Beriev Be-103

infobox Aircraft
name = Be-103 Snipe
type = Amphibian
manufacturer = KnAAPO cite web|url=http://www.beriev-usa.com/main/aopa_pilot_beriev.pdf|title="From Russia with love", "AOPA Pilot", October 2004|work=PDF file available at beriev-usa.com|accessdate=2007-01-06|format=PDF]



caption =
designer = Beriev
first flight = 15 July 1997
introduced = 2003
retired =
produced =
number built =
status = In production
unit cost = US$795,000
variants with their own articles =
primary user =
more users = The Beriev Be-103 is a seaplane designed by the Beriev Aircraft Company. Intended for autonomous operation as an amphibian in the unmarked areas of Russia's far north and Siberia, the Be-103 was designed for short-haul routes in regions that have rivers, lakes and streams, but are otherwise inaccessible.

Design and development

The Be-103 is a low wing monoplane, making use of the modified wing roots as water-displacing sponsons. It features an all-moving slab tail and retractable tricycle landing gear for land operations. Its hallmark and most distinguishing design feature is the water-displacing wing, an unusual feature for a seaplane, with three aquaplaning implements (planing step, port and starboard wing trailing edges) which substantially enhance the aircraft's on-the-water stability and seaworthiness.

The Be-103 features include an advanced, blended wing, swept at 22°, with convert|11|ft|m|sing=on-long fixed leading edge slats, trailing-link main landing gear, and three-bladed MT-12 reverse pitch propellers. Fuel is stored in the wet wings. The aircraft is built from aluminum-lithium alloy with titanium used in high-stress areas. A 30-parameter, five-hour flight data recorder, engine fire-detection systems and an ice detector are also standard.

When flying solo, ballast must be placed near the right front seat due to center of gravity issues.

Certification

The Be-103 received its Federal Aviation Administration type certification on 21 July 2003 at the EAA AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where the aircraft had arrived via An-124 airlift. The type certificate was handed over by the FAA's co-chairman of regulations and certification, Nicholas Sabatini. The aircraft is also certified in Brazil, the People's Republic of China and Russia.

On 1 August 2003, FAA Director Marion Blakey visited the Be-103's display area at the exhibition in order to familiarize herself personally with the aircraft and to meet representatives of the developer, manufacturer and Air Register.

The obtaining of FAA certification allows official sales of the Be-103 to begin in the USA and Canada. After the exhibition, the first production Be-103 aircraft were officially handed over to its American dealer, Kent Linn of Sky Manor Airport in Pittstown, New Jersey. To date, three aircraft are registered in the USA and situated at the customer's base in New Jersey awaiting resale. Domestic and international market demands (until 2015) are estimated at 520 and 250-330 units, respectively.Fact|date=February 2007

The Be-103 "Snipe" amphibious aircraft is the first Russian certified in the "Normal category USA" and remains the only new twin-engine amphibian available for purchase today.

Chinese order

In 2004, China signed a US$20mil contract with KnAAPO for the delivery of 20 Be-103 aircraft. [Vostok Media "fide" [http://www.beriev-usa.com/main/index.html Beriev USA] ]

Variants

;Be-103: Twin-engine light utility amphibian aircraft, seating one pilot and five passengers.;SA-20P: Eight-seat single-engined version for the Russian market.

pecifications

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=AOPA Pilot article (PDF file) [http://www.beriev-usa.com/main/aopa_pilot_beriev.pdf]

crew= two
capacity= 5 passengers
length main= 34 ft 11 in
length alt= 10.7 m
span main= 41 ft 9 in
span alt= 12.5 m
height main= 12 ft 4 in
height alt= 3.7 m
area main= 270.2 ft²
area alt=25.1 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 3,810 lb
empty weight alt=1,730 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main= 1,201 lb
useful load alt=545 kg
max takeoff weight main= 5,011 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 2,270 kg
more general=

Max zero-fuel weight: 4,888 lb (2,217 kg)
engine (prop)= Teledyne Continental IO-360ES4
type of prop= fuel-injected opposed piston engines
number of props= 2
power main= 210 hp
power alt= 157 kW
power original=
max speed main= 130 knots
max speed alt=150 mph, 240 km/h
cruise speed main= 127 knots
cruise speed alt=145 mph, 245 km/h
never exceed speed main= 130 knots
never exceed speed alt=150 mph, 235 km/h
stall speed main= 60 knots
stall speed alt=70 mph, 110 km/h
range main= 460 nm
range alt=525 mi, 845 km
ceiling main= 16,400 ft
ceiling alt=5,000 m
climb rate main= 984 fpm
climb rate alt=
loading main= 18.5 lb/ft²
loading alt=90.3 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 11.9 lb/hp
power/mass alt=7.2 kg/kW
more performance=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
*Lake Renegade
sequence=
lists=
*List of seaplanes
see also=

References

*G.M.Beriev Taganrog Aviation Scientific Engineering Complex Press-release No.8, 24 April 1998.
* [http://www.beriev-usa.com/main/index.html Beriev USA]
* [http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/e3d77ae20ab7362d86256d74005d57d2/$FILE/A55CE.pdf FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet A55CE]