1928 Russian Light Aircraft

Flight, 1 Nov 1928
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1928/1928%20-%201032.html

Under "The Russian Light Planes", three designs are mentioned (but only two illustrated).

Not illustrated is the U2 by the Aviatrust state authority. The U2 was a biplane "school machine" with a 100 hp 5-cylinder radial. Details were: loaded weight 870 kg (1,915 lb); top speed 155 km/h (96 mph); landing speed 56 km/h (35 mph); climb to 1,000 m (3,280 ft), 6 minutes; and climb to 2,000 m (6,560 ft), 16 minutes.

[In 1928, the Aviatrust Board were recruiting foreign designers to replace lost Junkers Fili staff. Does anyone have access to "Avions" n°105? I'm wondering if this design might be by André Laville or Paul Aimé Richard.]

The illustrated types were the Tri Druga and Burewestnik, two monoplanes with air-cooled flat-twin engines. Both designs were from Ossoaviachim, the paramilitary 'Society for Air and Chemical Defence'.*

Tri Druga ('Three Friends') - two-seat light sports monoplane (high, strut-braced parasol). Flight comments on the novel undercarriage arrangement. Shock absorbing is by rubber block - as the u/c legs spread under load, a wire 'axle' compresses the rubber.

Length 6.92 m (22.7 ft); span 12 m (39.4 ft); tare weight 245 kg (539 lb); gross weight 417 kg (906 lb); maximum speed 127 km/h (79 mph); and ceiling 5,250 m (17,500 ft).

Burewestnik ('Stormy Petrel') - single-seat light sports monoplane (low-wing). All-wood construction with fabric-covered wings. Undercarriage consist of a curved wooden axle carrying wooden wheels shod with leather tires.

Length 6m (19.7 ft); span 9 m (29.5 ft); tare weight 150 kg (330 lb); loaded weight 270 kg (594 lb); maximum speed 155 km/h (96 mph); and ceiling 7,000 m (23,000 ft).
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* In 1932, Flight translated Ossoaviachim as the 'Russian Society for the furtherance of Air Travel'). http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1932/1932%20-%201239.html

Hi, Apophenia!

Apophenia said:

Not illustrated is the U2 by the Aviatrust state authority. The U2 was a biplane "school machine" with a 100 hp 5-cylinder radial. Details were: loaded weight 870 kg (1,915 lb); top speed 155 km/h (96 mph); landing speed 56 km/h (35 mph); climb to 1,000 m (3,280 ft), 6 minutes; and climb to 2,000 m (6,560 ft), 16 minutes.

Click to expand...

Curiously, the picture of most famous Soviet biplane hasn't been included in the article

This is actually Nikolay Polikarpov's design - U-2 (later renamed Po-2).
The aircraft has been built in more then 33.000 examples and serves in various versions.
As a primary trainer, cropduster, air ambulance, feeder liner and lighn night bomber.
There were some restored machines are flying now.

French engineers haven't made any impact on this design, they were made several other aircraft.

Cheers,
Silencer1

Soviet Aircraft and Aviation 1917 - 1941, Lennart Andersson, Putnams.

"The U-2 (Polikarpov) that was shown in October 1928 at the International Aviation Exhibition in Berlin probably was the first prototype."

So it looks pretty certain that this is the unillustrated aircraft.

The same reference also identifies the other two aircraft as the "Nevdachin Burevestnik S-IV" and the
"Semenov-Sutugin-Gorelov Tri Druga".

Regards Bailey

Hi Bailey!

Actually, first prototype of U-2 has have little common with the mass-produced version. The wings were of thick airfoyle, empennage was of rectangular shape etc. After tests all this things were alterd, and U-2 takes it;s familiar shape.
So I suggest that the aircraft, demonstrated in Berlin was not first prototype, but one the later machines.


Above is 1st prototype of U-2 (1927), below - series production aircraft of mid-1930th.

Curious thing is that "Three friends" aircraft has been not only build by this three persons, although has a motto "Strength, simplicity and low cost - the three best friend's of Air Fleet"

Bailey said:

Soviet Aircraft and Aviation 1917 - 1941, Lennart Andersson, Putnams.
"The U-2 (Polikarpov) that was shown in October 1928 at the International Aviation Exhibition in Berlin probably was the first prototype."
The same reference also identifies the other two aircraft as the "Nevdachin Burevestnik S-IV" and the
"Semenov-Sutugin-Gorelov Tri Druga".

Click to expand...

Cheers!

Hi Silencer1

After reading Andersson again. I agree, his wording is a little bit ambiguous, but read in context I think he means the first prototype of the revised design. Well spotted

Cheers Bailey

Berlin, autumn 1928.
At the forefront of the U-2 (the second test version), then anti-clockwise:
"Burevestnik S-5 (the same S-4, but with an engine" Bristol Cherub "30 hp).;
Kalinin K-4 (ambulance with red cross);
ANT-3 / R-3 recon Tupolev’s;
"Three friends" S.Gorelov / A.Semenov / L.Sutugin
___________________________________________
A few words about the «Burevestnik» ...
Vyacheslav Nevdachin - an engineer and military pilot, built between 1922 and 1929: glider and four aviette under the title "Burevestnik".
1) sailplane "Burevestnik P-5 (L-4,9m; S-10,5m; Ar.W.-15m )
2) "Burevestnik” S-2 (engine Harley -9 h.p. L-6,0m; S-10m, Ar.w.-15m)
3) "Burevestnik” S-3 (engine Harley -12h.p. L-5,8m; S-9,8m; Ar.w.-12,5m)
4) "Burevestnik” S-4 (engine Blackburn-Tomtit -18h.p. L-5,8m, S-9,0m; Ar.w.-9,6m )
5) "Burevestnik” S-5 (engine Bristol Cherub -30h.p. L-5,8m, S-9,0m; Ar.w.-9,6m )
________________________________________________
If you think that "three friends " is Gorelov, Semenov and Sutugin then you know only half of ...
The name comes from the slogan with which the aircraft project was filed for the contest AVIAHIMa back in 1923, namely: «Strength, simplicity and cheaply - the three best friend's aircraft fleet»
In addition to this aviette was one more (at least) the product of collective efforts of the same name, is: "The three friends” A. Putilov, V. Alexandrov and brothers Pogosskih, but less successful.

1929-01/02 L'Ala d'Italia