Topics

46

Combat Warplanes / Vickers Vista flying boat

« on: October 27, 2021, 05:38:36 PM »

In 1927, the Canadian branch of the British aircraft company Vickers began work on the project of a single-seat flying boat Vista. It was planned that it would enter service with the Royal Canadian Air Force. The project was headed by designer Reginald Mitchell, the future creator of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter. October 27, 1927 - the first flight of the Canadian Vickers Vista flying boat.

It was a flying high-wing boat with a pusher propeller and a duralumin hull. The wings were made of wood and covered with canvas. The Armstrong-Siddeley Genet engine (75 hp) was installed, the maximum speed was 145 km/h.

Vista was the first monoplane developed by Canadian Vickers. During the tests, its flight characteristics were not impressed, and the aircraft was not launched into mass production. The only Canadian Vickers Vista built was used to investigate the corrosion of its duralumin hull.

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Combat Warplanes / Dornier Do Y

« on: October 17, 2021, 04:27:44 PM »

In 1930, Dornier Flugzeugwerke and designer Claude Dornier began work on a new aircraft. It was conceived as a further development of the Do P bomber . Due to the limitations of the Versailles Peace Treaty, the aircraft was presented as a transport. But the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, which was looking for bombers for its Air Force, became interested in the project. So the plane got its designation - Do Y (Y ? Yougoslavie). October 17 , 1931 - the first flight of the Dornier Do Y bomber .

It was an incongruous all-metal high-wing with a non-retractable landing gear. 2 = Gnome-Rh?ne 9Kers engines (600 hp) were installed in the wing nacelles, another one was placed on top of the fuselage. The maximum speed is 300 km/h, the flight range is 1500 km. Armament ? 5 ? 7.7 mm machine guns + 1.2 tons of bombs.

In total , 4 Do Y bombers were built . They were in service with the Royal Yugoslav Air Force until 1939. Later they were converted into transport aircraft.

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Combat Warplanes / ?sterreichische Aviatik D.I

« on: October 16, 2021, 06:36:32 PM »

In the summer of 1916, the German engineer Julius von Berg became the chief designer of ?sterreichisch-Ungarische Flugzeugfabrik Aviatik. One of his first projects was a single-seat fighter, designated D.I. Work on it began in August 1916 and was completed in 2 months. October 16, 1916 - the first flight of the fighter ?sterreichische Aviatik D.I (aka Berg D.I).

D.I was a typical biplane for those years with a non-retractable landing gear. The Austro-Daimler 6 engine (197 hp) was installed on the 38 series aircraft, the maximum speed was 185 km / h, there was enough fuel for 2.5 hours of flight. The armament consisted of 2 ? 8 mm Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 machine guns.

Although the first flight of the D.I ended in an accident, the aircraft was brought to mass production. He became the first serial Austro-Hungarian fighter of his own design. In total, over 700 fighters were produced, which were actively used until the very end of the First World War.

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Combat Warplanes / Nakajima Ki-27

« on: October 15, 2021, 06:56:43 PM »

In 1935, the Japanese Army Air Force announced a competition to develop a new fighter. It was supposed to replace the outdated Kawasaki Ki-10 biplane. Among the three companies that submitted their projects for the competition was Nakajima with its Ki-27 fighter. October 15, 1936 - the first flight of the Nakajima Ki-27 fighter.
It was a single-seat all-metal low-wing with a non-retractable landing gear. The Nakajima Kotobuki engine (650 hp) allowed speeds up to 444 km/h. The combat radius is 627 km . Armament ? 2 ? 7.7 mm Type 89 machine gun on early models and 12.7 mm Ho machine gun-103 + 7,7- mm machine gun on the late. It could also carry 4 ? 25 kg bombs.

The tests showed that the Ki-27 was inferior to the fighters of other companies in speed, but noticeably superior in maneuverability. In 1937, it was adopted under the designation Type 97. 3368 Ki-27 fighters were produced. Except #Japan, they were in service with the Air Forces of Manchukuo, Thailand, China and Indonesia.

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Miscellaneous Subjects / Rohr 2-175

« on: October 14, 2021, 11:28:21 AM »

Burt Raynes, president of the aerospace company Rohr Industries, decided to enter the light aviation market in 1974. The famous designer Walter E. Mooney was invited to develop the first aircraft. The project received the designation 71X, but was later renamed 2-175. October 14, 1974 - the first flight of the Rohr 2-175 light aircraft.

