The LAK-17 is a Lithuania

Lithuania

Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...

n single-seat sailplane designed at the Lithuanian Aero Club - (LAK - Lietuvo AeroKlub), and manufactured by Sportinė Aviacija.

Design and development

The LAK-17 is designed to meet the requirements of the utility category of JAR-22. It is a single-seat mid-wing sailplane

Glider (sailplane)

A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...

 of composite construction with a T-tail

T-tail

thumb|right|Grob motor gliderA T-tail is an aircraft tail stabilizer configuration in which the horizontal surfaces are mounted to the top of the vertical stabilizer. Traditionally, the horizontal control surfaces are mounted to the fuselage at the base of the vertical stabilizer...

 and flaps, it has a retractable single-wheel main landing gear and has airbrakes

Air brake (aircraft)

In aeronautics, air brakes or speedbrakes are a type of flight control surface used on an aircraft to increase drag or increase the angle of approach during landing....

 on the upper wing surface. The LAK-17 holds water ballast in tanks in the wing and fin. The LAK-17A was certified in November 1994 by the Lithuanian Civil Aviation Authority. A new variant with an improved wing was designated the LAK-17B. All variants have a 15 m (49.21 ft) wingspan but a wing with span increased to 18 m (59.06 ft) is available as an option; powered self-sustaining versions are also produced.

An optional Front Electric Sustainer variant was developed for the LAK-17 by Slovenian engineers at LZ Design, it has a 0.9 metre propeller in the nose driven by an electric motor.

Variants

LAK-17A

Production flapped 15- or 18-metre wingspan sailplane.

LAK-17AT

Powered self-sustaining sailplane variant of the LAK-17A with a Solo 2350 two-cylinder air-cooled two-stroke retractable engine.

LAK-17A FES

A LAK-17A with a Front Electric Sustainer.

LAK-17B

Improved variant with new wing profile and modified geometry.

LAK-17BT

Powered self-sustaining sailplane variant of the LAK-17B with a Solo 2350 retractable engine.

LAK-17B FES

A LAK-17B with a Front Electric Sustainer.

Specifications (LAK-17B with 15 metre wingspan)

See also