Design of this two seat agricultural homebuilt was undertaken by Vladas Kensgaila in Lithuania. Panevezys District “Dawn” kolkhoz (Chairman Vilius Pasiukas) decided to pay the costs. Pasiukui, over the years, have not changed, and thousands of bills paid for the materials. Work began in 1987 and the construction of the prototype began in 1989 and later that year the VK-8 appeared at the 5th National Homebuilt Convention held at Riga. At that time it was the largest homebuilt in the Soviet Union and carried the Lithuanian registration LY-21. The designer was hopeful of series production.
It was an aircraft designed for agricultural, training and transport roles, and conformed to experimental regulations. It was a strut-braced low-wing monoplane, of composite construction. It had three axis control plus flaps, leading-edge slats and electric trim. Spray booms were carried below the wing trailing edges ahead of the ailerons. The undercarriage was not retractable and the main wheels were fitted with trouser fairings and brakes.
It had a high raised cockpit, slightly forward of the wing which gave a good view. An 800 litre container was carried behind the cockpit for 309 kg and the VK-8 could spray a swathe of 30 metres width. The Vedeneyev 360 hp radial engine drove a two bladed variable pitch wooden propeller with reduction gearing. The airscrew diameter was 2.75 m. Powered by a 360 hp power M 14 F engine, either the M-14P or M-14PS could be fitted.
The plane was built in two years. The VK-8 Ausra two-seat agricultural aircraft first flew in May 1989 piloted by Vlad Kensgaila, from Panevezys aviation technical sports club hangar.
Designed as a potential An-2 replacement, only one was built. It fully complied to FAR 23 standards.
Engine: 1 x Vedeneyev M-14P (268kW)
Prop dia: 2.75 m
Wing span: 14.85 m
Wing area: 28.4 sq m
Length: 9.57 m
Height: 3.74 m
Empty weight: 1140 kg
MTOW: 2,200 kgs
Max fuel: 180 litres
Max payload: 1,000 kgs
Maximum speed: 220 km/p
Cruise: 180 km/p
Economic cruising speed: 160 km/p
Stall speed: 70 km/p
Range: 450 km
Endurance: 3 hr 40 min
Take off speed: 60 km / h
Service ceiling: 4,000 m
Rate of climb: 300 m per minute
Take-off run: 60 m
Landing run: 40 m
G Stress: +3.5 & -2.0
Accommodation: 2
All Aero 