Mooney designed a low-wing aircraft with a triangular wing and a non-retractable landing gear. The aircraft was made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic. The Lycoming engine (150 hp) rotated the pusher screw in the annular fairing. The name 2-175 meant that the plane had 2 seats for the pilot and passenger and its speed was 175 mph (281.63 km/h)

Rohr 2-175 performed well during test flights. But Roper Industries started having financial problems and the project had to be curtailed. We managed to build only 2 flying prototypes and 1 aircraft for ground testing. They (as well as all project documentation) were disposed of.

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Miscellaneous Subjects / Junkers Ju 52/1m

« on: October 13, 2021, 04:37:02 PM »

Junkers Luftverkehr Persian airline, which was part of Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke, in 1929 proposed to develop a new transport aircraft. The main requirements are the transportation of 2 tons of cargo at a distance of 800 km. The work on the Ju 52/1m project was started by a team of engineers led by Ernst Zindel. October 13, 1930 - the first flight of the Junkers Ju 52/1m transport aircraft.

It was an all-metal low-wing with a non-retractable landing gear (wheeled, ski and float) and a typical Junkers corrugated duralumin skin. It was equipped with a BMW VII engine (504 hp) Cruising speed - 165 km / h, flight range - 1500 km. Took on board 15 passengers or 2170 kg of cargo.

The Ju 52/1m was not particularly successful ? only 7 aircraft were built. The reason is banal ? one engine was not enough both in power and in terms of safety. Therefore, Zindel converted the Ju 52/1m into a three-engine aircraft. This is how the famous and much more successful Ju 52/3m appeared.

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Combat Warplanes / FMA Ae. MB.2

« on: October 09, 2021, 03:54:16 PM »

In 1932, the Argentine Army commissioned the Institute of Aeronautics in Cordoba to develop a light bomber. It was intended to replace the outdated French-made Breguet XIX. Fabrica Militar de Aviones (FMA) was to produce the new aircraft. It received the designation FMA Ae. MB.2 Bambi. October 9, 1935 - the first flight of the FMA Ae. MB.2 Bombi light bomber.

It was a low-wing of a mixed design (wooden wing + fuselage made of duralumin pipes + linen skin) with a non-retractable landing gear. It was equipped with a Wright SGR-1820-F3 Cyclone engine (715 hp) Maximum speed - 285 km/ h, flight range - 600 km. Armament ? 7.65 mm machine gun + 11.43 mm machine gun + up to 400 kg of bombs. The first variants were equipped with a turret of 2 ? 7.65 mm machine guns.

Tests have shown that Ae. MB.2 Bombi is inferior to foreign analogues. But it was still put into mass production. 15 bombers were released, which carried out reconnaissance and patrol missions in the Argentine Air Force.

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Miscellaneous Subjects / Aero 45

« on: October 08, 2021, 12:45:32 PM »

The Aero 45S "Super Aero" light aircraft stands in front of transport containers, in which its brethren are already packed in disassembled form. Czechoslovakia, 1959. It can be seen that the screws and wing consoles were removed from the aircraft for transportation, and the cockpit glazing was also closed. The inscription "Aeroflot" and used CCCP-92906 clearly indicate to us the recipient of the cargo - the USSR. According to the flight number, it was possible to find out that the planes in the photo went to the Kazakh SSR.

"Super Aero" differed from its predecessor with more advanced navigation equipment. The definition of "air taxi" was ideally suited to the entire Aero 45 line. These planes could fly at different times of the day and in difficult weather conditions. "45" indicates a capacity of 4-5 passengers in a spacious cabin. In addition to friends under the Warsaw Pact, Aero 45 were also delivered to Western countries - Italy and Switzerland.

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Miscellaneous Subjects / Langley Aerodrome A

« on: October 07, 2021, 09:09:39 PM »

Attempts at manned flight on an aircraft with an engine were made even before the flight of the Wright brothers' Flyer I. One of the closest to success was the inventor Samuel Langley, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. After successful flights of unguided models with a steam engine, in 1898 he received a grant from the US Army to develop a manned airplane. October 7 , 1903 - the first attempt to fly an airplane Langley Aerodrome A.

By 1903, Aerodrome A was built with tandem wings, a cruciform tail and a 52 hp Manly engine. A barge with a catapult was supposed to be used for takeoff.

