Photograph:
An artist’s impression of the completed Gischus Landseair (Cobra Aviation)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Light touring and sport amphibian
Power Plant:
One 101 kw (135 hp) Subaru EA 82 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- [Estimated]
- Wingspan: 10.05 m (33 ft)
- Length: 6.09 m (20 ft)
- Cabin width: 112 cm (44 in)
- Wing area: 15.88 m² (171 sq ft)
- Cruising speed: 194 km/h (121 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 244 m/min (800 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 100 litres (22 Imp gals)
- Take-off run on water: 213 m (700 ft)
- Landing run on water: 244 m (800 ft)
- Empty weight: 350 kg (772 lb)
- Loaded weight: 620 kg (1,367 lb)
History:
The Landseair was designed by Martin Gischus as a light touring and sport amphibian, which could be built in kit form and was aimed at both the ultralight and general aviation markets. In the former it was able to seat two and could be fitted with a variety of engines, including the 101 kw (135 hp) Subaru GA-82, the 115 hp Rotax 914 turbo, or the 90 kw (120 hp) Jabiru 3300 six-cylinder unit. In the general aviation category it could operate with three to four persons, depending on whether a retractable undercarriage was fitted, the engine fitted, and whether it operated solely as a flying boat.
Design parameters included keeping drag to a minimum, and using a retractable undercarriage and folding floats that retracted to form wingtips, giving extra lift and reducing drag. Initial announcements stated the aircraft was all-composite and the first aircraft was scheduled to fly in late 2003, enter production in 2004 at the Cobra Aviation facility, and be available in kit form from 2006. However, by early 2018 no aircraft was known to have been completed.