The Lake LA4, Buccaneer & Renegade
Country of origin
United States of America Powerplants
LA4 - One 135kW (180hp) Lycoming O360A1A flat four piston engine driving a two blade constant speed propeller. All Lake models, including the Skimmer, where originally Type Certificated with prop governors and controlable pitch props. LA4200 - One 150kW (200hp) fuel injected IO360A1B. Turbo 270 - One 185kW (250hp) turbocharged Textron Lycoming TIO540AA1AD flat six. Performance
LA4 - Max speed 217km/h (117kt), max cruising speed 210km/h (114kt), typical cruising speed 200km/h (109kt). Initial rate of climb 800ft/min. Service ceiling 14,000ft. Max range 1010km (545nm). LA4200 - Max speed 248km/h (134kt), max cruising speed 240km/h (130kt), long range cruising speed 213km/h (115kt). Initial rate of climb 1200ft/min. Service ceiling 14,700ft. Max range 1327km (717nm). Turbo 270 - Max cruising speed 287km/h (155kt). Service ceiling 23,800ft. Max range with no reserves at 55% power 2075km (1120nm). Weights
LA4 - Empty 715kg (1575lb), max takeoff 1090kg (2400lb). LA4200 - Empty 705kg (1555lb), max takeoff 1220kg (2690lb). Turbo 270 - Empty equipped 875kg (1930lb), max takeoff 1383kg (3050lb). Dimensions
LA4 & LA4200 - Wing span 11.58m (38ft 0in), length 7.59m (24ft 11in), height 2.84m (9ft 4in). Wing area 15.8m2 (170.0sq ft). Turbo 270 - Wing span 11.68m (38ft 4in), length 8.64m (28ft 4in), height 3.05m (10ft 0in). Wing area 15.2m2 (164.0sq ft). Capacity
Normal seating for four in LA4 and Buccaneer; Renegade and Turbo Renegade seat six. Production
Over 1000 built, including over 300 Renegades. Type
Four/six place amphibious light aircraft
History
This successful family of light amphibians has been by far the largest selling series of its type since Republic's Seabee, and one of a very small number of such aircraft to enter production. The LA4 series dates back to the Colonial C1 Skimmer, a three place light amphibian which first flew in July 1948. The C1 eventually entered production powered by a 110kW (150hp) Lycoming O320 in 1955, and small numbers of it and the four seat 135kW (180hp) O360 powered C2 Skimmer IV were built before Lake Aircraft purchased the manufacturing and design rights in October 1959. Lake's prototype LA4P was a development of the Skimmer IV, and first flew in November 1959. Put into production in August 1960, the production LA4 differed from the Skimmer IV in having greater wing span, strengthened structure and higher weights. The LA4 remained in production until 1972 (small numbers of seaplane only LA4Ts were built), by which stage the improved LA4200 Buccaneer had been in production for two years. The main difference in the two models was the LA4200's more powerful engine, extra fuel and higher weights. Further development led to the LA250 Renegade being certificated in 1983. It introduced a number of changes over the Buccaneer including the more powerful six cylinder IO540 engine and a stretched fuselage with seating for six. It and the turbocharged (TIO540AA1AD powered) Turbo 270 Renegade remain available. The Special Edition Seafury and Special Edition Turbo Seafury are based on the Renegade and Turbo Renegade respectively, and feature enhancements for salt water operations.