For several decades, the issue of creating a replacement for the An-2 multipurpose aircraft, long out of production and outdated, has been discussed. Several different projects have been proposed, but none of them has yet progressed beyond flight tests. Right now, another aircraft of this class is being developed, on which great hopes are pinned. The first experimental LMS-901 "Baikal" should make its first flight this year, and the series is expected to start in a few years.
Choice problems
The last unsuccessful attempt to create a replacement for the An-2 took place only a few years ago. For a long time, the Siberian Research Institute of Aviation named after V. I. S. A. Chaplygin (SibNIA) developed various options for remotorization and radical modernization of the old aircraft. The last in this series was the TVS-2DTS project, created with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Great hopes were pinned on TVS-2DTS, plans were drawn up to launch the series. However, in the summer of 2019, the Ministry of Industry and Trade abandoned this project. The real plane proved to be overly heavy and used an unacceptably large number of imported components. The project used a foreign engine, electronics and composites.
A new competition was launched for the development of a light multipurpose aircraft according to the updated terms of reference. In the fall of 2019, Baikal-Engineering LLC, a subsidiary of the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA), was chosen as the winner. The project is supported by the Branch Special Design Bureau of Experimental Aircraft Construction of the Moscow Aviation Institute (OSKBES MAI) and other branch institutes. The new project received the LMS-901 index and the name "Baikal". Almost immediately, the main technical features of the aircraft and the work plan were revealed.
The development organization promised to prepare design documentation and build a prototype for ground tests within a year, and during 2021 they planned to start full-fledged flight tests. In the future, it was reported about the implementation of various works, up to testing the model "Baikal" in a wind tunnel. In April, photos were published from the construction of an experimental aircraft at the OSKBES MAI site. By the beginning of May, the production of the airframe was completed.
A few days ago, the "Expert" edition published the statements of the chief designer Vadim Demin. He confirmed his intention to carry out the first flight by the end of the year. In addition, a prototype aircraft will be shown at the MAKS-2021 salon.
Updated look
SibNIA projects provided for the preservation of at least the general architecture of the An-2 with the replacement of the engine and some systems. The new project LMS-901 offers other solutions to obtain the required characteristics and simplify the design. "Baikal" is being built according to the high-wing strut-braced plan and receives a turboprop engine. The main structural elements are made of aluminum. Individual parts that are not subject to high loads will be made composite. It was reported that a twin-engine scheme was previously considered, but it was abandoned for economic reasons.
LMS-901 will receive a fuselage of a traditional layout with a nose-mounted engine, behind which the cockpit is located. The main part of the internal volumes is given under a cabin for 9 passengers or cargo weighing up to 2 tons. Boarding and loading will be done through the port door. The developers note that the "Baikal" differs from the An-2 in a reduced cross-section of the fuselage. At the cost of some reduction in volume, it was possible to obtain a favorable increase in aerodynamic and flight performance.
For "Baikal" a straight wing with a span of 16.5 m and an aspect ratio of 8.98 was developed. The wing was lightened and simplified due to the abandonment of the power center section: the problem of strength is solved using a brace with an aerodynamic profile. By optimizing the aerodynamics of the wing and abandoning the second plane of the LMS-901, it was possible to reduce the weight of the airframe, at least without any loss in other characteristics.
Prototypes and production aircraft of the first batches will be equipped with a General Electric H80-200 800 hp turboprop engine. with a four-bladed Hartzell propeller. In the future, the propeller group will be converted to domestic components. The Russian VK-800S engine and the corresponding propeller will be introduced into it. The remotorization is planned for 2023-24, and its implementation directly depends on the success of engine building.
The aircraft instrumentation will include all the necessary navigation, communication, etc. Its composition will be mixed, using imported and domestic products. In the future, restructuring with import substitution is possible.
LMS-901 must be operated in different conditions, incl. on unpaved airfields. A three-point landing gear with a tail wheel has been developed for it. In the basic configuration, the main struts will receive wheels with a diameter of 720 mm for soils with a bearing capacity of 4 kg / cm 2. It also provides for the installation of 880-mm wheels for soil with a capacity of 3.5 kg / cm 2. The chassis is designed for skis and floats.
The length of the finished "Baikal" will exceed 12, 2 m with a wingspan of more than 16, 5 m. The parking height is 3, 7 m. The weight of the empty aircraft is approx. 2 tons. The maximum take-off weight is 4.8 tons. The calculated take-off and mileage are 220 and 190 m at a landing speed of 95 km / h. Maximum speed - 300 km / h; maximum range - 3 thousand km.
In accordance with the terms of reference of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the LMS-901 aircraft in the series should cost no more than 120 million rubles in 2020 prices. The cost of a flight hour is limited to 30 thousand rubles. It is reported that the calculated economic indicators are fully consistent with the customer's assignment, and this gives significant advantages over foreign equipment of the same class. "Baikal" turns out to be 30-50 percent. cheaper than similar imported aircraft, and the cost of a flight hour is at least twice as low.
Needs and opportunities
In the coming years, "Baikal-Engineering" and UZGA plan to carry out the necessary tests and start serial production of new aircraft. The main goal of these processes is to saturate civil aviation with light multi-purpose vehicles, with the help of which it will be possible to restore the mass of previously existing routes and increase transport connectivity in the regions.
For a complete solution of such tasks, hundreds of aircraft of the new "Baikal" type are needed. The created production capacities will make it possible to produce 30-50 such aircraft annually. At the same time, the actual pace of construction and implementation on the lines will depend on the carrier companies - their needs and capabilities.
The series is planned to be launched after receiving orders for 100 aircraft. There are already several preliminary agreements for 10 cars for a number of airlines. Carriers from the northern regions and the Far East took an interest in Baikal. New pre-orders are now expected. The prototype aircraft is planned to be shown at the future MAKS-2021 show, where it should attract the attention of new customers.
Preparing production, UZGA and "Baikal-Engineering" are faced with organizational problems. In a recent interview for Expert, V. Demin said that a limited amount of materials is needed for the construction of light aircraft, and not all suppliers are ready to fulfill such orders. To solve such problems, the project had to be finalized taking into account the specifics of supplies and production. In combination with other characteristic difficulties of the past year, this led to a shift in the terms of work by 3.5 months.
Near future
The LMS-901 "Baikal" project has gone through a number of stages, and right now the construction of the first aircraft for flight tests is underway. In the coming months, it will be shown at the MAKS-2021 salon, and then the first flight will take place. A public demonstration and successful testing will surely attract the attention of new potential customers, and then more contracts should be expected.
Thus, the near future of the Baikal project is generally conducive to optimism. Customers and developers took into account the experience of previous projects and formed an optimal look that meets all current requirements and has a reserve for subsequent modernization. There is every reason to believe that the tasks for the near future will be successfully completed, and the restoration of the regional fleet of light multipurpose aircraft will begin in the medium term.
