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Czech Aircraft Works
Mermaid
Czech Aircraft
Works, s.r.o. (CZAW) is the manufacturer of
the Zenair line of aircraft models : CH
701SP STOL and CH601 ZODIAC 601 Series
aircraft under a license agreement with
Chris Heintz. CZAW also manufactures its own
line of aircraft starting with the
amphibious Lake Sport Mermaid, and a line of
straight and amphibious floats fitting many
brands of aircraft.
In just 8 years
Czech Aircraft Works has grown to be one of
the world's premier light sport aircraft
producers. CZAW now has over 130 employees
and ships over 150 aircraft per year.
CZAW builds
primarily American-designed aircraft, built
with American materials (to American
standards) and standards. CZAW imports tons
of aircraft grade aluminium sheet, chrome-moly
tubing, and military-spec hardware from the
USA for use in production.
The all-new Mermaid is
the first amphibian to be designed
especially to comply with the FAA’s new
Light Sport Aircraft rules. It is also the
first new certified single-engine amphibian
to reach production in decades.
The design parameters were challenging: make
a certifiable, roomy amphibian that will fit
the LSA rules (2-place, 1432 pounds gross,
low stall speed), and that will be
affordable, reliable, and fun to fly; then
give it the speed and range to be practical
as a transportation device, and dual
controls, for training and peace of mind.
Of conventional all-metal design, the
Mermaid is built by European craftsmen, with
US-sourced materials. Its five watertight
compartments are built with EDO-style
pump-outs. The slipper-clutch Rotax 912ULS
puts out 100 reliable horsepower while
burning well under 5 gph. The useful load is
over 500 pounds, and the large baggage area
is located nearly on the CG, to make its
capacity truly usable. The wide cockpit is
comfortable; and it affords a large panel
area.
Versatility is the hallmark of true
amphibians: even the energy-absorbing seats
are quick-removable, so the Mermaid can
double as a dockside bed, making those
remote camping trips all the more enjoyable.
The hydraulic-damped tricycle gear retracts,
and the pilot has visual confirmation of
gear position, as well as the usual
indicator lights; and the stable, quick-planing
hull allows water takeoffs, at gross, in
just 750 feet.
The fast (for a Sport Pilot-class aircraft)
yet docile air manners are made possible by
a streamlined fuselage and modern-design
airfoil that provides very high lift and low
drag, throughout the Mermaid’s speed range.
This wing, coupled to fowler flaps, permits
landings on land or water in just 500 feet.
CZAW president Chip Erwin noted, “The
Mermaid makes it possible to cruise high
above more than four hundred miles of land
and water, at an easy 100 knots, in great
comfort – and still carry the things you
need for the trip. Until now, the only
options were floatplanes, landplanes, or
expensive, old-technology amphibians. Today,
you can have a true amphibian, with its
great comfort and capabilities – it’s fast
enough, and has enough range, that it
competes well with other LSA landplanes –
and it simply leaves floatplanes in its
wake.”
At roughly the price of a luxury sedan, the
Mermaid offers what that car simply cannot:
point-to-point navigation,
no-speeding-ticket cruising, with an
incomparable view… and of course, the
ability to float.
CZAW designed the Mermaid after its
experience in building over 600 all-metal
aircraft and hundreds of aluminum floats. In
fact, the company’s airplanes and floats
have taken home the Schneider Cup three
times: CZAW is recognized throughout Europe
as a premier design, engineering, and
manufacturing centre for seaplane
technology.
Everything about the Mermaid indicates long
and reliable service: full zinc chromate
coating, AN and MS-series fasteners,
US-sourced aircraft aluminium and tubing;
and its solid, conventional design promises
not only outstanding longevity – it is
repairable anywhere, without relying on
“special” production and inspection
techniques.
|
SPECIFICATIONS |
MERMAID AMPHIBIAN |
|
WING SPAN |
31.2 |
Feet |
9 .5 |
m |
|
LENGHT
|
24 |
Feet |
7.3 |
m |
|
WING AREA |
124 |
sq. Ft. |
11.5 |
m 2 |
|
WING LOADING |
9.9 |
psf
|
49 |
kg/m 2 |
|
EMPTY WEIGHT |
727 |
Lbs |
330 |
kg |
|
GROSS WEIGHT |
1432 |
Lbs |
585 |
kg |
|
PAYLOAD |
569 |
Lbs |
230 |
kg |
|
CABIN WIDTH |
44 |
Inches |
112 |
cm |
|
FUEL CAPACITY |
2 x 13 |
Gal |
2 x 50 |
Liters |
|
|
|
PERFORMANCE |
MERMAID AMPHIBIAN w / ROTAX 912ULS |
|
TOP SPEED |
132
115 |
MPH
KNOTS |
213 |
km/h |
|
CRUISE (75%) |
115
100 |
MPH
KNOTS |
185 |
km/h |
|
STALL SPEED V FE (with flaps)
|
39.7
34.5 |
MPH
KNOTS |
64 |
km/h |
|
STALL SPEED (no flaps)
|
49.5
43.0 |
MPH
KNOTS |
80 |
km/h |
|
RATE OF CLIMB |
1000 |
FPM |
5 |
m/sec. |
|
TAKE-OFF ROLL |
390 |
Feet |
137 |
m |
|
WATER TAKE-OFF |
680 |
Feet |
229 |
m |
|
LANDING DISTANCE |
500 |
Feet |
152 |
m |
|
WATER LANDING |
500 |
Feet |
152 |
m |
|
RANGE (std., no reserve)
|
500 |
s. m. |
800 |
km |
|
ENDURANCE (no reserve)
|
4,5 h |
|
NEVER EXCEED SPEED (VNE)
|
132
115 |
MPH
KNOTS |
213 |
km/h |
|
|
