MAI-411 is “breathing down the neck” of “Baikal” LMS-901

The light-engine aircraft manufactured in the Russian Federation was first seen by the general public at the MAKS-2017 air show. The car can accommodate three passengers and "grew" from its predecessor MAI-407. When developing the aircraft, the design bureau of the Moscow Aviation Institute took into account the standards of the rules AP-23 (RF), FAR-23 (USA) and CS-23 (Europe). The initiator of the project is an electromechanical plant located in the city of Kizlyar, where the car is assembled. The aircraft made its first flight under the control of test pilot A. Mitrofanov on 12.04.2018/XNUMX/XNUMX.

What's new

Externally, the car does not differ so much from its predecessor. First of all, this is a non-retractable landing gear and endings - the so-called. "Whitcomb wings", allowing to reduce fuel consumption by 3-5% (subject to flight at cruising speed). According to the manufacturer on its official website, the cost of maintenance of the MAI-411 is comparable to that of a car. The number of doors is of interest: there are four of them - each passenger has his own entrance / exit, which is very convenient. It's also a plus in terms of safety. Usually they install only a couple of doors, or even one at all.


At the same time, the height of the aircraft allows you to do without steps, ladders. But the main feature is the presence of a parachute, which will smoothly lower the car to the ground in the event of a serious accident. MAI-411 can be used in the following areas:

✅ transportation of passengers and transportation of goods
✅ pilot training
✅ patrolling various objects
✅ video shooting, monitoring
✅ rescue operations
✅ aviation tourism

The machine takes off and lands on unpaved areas (requires a soil density of 3,5 kg / sq. M), there are options with skis or floats instead of the chassis.


The cost of a twin-engine MAI-411 is comparable to the price of foreign "classmates" with one engine.

Design features

The center section caisson is made of steel, the fuselage, plumage, wings (consoles) are made of composites. This allowed to reduce the weight of the empty car. The base of the top wing extends through the fuselage above the cockpit. It is made in such a way that it does not embarrass either passengers or pilots. The vertical and horizontal plumage is classic - the keel, which is a single whole with the body, plus the rudder, height, stabilizer.


The non-retractable landing gear in fairings is distinguished by relatively large diameter wheels - 445 mm.


The main struts are spring, the one in front is telescopic, with a shock absorber.

Power plant and performance characteristics

It is a pair of Austrian piston engines Rotax 912S, issuing 100 "horses" each. These motors have proven themselves well in Russian conditions and are installed on many light aircraft manufactured in the Russian Federation. By the way, it should be said that the power units are the only imported "component" of the aircraft. Another feature of Rotax is that the brand's products have a developed dealer network in the world, and this has a positive effect on the export potential of the machine.


The engines are "equipped" with variable pitch pulling propellers. The main fuel tanks are located in the center section. If necessary (for example, hauls), additional tanks are installed in the wing consoles. The aircraft can use motor gasoline AI-95 as fuel. Technical data MAI-411:

✅ wingspan, length and height - 12,2, 7,2 and 3,36 m
✅ weight of empty and loaded "to the eyeballs" - 1,25 and 1,6
✅ average and maximum speed - 270 and 290 km/h
✅ height - up to 3 km
✅ range at full load - 1500 km

The crew consists of one pilot, the passenger capacity is three people. For takeoff and landing, the aircraft will need a GDP of 400 m (run 150, run 180 m).

What's inside

Passengers are placed in a couple of rows. The height of the cabin is 1,22 m, the width is 1,275 m, the distance between the seats along the length is 1,06 m (they recline back by 25 ° without interfering with those sitting behind). This allows you to stay comfortably even in winter clothes.

The normal microclimate in the cabin is maintained thanks to the heating and ventilation system. It effectively operates in the entire operating temperature range in which the operation of the MAI-411 is possible: from -25° to +40°. Behind the cabin there is a luggage compartment.

cockpit

Two workplaces are provided, one for an instructor or a checker (the pilot sits on the left). The control system is duplicated. The avionics is made digitally and supplied by the Russian company VAIS-Tekhnika.


Instead of heavy speakers with steering wheels - sidesticks mounted directly into the dashboard. Pilot seats can be adjusted.

Condition for today

First, it is worth mentioning the customer Kizlyar Electromechanical Plant. It seems that by the nature of its activities, the enterprise has nothing to do with aviation. However, this is not quite true. Among the products manufactured by KEMZ are equipment for military aircraft (in particular, bomb and missile holders). And the plant started in 1965 with electric boilers EK-1! By the way, the enterprise, which is part of the Rostec Corporation, is a long-term partner of the Moscow Aviation Institute and therefore carefully monitors the fate of its order: for example, it is looking for potential buyers.


Many compare the development of the Moscow Aviation Institute with other modern Russian aircraft and helicopters. In particular, with Baikal. LMS-901 and MAI-411 are two completely different machines, which in the "union" can become the basis of the future small aviation of the Russian Federation. Both are intended for use on local lines. And compared to the Ansat helicopter, the MAI-411 is much cheaper to maintain, not to mention the modern modifications of the Mi-8.



To date, the machine has received the certificate of a single aircraft. The following document should allow its commercial use. According to OSKBES deputy chief designer Mikhail Dryagilev, the main purpose of this aircraft is communication between settlements that do not have road or river communications. The machine can be operated in any regions of the Russian Federation, but it will be especially relevant where there are many lakes and rivers: an amphibious version of the aircraft is provided for this - when floats are installed on it in a “kit” with wheels. In this form, the aircraft is able to take off and land on the water surface at a wave height of up to half a meter.


Restrictions on operation are due to the temperature range (up to -30 °), height. The latter circumstance is connected with the lack of sealing of the cabin and the type of engines (they are piston). Flying at high altitude requires the installation of an oxygen supply system and turbines, which will lead to an overall rise in the cost of both the machine itself and its maintenance. According to the chief designer B. Abdulgasanov (2022), MAI-411 became interested in India and Venezuela.

And finally, about import substitution. At present, the Ural plant is developing a series of APD engines that can replace the Austrian Rotax. But this, again, takes time ... In the meantime, the aircraft is still put into small-scale production at KEMZ.