Lake LA-4

Lake Aircraft · United States · first flew 1959 · light aircraft

The Lake LA-4 is an American single-engine light amphibious aircraft characterised by its unique pusher engine mounted above the fuselage on a pylon and stabilising sponsons on the lower hull.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Single-engine amphibian with pusher engine above fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Single-engine amphibian with pusher engine above fuselage
Sponson floats integrated into lower fuselage
High-mounted wing with single overhead pylon-mounted engine

Immediately distinctive: high wing, pylon-mounted pusher engine above the fuselage centreline, boat hull with prominent sponsons, and retractable undercarriage; no other production amphibian shares this configuration.

Specifications

The Lake LA-4 has a length of 7.6 m (25 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.58 m (38 ft).
Its maximum speed is 233 km/h (145 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed from the Colonial Skimmer of the 1940s, the LA-4 entered production under Lake Aircraft in the late 1950s and became a popular choice for pilots wanting amphibious capability in a manageable single-engine package. Production continued under various owners into the 1990s.

Variants

The LA-4-200 Buccaneer and LA-4-200EP are the principal variants; the six-seat LA-250 Renegade is a stretched derivative with a turbocharged engine.

Where you'll see it

Operated throughout North America, the Caribbean, and elsewhere by private owners and small charter operators; valued for access to water and land airports.

Related aircraft

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