Aeroryan AR-104D “Enhanced Caroline”

The Aeroryan AR-104 "Caroline" was designed in 1953 and first flew in 1956. Based on drawings of the Lisunov Li-2 provided by the Soviet Union, its initial differences from the Li-2/DC-3 seemed to be only a lengthened fuselage and a unique tri-motor configuration—a nose engine, similar to that of the Junkers Ju-52, provided extra power for Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) capability to adapt to most terrains. However, starting with the AR-104B in 1962, the AR-104's tail was heightened and redesigned, its shape coming closer to the Antonov An-24, and its cabin windows were changed to rounded corners.

The AR-104D first flew in 1973. It was the final variant in the AR-104 series to use fully mechanical instruments and control cables. Although subsequent AR-104E/F models progressively adopted full glass cockpits, production of the AR-104D continued until 2009 due to its irreplaceable, absolute reliability. From the first-generation model in 1953 to the D variant, two decades of improvements focused entirely on enhancing the redundancy and maintainability of the mechanical systems. Consequently, even after the partially electronic E model was introduced in 1989, market demand for the D model remained strong.

In subsequent variants, the AR-104E was only partially electronic, the 1998 AR-104F fully adopted a glass cockpit, and the AR-104G was equipped with entirely new avionics and advanced turboprop engines. The AR-104D remains in service today with many small nations, as well as with airlines and air force units in remote regions of its home country, continuing to write a legend that transcends eras.

Controls: AG8 starts all three engines.

This is my first original work with a fully detailed cockpit and my current part-intensive, self-made model (though the part count is still only 132, with most belonging to the cockpit, and there is no passenger cabin interior).

Aeroryan AR-104D “Enhanced Caroline”
Aeroryan AR-104 “Caroline”设计于1953年，1956年首飞，基于苏联提供的里-2图纸，最初与里-2/DC-3的差别似乎只是机身的长度以及独特的三发布局——类似容克Ju-52的机头引擎用于提供足以适应大部分地形进行短距起降的额外动力，但从1962年的AR-104B开始，AR-104将原来尾翼进行加高并重新设计，形状更接近安-24，舷窗也换为了圆角。AR-104D首飞于1973年，是AR-104系列最后一款使用全机械仪表和拉杆钢索的改型，虽然后续的AR-104E/F逐步全面换装玻璃座舱，但AR-104D由于其不可替代的绝对可靠性持续生产至2009年。从1953年的初代到D型，二十年的改进全部聚焦于提升机械系统的冗余与维护便利。因此，当部分电子化的E型（1989年）问世后，市场对D型的需求依然强劲。在后续改型中，AR-104E只有部分电子化，1998年的AR-104F全面换装玻璃座舱，而AR-104G则换装了全新航电系统和先进的涡轮螺旋桨发动机。AR-104D目前仍服役于许多小国及本国偏远地区的航空公司和空军部队，持续书写着一段跨越时代的佳话。
控制：AG8启动三台引擎
这是我首架拥有完整细节驾驶舱的原创作品，也是目前零件数最多的自主作品（虽然还是只有132个，大部分属于驾驶舱，并且没有客舱）。