Countless numbers of helicopter students (including Vietnam-bound Huey pilots) earned their rotorcraft ratings in the legendary Hughes 300, later denominated the Schweizer 300 after the design was sold to the sailplane company. The 300’s bubble canopy and stable three bladed design made it famous. Imagine your surprise to walk the grounds of the AirVenture Ultralight field to see what appears to be an 80% scale Schweizer 300 parked right there among the ultralights and powered parachutes. It is the Sanka AK1-3, designed and manufactured by Aerokopter in Kharkiv, Ukraine and imported in kit form by Custom Aircraft in Wilmington, Delaware. There are over 140 AK 1-3 helicopters currently flying in Europe and Africa, and they have amassed over 35,000 flight hours.
The AK 1-3 is a two seat, three blade ship, powered by a Subaru EJ25 155 horsepower water cooled engine. The roomy cockpit readily accommodates two American-sized adults without touching shoulders. The cockpit layout approximates the venerable 300 and the drivetrain even utilizes the belt and sheave design originated by Hughes Aircraft. The AK’s empty weight is 838 pounds with a 1433 pound gross weight, leaving a 595 pound useful load. With a full fuel load of 22.5 gallons (135 pounds) you are left with an allowance of 460 pounds worth of pilots and gear. There is no real baggage area.
The AK has a respectable cruise of 85 mph and an impressive ability to hover in ground effect to 10,000 feet (8,000 feet out of ground effect). As with all helicopters, certain components are life-limited. The AK 1-3’s main rotor blades are good to 4,000 hours and the tail rotor blades must be replaced at 2,000 hours. Aerokopter makes a 500-hour kit that provides everything necessary for that maintenance milestone.
Custom Aircraft is run by Brooks Cooley, who has an impressive record of kit helicopter construction. He obtained his helicopter rating over 25 years ago and has personally build 19 kit helicopters (four of them jet powered). He has over 2,200 hours in kit helicopters, most of them in Rotorways. Brooks fell in love with the AK 1-3 design and undertook to import them into the U.S. in kit form. Brooks and one helper constructed the ship at AirVenture in five 15-hour days. Even if mere mortals could take twice the time, that means it could be assembled in less than 400 hours. The sales price is listed at $179,000. For more information, visit customaircraftllc.com.
