Husky | |
---|---|
General information | |
Type | Light utility aircraft |
Manufacturer | Aviat |
Designer | Christen Industries |
Status | Active service |
Number built | 650+ [1] |
History | |
Introduction date | 1987 |
First flight | 1986 |
The Aviat Husky is a tandem two-seat, high-wing, utility light aircraft built by Aviat Aircraft of Afton, Wyoming. [2]
It is the only all-new light aircraft that was designed and entered series production in the United States in the mid-to-late 1980s. [2]
Design work by Christen Industries began in 1985. The aircraft is one of the few in its class designed with the benefit of CAD software. The prototype first flew in 1986, and certification was awarded the following year. [2]
With more than 650 aircraft sold between its introduction and 2008, the Husky was one of the best-selling light aircraft designs of the period. [1]
The Husky features a braced high wing, tandem seating and dual controls. The structure is steel tube frames and Dacron covering over all but the rear of the fuselage, plus metal leading edges on the wings. The high wing was selected for good all-around visibility, making the Husky ideal for observation and patrol roles. Power is supplied by a relatively powerful (for the Husky's weight) 180 hp (134 kW) Textron Lycoming O-360 flat-four piston engine turning a constant speed propeller. In 2015 a reversible MT Propeller was approved under a Supplemental type certificate for better control during floatplane water operations. [3] The Husky's high power-to-weight ratio and low wing loading result in good short-field performance. [2]
Options include floats, skis and banner and glider tow hooks. [2]
The Husky has been used for observation duties, fisheries patrol, pipeline inspection, glider towing, border patrol and other utility missions. Notable users include the US Department of the Interior and Agriculture and the Kenya Wildlife Service, which flies seven on aerial patrols of elephant herds as part of the fight against illegal ivory poaching. [2]
The Husky comes in six versions: [4]
Data from Aviat website [7]
General characteristics
Performance
Avionics
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of two-seat or four-seat light aircraft built by Piper Aircraft and designed for flight training, air taxi and personal use. The PA-28 family of aircraft comprises all-metal, unpressurized, single piston-engined airplanes with low-mounted wings and tricycle landing gear. They have a single door on the right side, which is entered by stepping on the wing.
The Piper PA-24 Comanche is an American single-engine, low-wing, all-metal monoplane of semimonocoque construction with tricycle retractable landing gear and four or six seats. The Comanche was designed and built by Piper Aircraft and first flew on May 24, 1956. Together with the PA-30 and PA-39 Twin Comanches, it made up the core of Piper's lineup until 1972, when the production lines for both aircraft were destroyed in the 1972 Lock Haven flood.
The Pitts Special is a series of light aerobatic biplanes designed by Curtis Pitts. It has accumulated many competition wins since its first flight in 1944. The Pitts biplanes dominated world aerobatic competition in the 1960s and 1970s and, even today, remain potent competition aircraft in the lower categories.
The Beechcraft Musketeer is a family of single-engined, low-wing, light aircraft that was produced by Beechcraft. The line includes the Model 19 Musketeer Sport, the Model 23 Musketeer, Custom and Sundowner, the Model 23-24 Musketeer Super III, the retractable gear Model 24R Sierra and the military CT-134 Musketeer.
The Piper PA-18 Super Cub is a two-seat, single-engine monoplane. Introduced in 1949 by Piper Aircraft, it was developed from the PA-11 Cub Special, and traces its lineage back through the J-3 Cub to the Taylor E-2 Cub of the 1930s. In close to 40 years of production, over 10,000 were built. Super Cubs are commonly found in roles such as bush flying, banner towing and glider towing.
The Auster J/1U Workmaster is a late 1950s British single-engined single-seat high-wing agricultural monoplane built by Auster Aircraft Limited at Rearsby, Leicestershire. Of traditional high-wing layout, it carries 90 gallons of spray fluid in a tank beside the pilot, an extra seat being provided for a passenger. The Lycoming 0-360-A engine of 180 h.p. driving a McCauley v.p. propeller giving it ample power; and slotted ailerons and balanced tail controls providing good handling. Oversize tyres were fitted. Take-off run at 2,550 lb gross weight and cruising speed at 65 per cent power are respectively 180 yd and 88 miles per hour (142 km/h). Britten-Norman spray gear was provided by Crop Culture, and this company ordered nine Workmasters.
The Glasair Sportsman 2+2 is a single-engine, high wing, strut-braced, four seat kit aircraft, developed by the Glasair Aviation company.
The Murphy Elite is a Canadian light aircraft that was designed and is produced by Murphy Aircraft of Chilliwack, British Columbia. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Zenair Zodiac CH 640 is a Canadian light aircraft that was designed by Chris Heintz and is produced by Zenair in the form of a kit for amateur construction.
The Lucas L8, also called the L 8 and L-8, is a French amateur-built aircraft that was designed by Emile Lucas of Lagny-le-Sec. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction.
The Peña Bilouis is a French aerobatic amateur-built aircraft that was designed by the competitive aerobatic pilot Louis Peña of Dax, Landes and made available in the form of plans for amateur construction.
The Peña Dahu, named for the legendary French mountain animal, is a French amateur-built aircraft that was designed by Louis Peña of Dax, Landes and made available in the form of plans for amateur construction.
The Backcountry Super Cubs Mackey SQ2 is an American STOL amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Backcountry Super Cubs of Douglas, Wyoming. The aircraft is based upon the design of the Piper PA-18 Super Cub and is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Backcountry Super Cubs Supercruiser is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Backcountry Super Cubs of Douglas, Wyoming. The aircraft is based upon the design of the Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser and is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Backcountry Super Cubs Super Cub, also referred to as the Supercub replica, is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Backcountry Super Cubs of Douglas, Wyoming. The aircraft is based on the design of the Piper PA-18 Super Cub and is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The CubCrafters Carbon Cub EX is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Cub Crafters of Yakima, Washington. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Dakota Cub Super 18 is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Dakota Cub of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Ultimate 10-200 is a Canadian homebuilt aerobatic biplane that was designed produced by Streamline Welding of Hamilton, Ontario, introduced in the 1990s. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit or in the form of plans for amateur construction.
The Brutsche Freedom 210 STOL was a proposed American STOL homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Neal H. Brutsche and intended to be produced by Brutsche Aircraft Corporation of Salt Lake City, Utah, introduced in the mid-1990s. The aircraft was planned to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The CubCrafters CC19 XCub is an American light aircraft, designed and produced by Cub Crafters of Yakima, Washington, introduced in June 2016. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.