Photograph:
ATOL Avion 650 LSA Amphibian OH-XNA during test flying in Finland (ATOL Avion)
Country of origin:
Finland
Description:
Two-seat light sport amphibian
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912iS four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
- Length: 7.45 m (24 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 13.47 m² (145 sq ft)
- Cruising speed: 171 km/h (106 mph)
- Stalling speed: 74 km/h (46 mph)
- Fuel capacity: 129 litres (28 Imp gals)
- Take-off distance on water over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 450 m (1,475 ft)
- Range at 160 km/h (99 mph): 910 km (566 miles)
- Range at 140 km/h (87 mph): 1,050 km (653 miles)
- Max endurance: 9 hours
- Empty weight: 375 kg (826 lb)
- Useful load: 272 kg (600 lb)
- Payload with full fuel: 181 kg (400 lb)
- Loaded weight: 649 kg (1,430 lb)
History:
The ATOL Avion series of light amphibians was designed by Markku Koivurova in Finland and was initially produced by Marteno Ky, production later being taken over by ATOL Avion Ltd. The prototype was flown for the first time at Rovaniemi on 23 August 1988 and test flying took place at Norajarvi. However, the prototype was lost in a storm in 1989. Parts of it were able to be used in the construction of a second prototype, this flying for the first time on 12 October 1990.
The company Martekno Finland Ltd then delivered five aircraft in kit form. ATOL Avion was established in 1993 and acquired Martekno Finland’s assets. Some refinement went into the re-design of the aircraft. Initial model was the 495 LSA but this was developed to the 650 LSA, this new model commencing testing on the Kemijoko River in December 2014, first flight being made on 9 April 2015. Due to its popularity a second production line was set up in the United States by ATOL USA at the Brunswick Executive Airport, formerly the Brunswick Naval Air Station, Georgia with deliveries commencing in 2018, production for the European market taking place in Finland.
The ATOL Avion 650 LSA is of composite wood construction with a retractable tailwheel undercarriage. It is produced in LSA form and also as an ultralight, the latter being of lighter construction and having less equipment. The wings may be folded for storage or hangarage reducing the width of the aircraft to 2.2 metres (6 ft 7 in).
The aircraft has a useful load of 272 kg (600 lb). The outer layer of the hull is Kevlar mated to cold-moulded foam-core birch providing a rugged, light and strong airframe, the wings being built of Oratex and being fabric covered. Power is provided by a Rotax 912iS engine driving a 1.72 m (68 in) three-blade fixed-pitch propeller.
An early production aircraft was shown at the EAA event at Oshkosh in Wisconsin in 2017.
First aircraft for an Australian operator was ordered in mid-2018 with delivery late that year or early 2019.