The SAI KZ III Lærke ("lark") was a Danish light utility aircraft used by the Danish Air Ambulance Service and Danish Air Force.

The first KIII was built during the German occupation of Denmark and first flew on 11 September 1944. With German permission it was transferred to the Redningskorpset (Rescue Service). A second war-time example was smuggled to Sweden. The two wartime aircraft had Gipsy Minor I engines.

The KIII had a high wing braced by V-struts to the lower fuselage. Its fuselage had a steel tube structure and, like the rest of the aircraft, had fabric covering. Its two front seats shared dual controls. Slotted flaps and fixed, full span slots provided a gentle stall. Many of these went to flying clubs, mostly in Denmark but with sales to several near-by countries. A few went further, one to Singapore and another to India, where its airframe still survives.

|prime units?=met

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General characteristics

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|crew=two

|length m=6.6

|span m=9.6

|height m=2.1

|wing area sqm=13

|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->

|airfoil=NACA 23012

|empty weight kg=368

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight lb=

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight kg=706

|max takeoff weight note=with auxiliary tank full, and extra luggage

|fuel capacity= in main fuselage tank and in auxiliary tank

|more general=

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Powerplant

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|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Blackburn Cirrus Minor II

|eng1 type=four cylinder inverted air-cooled in-line piston engine

|eng1 hp=100

|prop blade number=2

|prop name=Weybridge

|prop dia m=1.9

|prop dia note=wooden fixed pitch propeller

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Performance

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|max speed kmh=185

|max speed note=at sea level

|cruise speed kmh=170

|cruise speed note=at 2,200 rpm<br/>

  • Landing speed:

|stall speed kmh=

|stall speed mph=

|stall speed kts=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed mph=

|never exceed speed kts=

|never exceed speed note=

|range km=500

|ferry range km=805

|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->

|ceiling m=4115

|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->

|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->

|glide ratio=1:8 (flaps up); 1:5 (flaps down)

|climb rate ftmin=700

|time to altitude=

|wing loading kg/m2=48.83

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|power/mass=9.72 kg/kW (16 lb/hp)

|more performance=<br/>

  • Take-off run:
  • Landing run:

|avionics=

See also

References

Further reading

  • Profile at The Danish Collection of Vintage Aircraft