A.90.150 Orlyonok - Aircraft of the Month

The A.90.150

Aircraft of the Month for June 2000

by Alex Stoll

The Orlyonok, or Eaglet, was designed by TGKB (Central Hydorfoil Design Bureau) and Sukhoi as a naval assault craft and troop transport. Known to NATO as Casp B, its cruise engine, a NK-12M turboprop, was mounted in the tail and two NK-8-4K turbofans were mounted in the nose for extre thrust on takeoff, acceleration, and landing. A five sectioned flap/aileron is fitted on the wing's trailing edge and the leading edge sports takeoff screens near the wingtips. Located under the fuselage are two hydroskies: one at the CG and one near the front. On at least one of the Orlyonoks, the entire nose aft of the cockpit could be swung open sideways to allow vehicles to be driven up a built in ramp onto the cargo deck. Service entry with the Soviet Navy was in 1979. In 1974 one Orlyonok crashed during a VIP demonstration and was rebuilt with a new alloy; another Orlyonok and its crew were lost in a 1992 crash.

Originally 120 Orlyonoks were to be built as troop transport and assault vehicles but only four were completed (one used only for static tests) before funds dried up. The last flight was in October 1993; now the three remaining Orlyonoks rest in Kaspiisk Naval Air Base. A cargo version could carry a 30-metric ton (33 ton) payload over 1000 km (540nm) with 15 tonnes (16.5 tons) of fuel. There are plans to convert one of the Orlyonoks into a transport which could carry up to 150 passengers with a single deck layout or up to 350 passengers with a twin deck layout, and ASW and SAR variants were proposed, but these may never be funded as a result of Russia's current economical status.

Other Photos
Coming Ashore
Front View
In cruise, rear view
Drawings of SAR version

Specifications

Powerplant One Kuznetsov NK-12MK 11,000kW turboprop driving two contra-rotating propellors and two Kuznetsov NK-8-4K turbofans with 10.5 ton thrust each

Armament One gut turret mounted above the fuselage

First Flight Fall 1973

Service Entry October 1979

Dimensions

Length 58m (190ft 3in)

Width 31.5m (103ft 4in)

Height 16m (52ft 6in)

Weights

MTOW 110,000-125,000kg (242,291-275,330lb)

Max Payload 15,000-28,000kg (33,040-61,674lb)

Performance

Cruise Speed 400 km/h (215kts)

Range 2000km (1079nm)

Specifications
Powerplant	One Kuznetsov NK-12MK 11,000kW turboprop driving two contra-rotating propellors and two Kuznetsov NK-8-4K turbofans with 10.5 ton thrust each
Armament	One gut turret mounted above the fuselage
First Flight	Fall 1973
Service Entry	October 1979
Dimensions
Length	58m (190ft 3in)
Width	31.5m (103ft 4in)
Height	16m (52ft 6in)
Weights
MTOW	110,000-125,000kg (242,291-275,330lb)
Max Payload	15,000-28,000kg (33,040-61,674lb)
Performance
Cruise Speed	400 km/h (215kts)
Range	2000km (1079nm)

*All photos courtesy of The WIG Page*