Sukhoi Su-38L

Type (Muster)
Agricultural aircraft (Landwirtschaftsflugzeug)

Country (Land)
Russia (Russland)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Sukhoi Design Bureau
Polikarpov Street 23A
12584 Moscow
Russia

Phone: 007-095/945-6525
Fax: 007-095/200-4243

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1

Power plant (Antrieb): 1 x LOM M337 six-cylinder piston engine
Power (Leistung): 154 kW (207 hp)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
No details available

Weights (Massen)
Payload (Nutzlast): 600 litres in chemical hopper
Fuel (Kraftstoff): 210 litres
Normal take-off weight (Startmasse): 1200 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Stall speed (Überziehgeschwindigkeit): 76 km/h
Operating speed (Einsatzgeschwindigkeit): 180 - 200 km/h
Operating altitude (Einsatzhöhe beim Sprühflug): 1 - 15 m
Range (Reichweite):
- 900 km with spray equipment fitted
- 1200 km without spray equipment
Service live (Lebensdauer): 10 years

Cost (Preis)
The price of the Su-38L was quoted as 120000 US-Dollars in August 2001.
Operating costs per hour should be 300 US-Dollars.

Customers (Kunden)
None yet. Suchoi sees a market for 500 aircraft in Russia.

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The Su-38L is the first agricultural aircraft developed by Suchoi and dthe first Russian aircraft designed specially for agricultural purposes. It is intended for effective cultivation with modern chemicals using ecologically clean and highly efficient methods of small-drop dispersion, with a rate of 5 to 30 litres per hectare.

History (Geschichte)
Design of the Su-38 started in August 1993, based on the Su-29 aerobatic trainer. Additional market studies and money shortages led to delays and radical changes in the design, which is now much smaller.
Serious work apparently resumed in 1998 under the Su-38L designation with in-line instead of radial power plant.
Two prototypes were assembled in the Suchoi experimental shops from September 2000. First flight occured on 27 July 2001 with Evgeniy Frolov at the controls.
A pre-series of five Su-38Ls has been launched at the Smolensk aircraft factory. Certification is expected for 2002.

Last updated 14. September 2001

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