LAK-12 explained

The LAK-12 is a Lithuanian mid-wing, single-seat, FAI Open Class glider that was designed and produced by Lietuviškos Aviacinės Konstrukcijos (LAK) (English: Lithuanian Aircraft Builders) in Lithuania and later by Sportine Aviacija and Sport Aviation USSR.[1] [2]

Design and development

The LAK-12 was designed in the 1980s as an open class racer.

The aircraft is made from fibreglass, foam and carbon fibre. Its 20.421NaN1 span foam-core wing employs a Wortmann FX67-K-170 airfoil at the wing root, transitioning to a FX67- K-150 section at the wing tip. The wings feature both double-panel upper surface air brakes and flaps that can be set to -7°, -4°, 0°, +5°, +11° and +15°. Water ballast is 1900NaN0 held in the wing leading edges and dumped through a centre-fuselage valve. The landing gear is a single retractable monowheel suspended by an oil/nitrogen oleo, plus a tailskid. The cockpit canopy is of one-piece and forward hinged.[3]

Operational history

According to Sportine Aviacija, the current type certificate holder, 253 were manufactured over a twenty-five year production run.[4]

In April 2018 there were 17 LAK-12s listed on the United States Federal Aviation Administration registry, all single-place and certified in the Experimental - Racing/Exhibition category and three registered with Transport Canada in the Limited Class.[5]

Variants

LAK-12 Lietuva: 20.421NaN1 span open-class sailplane.
  • LAK-12 Lietuva 2R:Two-seat version of the LAK-12 with tandem cockpit in an extended fuselage.
  • LAK-12E: Experimental 25.51NaN1 span variant built in 1988 and tested in 1988 and 1989, incorporating boundary control via blowholes on the lower surface. Only one produced.[6]

    • Aircraft on display

    The sole LAK-12E currently hangs from the ceiling of the Lithuanian Aviation Museum in Kaunas.[7]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: LAK-12 Sportina Aviacija. 26 August 2011. Activate Media. 2006. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20020503071719/http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=196. 3 May 2002.
    2. Web site: Make / Model Inquiry Results. Federal Aviation Administration. 10 April 2018. 10 April 2018.
    3. Web site: The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage. 1 August 2011. Lednicer. David. 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100420012244/http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html. 20 April 2010. dead.
    4. Web site: We are. LAK. April 10, 2018.
    5. Web site: Canadian Civil Aircraft Register . 9 May 2017 . . 9 May 2017 .
    6. Web site: Sklandytuvas LAK-12E. Lithuanian Aviation Museum. 10 April 2018.
    7. Web site: Sklandytuvas LAK-12E. Lithuanian Aviation Museum. 10 April 2018.

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