Lake Aircraft

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Lake Aircraft
TypePrivate
IndustryAerospace
Founded1959
HeadquartersKissimmee, Florida
New Hampshire
Key people
Armand Rivard
Productsparts for LA-4 aircraft
Number of employees
6
Websitelakeamphib.com
Lake LA-4-200 Buccaneer
Lake LA-4-200 Buccaneer
Lake Model 250 Seawolf

Lake Aircraft was a manufacturer of amphibious aircraft. Its factory was in Sanford, Maine, United States, and its sales offices were located at Laconia / Gilford, New Hampshire and Kissimmee, Florida.

The assets of the company were sold in 2004 to an investor which incorporated as "Sun Lake Aircraft" in Vero Beach, Florida.

The assets are currently owned by Revo Inc, owned by Armand Rivard, although the company was put up for sale again in August 2018.[1]

History[]

The first design in the series produced was the Colonial Skimmer. It was derived from an original design produced by David Thurston in 1946 when he was with Grumman Aircraft. Grumman never produced the design, but Thurston formed Colonial Aircraft Corporation as a side business to continue development.

Colonial's first amphibious aircraft, designated the "Colonial Aircraft C-1 Skimmer" and based on the original Grumman G-65 Tadpole design, first flew in 1948. Colonial grew to produce almost 50 of the C-1 and larger C-2 design before being sold in 1959.

The new owner, M.L. (Al) Alson, renamed the company Lake Aircraft and enlarged the basic design again into the LA-4, a 180-horsepower, 4-seat aircraft, which was the basis for the entire line of aircraft that continues today.

Lake aircraft produced in the 1960 - 1980 range are listed by the Federal Aviation Administration as having been built by "Consolidated Aeronautics."

For many years the Lake LA-4-200 was advertised as "The world's only single-engine production amphibian."

In January 2009 company owner Armand Rivard indicated that he intended to sell the company and retire. The company had previously been offered for sale in 2001, 2002, via auction in 2005 and in 2007. Lake Aircraft produced one aircraft in 2007 and none in 2008, but continues to make parts for existing aircraft. In 2009 the company employed six people, down from the 200 employees that it had in the 1980s. In August 2018 the company was once again offered for sale, including all the LA-4 tooling, type certificate and the designs.[1][2]

Evolution of Lake Amphibious Aircraft
Years Produced Model seats Horsepower Max Cruise Speed Payload with Main Full Fuel
1948–1959 C1 and C2 2 150-180 90 mph 340 lb payload
1960–1969 Lake LA-4 4 180 110 mph 440 lb
1970–1982 Lake LA4-200 4 200 105 knots 500 lb
1982–1985 Lake LA4-200 EP 4 200 110 knots 550 lb
1984–1995 Lake Model 250 6 250 132 knots 800 lb
1987–2005 Lake Model 250 Turbocharged 6 270 155 knots 720 lb
2006 Seafury 250 & 270

References[]

  1. ^ a b Grady, Mary (27 August 2018). "Lake Aircraft Seeks Buyer". AVweb. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  2. ^ Pew, Glenn (January 2009). "Lake Aircraft Again Puts Assets Up For Sale". Retrieved 12 January 2009.

External links[]

Official website


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