early 1990s Utva, and her partner, have produced enough parts for the completion of 10 pre-production airframes. At the same time the Yugoslav Air Force has decided to cut the requirement to only 6 examples, and the remaining four were left unassembled and crated. The initial batch airframes received serials in the 54151 - 54156 range.

Due to space and time constraints the Aviation Test Center (Vazduhoplovno Opitni Centar - VOC), in Batajnica, could only accept 2 airframes for testing. These tests have established aircraft suitability and a recommendation for initial production was issued.

With the early break-up of Yugoslavia, and the ensuing civil war, testing and production were abandoned and the airframes preserved at Utva factory in Pančevo.

There were numerous attempts at reviving the ailing project during the late 1990s by the Milosevic government, however, other priorities and unavailability of funds meant that the "new" and updated Lasta 3 ("aka" Lasta 95) did not reach the prototype construction and testing phase.

One of the original Lasta prototypes was destroyed during the NATO bombing of the factory in 1999. As recently as 2006, a fresh effort was taking place at re-starting the project, but beset by financial difficulties and changing requirements, as well as a highly competitive marketplace, did not reach a notable phase.

In late 2007, was announced that the Iraqi government will purchase around 30 Utva Lasta aircraft. There are images confirming that production is in an advanced phase.

pecifications (Utva Lasta prototype)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop
ref=
crew=Two, student and instructor
capacity=
length main= 8.040 m
length alt=
span main= 8.340 m
span alt=
height main= 2.965 m
height alt=
area main=
area alt= 11 m²
airfoil= 6.3
empty weight main= 1,100 kg
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 1,650 kg
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5.D
type of prop= Propeller Hofman HO-V-123-K-V/200 AH
number of props=1
power main= 220 kW
power alt= 300 shp
power original=

max speed main= 560 km/h
max speed alt=
cruise speed main= 340 km/h
cruise speed alt= 180kt
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main= 5,200 m
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= +6/-3
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
* 2 × hardpoints for bombs and rockets
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Utva Aero-3
* Utva Lasta 95 (Lasta 3)

similar aircraft=
* Aérospatiale/Socata TB-30 Epsilon
* Socata TB-31 Omega
* Pilatus PC-7
* Pilatus PC-9
* T-6 Texan II
* KAI KT-1
* Fuji T-3
* Fuji T-7
* PZL-130 Orlik
* Embraer EMB 312 Tucano
* T-34 Mentor
* T-35 Pillán

sequence=

lists=

see also=

References

* http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jawa/jawaa664.html
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

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* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

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* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

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* http://www.airwar.ru/enc/attack/lasta.html
* http://www.avijacijabezgranica.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=7426&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=lasta
* http://www.avijacijabezgranica.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=10080&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=lasta
* http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/01/07/220624/serbias-utva-to-supply-lasta-3-trainers-to-iraq.html
* http://www.naslovi.net/2008-01-13/politika/lasta-leti-za-bagdad/543255
* http://www.avioni.net/showphotos.php?d=8&e=Lasta%20S1
* http://forum.airserbia.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1150&st=0&sk=t&sd=a