RA3

Project’s history

Overview
The project has been started in 2012 in Sebastian, Florida along with tandem seating RA-2
model as a replacement for aging Nanchang CJ-6 (初教-6) and Russian Yak-52 primary
trainers. The goal was to design a modern strong lightweight acrobatically capable aircraft. As
result, RA-3 has stronger airframe but thanks to lightweight carbon fiber fuselage require only 4
cylinder engine providing fuel savings of some 60% compared to 初教-6 or Yak-52. RA-3
combines all the modern technology available today to ensure high value to the customers for
decades to come and intended to serve as training aircraft for both civil and military pilots.

Company
The company has about 35 employees worldwide, originated in Sebastian, Florida, drive south
of Cape Canaveral and its space launch facilities. The company employs best engineers in the
aviation industry full time and part time across the United States, Europe, and Ukraine.
Prototyping facility is located in Sebastian, Florida, certification normally takes place initially in
Ukraine due to an abundance of skilled aviation specialist and competitive engineering cost,
re-certification in other European countries, Austria in the first place. Generally speaking,
engineering and prototyping will be done in the USA since american engineers have the best
aviation experience and traditions, certification would take place in Ukraine in order to keep
certification cost low.

RA3 engineering

Design
A good aircraft must always be designed with one mission in mind. The goal with RA-3 was the
design of the replacement for 初教-6 and Yak-52, design a trainer as robust, rugged and reliable
but lightweight, made of modern carbon fiber materials in order to make possible use of a
smaller more economical engine. As result aircraft uses well studied NACA 23012 (-016) airfoil,
retractable or fixed gear with the largest tires for unpaved runways split flaps so students can
step on the wings without fear of breaking flap hinges, strong cockpit cage to protect pilots in a
rollover accident and large control surfaces. Purposed as a trainer, the airplane has been
designed to deliver in-flight feels like a much bigger aircraft. RA-3 equipped with removable
wingtips that can be easily replaced in case of taxying accident. Any modern avionics can be
installed for PPL (私人飛行執照), IFR (儀器飛行) or CPL (商用飛行執照), or military training.
Aircraft can use any suitable for inverted flight engines with power output between 180-350 HP.
RA-3 can be equipped with the ballistic parachute or individual parachutes or both. RA-3 is
designed for G loads of +/-8g with the safety factor of x2 at maximum takeoff weight.

Maiden flight
The project has been completed in 10 months from idea inception till maiden flight thanks to
extensive use of modern CAD design software, state of art 5 axis CNC mill for molds production
and relentless work of the highly-skilled engineering team. Design, production, and assembly of
the airframe took about 5 months, another 4 months were required to install control system,
engine, propeller, and avionics equipment. Another month was necessary for finishing, paint,
and upholstery.

Acceptance

The aircraft has been extensively tested by the most experienced test pilots including American
aviation legend Skip Holms, renown aerobatic coach Sergey Boriak and many others. The
aircraft has been displayed at Sun-and-Fun show in Lakelend, Florida, at Oshkosh air show
(EAA AirVenture Oshkosh) and on AUVSI unmanned aircraft conference. The aircraft has been
warmly welcomed by aviation training professionals within the United States as well as in other
countries. Aviation professionals pointed out that currently there is no modern acrobatically
capable trainer aircraft on the market — Zlin, 初教-6, and Yak-52 are outdated, heavy,
uneconomical and sometimes are not safe to fly due to their age.

