Sub-Scale Flight Testing of Drag Reduction Features for Amphibious Light Sport Aircraft

Amphibious light sport aircraft (LSA) combine the versatility of land and water operations but suffer aerodynamic penalties from their inherent design requirements, limiting cruise performance. This study investigates two drag reduction features for a proposed high-performance amphibious LSA developed by Altavia Aerospace. The concept targets a 140-knot cruise speed, using retractable wingtip pontoons and a novel retractable hull step fairing. A 1/5-scale flying model was built and flight tested to assess the aerodynamic benefits of these features and evaluate sub-scale flight testing as a tool for drag measurement. Estimated propulsive power and GPS-based speed data corrected for wind were used to compute an estimated 17% reduction in drag coefficient by retracting the pontoons. The hull step fairing showed no measurable gains, likely due to inconsistent battery voltage, despite literature indicating potential 5% drag savings. Drag measurement precision of 7–9% was achieved using the power-based method, with potential precision better than 3% achievable if the designed thrust data system were fully validated and an autopilot integrated. A performance estimation for Altavia Aerospace’s concept predicts a cruise speed of 134 knots at 10000 ft. Achieving the 140-knot target may require further aerodynamic refinement, with investigation of a tandem seating configuration to reduce frontal area recommended. The study provides an initial drag assessment of retractable wingtip pontoons and demonstrates the potential of sub-scale flight testing for comparative drag analysis – two novel contributions to the field.