A few months before the first deliveries, the AKOYA, a small private plane developed by the French company LISA Airplanes, will be offering a new way to travel. Unique in the world, this aircraft with its innovative design can land on water, snow, and land. When it arrives at its destination, the aircraft’s wings can be folded in an instant, enabling it to be stored, quite simply, in a garage. This aircraft, which is jam-packed with technology, will completely transform light aviation.
If you wish to embark on a journey around Europe, you will be able to do so with great ease by taking off, for example, at the foot of the Alps and landing on the water to dine at a restaurant in Sicily, or next to your yacht in the Greek islands. The AKOYA’s versatility, combined with its range of 2,000 km (1,250 miles) and maximum speed of 250 km/h (155mph), considerably increases the number of possible destinations. The project was developed by a small team of passionate people in the heart of the French Alps.
The new generation of seaplanes from French company LISA Airplanes
The specifications were more than ambitious: the aim was to create an “all-terrain” aircraft that performs well and is aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, and easy to fly. In short, a high-quality aircraft that does not compromise on performance. To achieve this goal, the LISA team had to employ all its ingenuity and go beyond the traditional boundaries of aviation. Hence, one of the AKOYA’s many features is the use of “Seafoil” technology—patented technology developed by LISA Airplanes—to enable the aircraft to take off from water. A major asset, the small wings that are like fins under the aircraft are similar to hydrofoils, which are now revolutionizing the world of sailing. Thanks to the “Seafoils,” the AKOYA has freed itself from traditional forms and devices in order to operate on water, and has thus become the first seaplane that performs well in the air and is easy to fly.
Another feature of the aircraft, the AKOYA’s retractable landing gear is fitted with wheels and skis, enabling the pilot to land on both snow and land. It is therefore the only aircraft in the world that can take off from snow-covered terrain and land in a lagoon.
The AKOYA has many other advantages. It has folding wings that enable the aircraft to be easily stored and transported. It adds more safety features with its high-quality material and its integrated parachute that will enable the aircraft and the passengers to land safely in case of emergency. Its high-end finishes which are entirely customizable complete the list and transform the AKOYA into a real unique aircraft.
This small French plane embodies a new generation of seaplanes and offers new opportunities to all those who love to fly and travel.
About LISA Airplanes
LISA Airplanes, a French company located in the French Alps and founded in 2004, creates, manufactures, and supplies high-quality aircraft and associated services. The company’s vision, which is oriented toward man and transportation, and the audacity of its team, combining technology and design, are revolutionizing aviation and offering an alternative lifestyle. The AKOYA is the first aircraft based on this philosophy. Despite the company’s relative youth, LISA Airplanes has managed to make its mark in the sector as an avant-garde company that has transcended the traditional boundaries of aviation. It has already marked the history of aviation in 2011, as a result of the inaugural flight of a seaplane that took off using a system of hydrofoils—and that was only the beginning of a remarkable venture. The LISA team is currently conducting test flights of the AKOYA on Lake Bourget and the Chambéry airport runway in the Savoie département. It is also working on the certification of the aircraft in preparation for the first deliveries to the company’s clients, notably in North America.
About the AKOYA
The AKOYA is a two-seater amphibious aircraft with a uniquely attractive design and many performance capacities. Taking off on water, land, or snow, it can reach a speed of 250 km/h (155mph) and can fly up to 2,000 km (1,250 miles) because of its low fuel consumption of 5.6L/100km (42 mpg), which is unprecedented for a seaplane. After a fast and pleasant flight, the pilot can land in a space of less than 200 m (650 ft) and fold back the AKOYA’s wings to store it in a garage. Without making any compromises, the aircraft’s performance is made possible by an exclusive innovation in aviation: “Multi-Access” technology, a unique combination of two “Seafoils,” retractable landing gear fitted with skis, and folding wings. The AKOYA has been designed to comply with the LSA (Light Sport Aircraft) regulations—a new American certification category that is becoming an international standard, like the introduction of the CS-LSA (Certification Specifications for Light Sport Aeroplanes) in Europe.
