ATOL 495
ATOL 650 (OH-XNA) in 2018
Role Sport amphibian
National origin Finland
Manufacturer Atol Avion
Atol USA
Designer Markku Koivurova
First flight 23 August 1988
Status development ended
Number built 5

Atol is a two-seat kit amphibious aircraft with a wood composite structure. It was to be built in ultralight and light-sport aircraft (LSA) versions. Atol aircraft were produced by the Finnish company Atol Avion.

In April 2017, it was announced that the aircraft would be built for the North American market by Atol USA of Brunswick Landing, Maine.[1]

By 2022, the company website had been taken down and the domain was for sale.[2]

Development

The Atol was designed by Markku Koivurova and produced by Martekno Ky and later Atol Avion Ltd. The development of Atol began in the 1970s, inspired by the American Osprey II. The first versions of the design used the Ken Rand KR structure. Atol's predecessors were larger and their structure recalled the traditional structure of a wooden aircraft.[3]

The first water taxi tests of the new LSA version, the Atol 650, were commenced in December 2014 on the Kemijoki River, Finland, on the Arctic Circle.[4] This new version first flew on 9 April 2015.[5]

The 650 model was intended to be built in Maine, United States, with European deliveries initially forecast for late in 2018 and US deliveries starting in 2019.[6]

On 3 July 2018, the 650 LSA prototype (OH-XNA) crashed and burnt, near Rovaniemi.[7]

By November 2022, the company website had been taken down, and the domain was for sale.[2] It is likely all development on the aircraft has ended. The proposed American manufacturer, Atol USA, was administratively dissolved on 13 August 2021.[8]

Specifications (ATOL 495 LSA)

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 7.45 m (24 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 13.5 m2 (145 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 340 kg (750 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 650 kg (1,433 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 75 L (16 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912 iS , 75 kW (100 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed fixed pitch propeller, 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) diameter

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 170 km/h (110 mph, 92 kn)
  • Stall speed: 74 km/h (46 mph, 40 kn)
  • Range: 750 km (470 mi, 400 nmi)
  • Endurance: 5 hours
  • Take-off distance from water: 450 m (1,476 ft) (LSA)

Notes

  • Bodin, Jan: Perpetual Product Development - a Study of Small Technology-Driven Firms 2000, p. 143-151, University of Umeå's print, Umeå Sweden, 2000. ISBN 91-7191-752-7
  • Joensuu, Elina: Design in Finland 30 Years 1991, p. 30, Hämee's bookprint Ltd, Häme Finland, 1991. ISSN 0418-7717

References

  1. ↑ Niles, Russ (8 April 2017). "Finnish Amphib To Be Built In Maine". AVweb. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 GoDaddy (2022). "The domain name atol.fi is for sale!". dan.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  3. ↑ Atol Avion (15 November 2022). "History". atol.fi. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Grady, Mary (24 December 2014). "Atol Starts Water-Taxi Tests". AVweb. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "Atol Amphib Completes First Flight". avweb.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Baker, Jason (21 April 2018). "Aero: Atol 650 Amphib Finds U.S. Manufacturer". AVweb. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  7. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "Accident ATOL 650 LSA OH-XNA, 03 Jul 2018". aviation-safety.net. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  8. ↑ Maine Secretary Of State Business Registration (13 August 2021). "Atol USA, Inc". bizapedia.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
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