Seawind 300C

"This article is about the Seawind aircraft." otheruses|Seawind

infobox Aircraft
name=
type=Amphibian


manufacturer = Seawind LLC



caption =
designer =
first flight = 1993
introduction =
retired =
status = Seawind 300CSeawind 3000 kits - production completed
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = From kits: about 75Prototypes: 2

Certified Aircraft: none
unit cost = ~$350,000
developed from = Seawind 3000
developed from =
variants with their own articles =

The Seawinds are a family of composite, four-seat, amphibian airplanes that all feature a single tail-mounted engine.

The Seawind line consists of the kit-built Seawind 2000 and Seawind 3000 that were marketed by SNA Inc. of Kimberton, Pennsylvania, USA and the Seawind 300C that was developed by Seawind LLC, also of Kimberton, Pennsylvania. The Seawind 2000 was introduced in 1993.

The Seawind 300C was intended to be the certified production version of the kit-built Seawind 3000. The company indicated that certification flight testing would continue after the crash of the prototype on August 16, 2007, but this has not occurred. cite web|url = http://www.seawind.biz|title = Seawind|accessdate = 2008-06-23|last = Seawind LLC |authorlink = |year = 2008|month = April]

Production of Seawind 2000 and 3000 kits was completed in 2004 to concentrate on certification of the 300C and the kits are no longer available [ [http://www.seawindsna.com/index.html Seawind SNA website accessed 22 September 2007] ]

Design

The Seawind is most distinctive for its engine pod, which juts forward from the leading edge of the very large vertical fin. The design is also noted for its long, low profile and sleek curves made practical by composite construction.

The Seawind is relatively quiet for the crew, primarily because the engine is above and behind the cabin and the exhaust is routed up and back. Some amphibian aircraft use a pusher propeller arrangement, which causes the exhaust to pass through the propeller plane which can increase noise. The Seawind uses a conventional tractor propeller arrangement that avoids this issue. The relatively large propeller also keeps propeller speed below 2500 rpm to further reduce noise.

The cabin is very wide for an airplane of this type and seats 4 adults. A factory option replaces the aft bucket seats with a bench to provide seating for 3 children. The wide cabin also supports a large instrument panel, allowing installation of virtually any avionics.

There are three cargo compartments: under the nose deck ahead of the canopy, behind the rear seats in the cabin, and the tailcone.

The wing uses a constant-chord NASA NLF airfoil drooped at the ends. The wingtips provide some endplate effect to increase ground effect and reduce induced drag. They also serve as wingtip floats. The wing has a reflexed (negative angle of attack) trailing edge to reduce drag at cruise.

Retractable landing gear is hinged to the side of hull and folds up into the wing for flight and water operations.

An electric/hydraulic powerpack provides hydraulic power for the flaps, landing gear and optional nose-wheel steering. The hydraulic pack and battery are located in the nose compartment.

Fuel is gravity fed from the main tanks to a standpipe to supply the engine. Optional auxiliary tanks in the wing tips have electric pumps to transfer fuel to the main tanks. Fuel can also be pumped from side to side to correct any lateral imbalance.

Steering on land is provided by differential braking. Hydraulic nose-wheel steering is available as an option. A retractable water rudder is slaved to the air rudder for water operation.

Most reviewers evaluate the Seawind as a stable platform.Fact|date=September 2007 Directional stability is positive due to the large vertical fin. Like many aircraft, the Seawind exhibits mild pitch instability (phugoid) with a period of ~45 secondsFact|date=September 2007.

Development

The Seawind was originally designed in the early 1980s in Canada. Seawind kits were developed and sold by SNA Inc. of Kimberton, Pennsylvania, USA. Seawind LLC was formed to certify the Seawind design as a complete aircraft and market it as the Seawind 300C. The Seawind 300C factory was to be located in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada.

Seawind 2000

The Seawind 2000 was the first production kit prototype, powered by a 200 hp Lycoming engine. Although top and cruise speeds were respectable, SNA felt that the aircraft needed more power [ [http://www.seawind.biz/3000.html Seawind 300C - Sport Pilot ] ] . A 300 hp engine was installed, as well as several minor modifications, to create the Seawind 3000.

Seawind 3000

In addition to the larger engine, the Seawind 3000 had minor changes to the hull and step configuration. The Seawind 2000 canopy was hinged to allow opening from either side while the 3000 was hinged to open at the back.

The Seawind 3000 first flew in late March 1993. The first prototype crashed during testing on 3 April 1993 with test pilot Bob Mills and SNA president Dick Silva onboard. After several routine tests, they attempted to simulate an engine-out situation reducing the engine power and setting the prop pitch to high. However, due to a malfunction, the propeller went into flat (or possibly reverse) pitch. This caused excessive drag and prevented the propeller from windmilling. The crew attempted to reach the runway but, due to the high descent rate and lack of power, they landed in rough terrain short of the runway at approximately 80 mph, hitting several boulders on two sides of an embankment. The crash forces were estimated to be in excess of 15Gs. Although the aircraft suffered extensive damage, both crew suffered only muscle strains. The crash also showed the strength of the composite structure and, in particular, the vertical fin/engine pylon arrangement. Some skeptics has felt this was a potential weak point in the Seawind design [ [http://www.seawind.biz/3000.html Seawind 300C - Sport Pilot ] ] , although the pylon is capable of 15G vertical and 20G forward loading, more than twice the certification requirement.

Another prototype was built with a non-reversible constant speed propeller and testing resumed in December 1993.

SNA estimated that it would take the average builder 2000 hours to complete a Seawind 3000 kit. A "Kwick Kit" option was also available, which provided some of the major components pre-assembled to reduce the build time to approximately 1500 hours.