Technologies used

The aircraft was designed in SolidWorks with extensive use of specialized software for aircraft
design analysis. 5 axis mill made by Par Systems is operated by Mastercam CAD, the mill is
being used for the production of plugs and mold in which parts are being made.
Best carbon fiber and resin certified for aerospace industry are being used for making parts,
including internal structures, spars, ribs, skins etc. Technology is quite easy to master by skilled
workers and can be learned in a timely manner.
Extensive use of modern composite structures makes repairs easy and fast. Personnel can be
quickly trained to perform repair tasks in the field or at the repair facility.
Another benefit of composite manufacturing is the fact that production process is not highly
automated, no expensive machinery or massive investment is necessary to start production,
and production volumes can easily be scaled up or down depending on current demand.
Currently, there is no better or more modern technology for the aviation industry manufacturing
then carbon fiber composite techniques.
Besides building airplanes technology can be used for speedboats manufacturing, auto parts
production, production of components for windmills power generators (blades).
 Production costs
Main contributors to the cost of the finished product are an engine, avionics, and
fuselage. Normally each component would cost about 30%. Attention must be paid to reducing
the purchase price of the engine, or possibly local production, same for avionics.
Composite production requires controlled humidity and temperature of about 18C, sustaining
temperature controlled environment may be costly depending on energy cost in the area, the
production process can not be automated and requires good hands-on skills, similar to
carpenter skills or textile industry workers.

Marketing concerns
Major aircraft manufacturers are already present in China - Diamond, Cirrus and others, yet no
one has an acrobatically capable airplane to offer. We believe that with increased use of
computerized flight control systems in modern airliners like Airbus and Boeing professional
pilots are lacking stick and rudder flying skills and will require recurrent training every couple of
years during their professional career, as well as unusual attitude recovery training and this kind
of training will become a larger revenue stream for flight training organizations then primary
training itself. Such recurrent training will be taken every 2-3 years with only maybe 10 flight
hours, and for such training aerobatically capable aircraft will be required.
We estimate the volume of China civil training aircraft fleet as 5000 planes for now. Another
1000 planes or more will be required by CPLA for military training. This number can be easily
quadruple worldwide keeping in mind there is no competition.

Export will be determined by certification acceptance. Early buyers outside of China will be
countries that will accept Ukrainian and Chinese type certificate, later on, RA-3 can be
recertified in Europe and receive EASA type certificate which will be accepted by most countries
in the world. The last stage would be re-certifying RA-3 in USA. Doing certification in stages will
save time and effort initially and will allow more time to potentially replace the engine and
avionics with an inexpensive, more economical or more suitable option for certain region.

If necessary simulator can be designed and built to complement RA-3 aircraft. Completion time
about 10 months.

Also, for military customers, we can build weapons simulators and simulate training missions for
the groups of aircraft.
 Team
Our US-based engineering team is comprised of senior experienced engineers who worked on
various aircraft projects including jets and special mission aircraft. We also have young
colleagues and work closely with the University of Melbourne and other educational facilities in
the US.
Our Ukrainian team is led by former chief of the certification department of Ukrainian Civil
Aviation Authority, with many skilled aviation engineers who are currently working on other
projects including unmanned systems and jet aircraft.
We are working closely with Antonov Design Bureau (安东诺夫国营公司), and Ukrainian space
industry specialists.
Our specialists are willing and able to travel and set up production facilities in China or any other
country. We have excellent past performance record from countries as challenging as
Afghanistan and as demanding as the United States.

Possible further developments

RA-3 is an excellent airframe that can accept most of the engines in the range of 180-350HP
power output. Choice of an engine is driven by fuel availability, prices, supply chain and
personal preference of the customer. With minor modifications and of course with corresponding
certification effort the airplane can be easily modified to use besides traditional Lycoming engine
a diesel or even small turbine engine. Avionics of different manufacturers can also be used
accordingly to customer’s preferences. Later on, engine and avionics production can be
localized in order to keep production cost low and price attractive.

Other types of aircraft can be produced, including 4(5) seat single or twin-engine aircraft, jet
trainer (light fighter jet) once RA-3 project proves to be a success.

All necessary assistance to the production partner in China will be provided to ensure seamless
operation and further grow. New designs will be built together for benefit of both parties.

Summary
RA-3 was created as a trainer for both military and civil use with using the latest technologies
available for design and production. Project’s flexible enough to be adapted for specific needs
without breaking concept and production processes