Berkut Jet

This Berkut Jet was built by Jerrold Jorritsma. It was powered by a GE T58 turbine converted to a turbojet. The first flight of the aircraft took place in 2006.

The Berkut is descended from the Rutan Long-EZ, with the primary differences being retractable main landing gear, dual canopies, and molded fuselage, strakes, and spar. Like the Long EZ, the Berkut carries 2 people in tandem seats. The front seat occupant has access to all instrumentation and controls. The rear seat, normally holding the passenger, is equipped with a side stick and throttle, but no rudder pedals, brakes, or instruments.  Aerodynamically only minor changes were made.

Berkut Jet
Berkut Jet, Photo Dean Hall

Berkuts are equipped with a Lycoming piston engines with a power of 180-260 hp. These machines can reach speeds of up to 400 km/h.

With a GE T58 turbojet, the berkut jet can easily exceed 500 km/h. It has full wet wings for Jet-A1.

Jerrod installed some special speedbrakes.

Unfortunately, it was severely damaged during a forced landing following an engine failure in Loveland, CO, on May 9, 2010.

Berkut Jet
Berkut Jet. Source : with courtesy of Tom McCormick
Berkut Jet
Berkut Jet's instrument panel. Photo : courtesy of Tom McCormick
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