supply and demand is a beautiful thing, and it is because of this correlation that we started to see small firms sprouting up and turning out light personal air transports that doesn't cost an arm or a leg. supply comes from brilliant engineers and entrepreneurs with dare-to-do attitude, developing better but cheaper aircraft to enable near-regular folks to take...

Lisa Airplanes AKOYA
Lisa Airplanes AKOYA | US$tba | www.lisa-airplanes.com

supply and demand is a beautiful thing, and it is because of this correlation that we started to see small firms sprouting up and turning out light personal air transports that doesn’t cost an arm or a leg. supply comes from brilliant engineers and entrepreneurs with dare-to-do attitude, developing better but cheaper aircraft to enable near-regular folks to take to the sky. the demand, on the other hand, is the result of the frustration over the ever increasing congestion we meet on day-to-day basis, spurring us to look towards the sky for solutions. speaking of which, the Lisa Airplanes AKOYA is one aircraft to look out for if you are in the market for a light aircraft for your interstate traveling needs, be it for business or leisure. the name of the aircraft does not immediately give away what it can do. yes. it can certainly fly like anything that’s called an aircraft but there is more to it: it features a patented Multi-Access technology, allowing it to take off and land on water or snow, on top of the regular ground-based runways.

the Lisa Airplanes AKOYA is also the first aircraft in the world to employ hydrofoils (two of them, actually) that enables it to take off and land on water without the need for a hull design or floatation devices typical of today’s seaplanes. together with its skis-integrated retractable landing gear and pivoting wings, the AKOYA offers a truly unparalleled freedom and pleasure of flight. performance-wise, its top speed is capped at 222 km/h (148 mph) in the U.S. and 250 km/h (155 mph) in Europe, in keeping with the regulations of the respective countries. adding to its qualities is its impressive 1,600 km (1,000 miles) range and a low fuel consumption of just 36 mpg or 6.5L per 100km. the Lisa Airplanes AKOYA made its first appearance in North America recently at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2012 airshow. though, neither the price or availability is being announced. check out a video of the Lisa Airplanes AKOYA in action after the break.