A standard kit was $41,900 USD in 1994. A Kwick Kit cost an extra $9,800 USD. The cost for the basic kit had risen to $51,200 USD in 1999. SNA estimated that it would cost $40,000-65,000 USD for the necessary components not included with the kit. A fully assembled Seawind kit with instruments typically cost over $200,000 USD.

The first customer built Seawind 3000 was completed in mid 1994.

Seawind 300C

The Seawind 300C was developed from the 3000 and incorporated many changes needed to conform to the Canadian CAR 523 standards. Flight testing was commenced in Canada as the aircraft was intended to be manufactured at the plant at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Certification in the USA under FAR 23 was to have followed Canadian certification.

The 300C was undergoing certification testing when the prototype crashed near Winnipeg, Manitoba, on August 16, 2007 killing test pilot Glenn Ralph Holmes. [ [http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Pilot_Killed_Seawind_Prototype_Lost_195948-1.html AvWeb Article August 19, 2007 "Pilot Killed, Seawind Prototype Lost" By Russ Niles, Contributing Editor accessed 22 September 2007] ] At the time of the accident, the company indicated it would shut down, but in October 2007 stated that test flying would continue once additional personal were hired and additional funding secured. [ [http://www.seawind.biz/Seawind%20Flyer%20Fall%202007.pdf Seawind's Crash Report By Dick Silva accessed 21 October 2007] ] Since that time test flying has not resumed.

In July 2008 the company announced that it is still pursuing certification and commencement of production, a task it has stated will require USD$4 million. The company is engaged in efforts to raise those funds. cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/AnotherChanceForSeawindAmphibian_198372-1.html|title = Another Chance For Seawind Amphibian?|accessdate = 2008-07-24|last = Grady|first = Mary|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = July]

In September 2008 the company announced that it had raised $1.2 million and requires just $800,000 to recall employees to work. The company has two Seawind prototypes available which could be used to complete the certification flight test program. cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/SeawindSagaUpdate_RevivalCloseBut_TimeIsOurEnemy_198760-1.html|title = Seawind Saga Update - Revival Close, But "Time Is Our Enemy"|accessdate = 2008-10-11|last = Grady|first = Mary|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = September]

Regarding the timeline to restart the flight testing and production, company president Dick Silva stated in September 2008, "There is a limit to how long we can go without resuming the project. Time is our enemy."

Remaining Seawinds

In September 2007 there were 13 Seawind 2000 and 3000 amateur-builts registered in Canada [ [http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/activepages/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/menu.asp Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register accessed 22 September 2007] ] and 58 in the USA. [ [http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/acftref_inquiry.asp FAA REGISTRY - Aircraft Registration Inquiry accessed 22 September 2007] ] Due to kits purchased some time ago being completed, this number is expected to increase over the next few years, minus any aircraft destroyed in accidents.

Specifications (300C)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Seawind website [cite web
url=http://www.seawind.biz/spec.html
title=Seawind LLC
last=
first=
date=
accessdate=2007-07-16
work=
publisher=]
crew=1 pilot
capacity=3 adult passengers or 1 adult passenger and 3 children
length main=27 ft 2 in
length alt=8.28 m
span main=35 ft 0 in
span alt=10.67 m
height main=10 ft 2 in
height alt=3.10 m
area main=163 ft²
area alt=15.14 m²
airfoil=NLF(1)-0215(F)
empty weight main=2300 lb
empty weight alt=1043 kg
loaded weight main= lb
loaded weight alt= kg
useful load main=1100 lb
useful load alt=499 kg
max takeoff weight main=3400 lb
max takeoff weight alt=1542 kg
more general=

engine (prop)=Continental IO-550-N
type of prop=Flat 6
number of props=1
power main=310 hp
power alt=231 kW
propeller or rotor?=propeller
propellers=1, McCauley 3-blade Constant Speed
propeller diameter main=76 in
propeller diameter alt=1.93 m
max speed main=174 knots
max speed alt=200 mph, 322 km/h
max speed more=at sea level
cruise speed main=147 knots
cruise speed alt=169 mph, 272 km/h
cruise speed more=at 55% power at 8,000 ft (2438 m)
never exceed speed main= knots
never exceed speed alt= mph, km/h
stall speed main=63 knots
stall speed alt=72 mph, 116 km/h
stall speed more=in clean configuration
range main=905 nm
range alt=1040 mi, 1674 km
range more=with main tanks
ceiling main=18,000 ft
ceiling alt=5486 m
climb rate main=1250 ft/min
climb rate alt=6.35 m/s
loading main=20.8 lb/ft²
loading alt=102 kg/m²
power/mass main=.091 hp/lb
power/mass alt=150 W/kg
more performance=
avionics=

Citations

References

cite journal
last = Torson
first = D. "Eddie"
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Flying The Seawind 3000
journal = Sport Pilot Magazine
volume =
issue =
pages =
date = August 1994
url = http://www.seawind.biz/3000.html
doi =
id =
accessdate = 2007-07-17
cite journal
last = Lert
first = Peter
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Of Wind And Water
journal = Air Progress Magazine
volume =
issue =
pages = 36–43
date = July 1994
url = http://www.seawind.biz/air-progress.htm
doi =
id =
accessdate = 2007-07-17
cite journal
last = Boog
first = Geoffrey
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Sunseeker
journal = Flyer
volume =
issue =
pages = 28–31
date = August 1999
url = http://www.seawind.biz/flyer.htm
doi =
id =
accessdate = 2007-07-17

External links

* [http://www.seawindsna.com/index.html Seawind SNA - the former manufacturer of the Seawind kits]
* [http://www.seawind.biz Seawind LLC - the manufacturer of the Seawind 300C]

ee also

aircontent
related=Seawind 2000, Seawind 3000

similar aircraft=

sequence=

lists=

see also=