Aerodrome was tested over the Potomac River under the control of engineer Charles Manly. Unfortunately, he crashed into the water immediately after takeoff. Manly was not injured and the plane was decided to be restored. The second attempt took place on December 8, 1903 and was also unsuccessful. And after 9 days, the Wright brothers flew.

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Combat Warplanes / Hawker Tornado

« on: October 06, 2021, 05:06:23 PM »

The Hawker Hurricane fighter has just been put into service, and Hawker Siddeley Aircraft has already begun work on its replacement. In parallel, 2 projects developed - N-type (Napier Sabre engine) and R-type (Rolls-Royce Vulture engine). The R-type fighter was designated Tornado. In the spring of 1938, the British Aviation Ministry ordered the construction of a prototype. October 6, 1939 - the first flight of the Hawker Tornado piston fighter.

The Tornado was a single-seat low-wing with a retractable landing gear. The first prototype was powered by a Rolls-Royce Vulture II engine (1,760 hp) with a maximum speed of 641 km/h and a flight range of 965 km. Armament ? 12 ? 7.7mm Browning machine guns or 4 ? 20 mm Hispano guns.

Although the preliminary tests ended successfully, but due to problems with the Tornado engine, it was never put into mass production. Only 4 prototypes were built, on which different engines were tested, and later propellers. The project was closed in 1942.

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Miscellaneous Subjects / SNCASE SE-2100

« on: October 04, 2021, 05:20:17 PM »

In 1944, the Soci?t? nationale des constructions aeronautiques du Sud-Est (SNCASE) began work on the project of a light two-seat aircraft SE.2100. The project was led by designer Pierre Satre? the future chief designer of the supersonic airliner A?rospatiale/BAC Concorde. October 4, 1945 - the first flight of the light aircraft SNCASE SE-2100 (aka Sud-Est SE-2100).

The SE.2100 was an all-metal low-wing tailless plane with a swept (55?) wing and a non-retractable landing gear. The Renault 4Pei engine (190 hp) rotated the pusher screw. Cruising speed ? 198 km / h. Flight range - 500 km.

In fact, the SE.2100 was an experimental aircraft for testing the "tailless" scheme. It was built in a single copy and was not planned to be put into mass production. After its first flight under the control of pilot Pierre Cadot, the SE.2100 was tested for several more years. After 1952, his traces are lost.

57

Combat Warplanes / Lat?co?re 290

« on: October 03, 2021, 12:41:45 PM »

In 1927, Lat?co?re developed the successful Lat?co?re 28 mail plane. After 2 years, the company's designers decided to take it as the basis for the torpedo bomber project. The new aircraft received the designation Lat?co?re 290. On October 3, 1931, the first flight of the Lat?co?re 290 torpedo bomber took place.

Similar in design to its predecessor, the Lat?co?re 290 was a high-wing with a non-retractable landing gear (a wheeled chassis was installed at the factory, which was later changed to a float one). It was equipped with a Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr engine (650 hp) Maximum speed - 210 km / h, flight range - 700 km. The armament consisted of 3 ? 7.7 mm machine guns + 1 torpedo or 2 ? 150 kg bombs.

After successful tests, the Lat?co?re 290 began to enter the French Naval Aviation squadrons. 35 aircraft of the main modification + 3 experimental ones were produced, differing mainly in engines. Lat?co?re 290 operated until 1939.

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Miscellaneous Subjects / Junkers Ju 49

« on: October 02, 2021, 03:07:14 PM »

In 1928, the German Aviation Research Institute began research in the field of high-altitude flights. Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke has received an order to develop an experimental high-altitude aircraft. The project received the designation Ju 49. October 2, 1931 ? the first flight of the experimental high-altitude aircraft Junkers Ju 49.

The Ju 49 was an all-metal low-wing with a non-retractable landing gear. A special pressurized cabin with heating and small portholes, designed for 2 crew members, was installed inside the fuselage. The Junkers L88a engine specially designed for this aircraft (800 hp) allowed it to reach speeds of up to 146 km/h.

During its first flights, the Ju 49 was able to climb to an altitude of 6000 meters, 2 years later - to an altitude of 6000 m, in 1935 - to 12450 m. The experience gained was later used in the development of high-altitude bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. The only Ju 49 built crashed in October 1937.

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Combat Warplanes / Blackburn B-5 Baffin

« on: September 30, 2021, 03:11:36 PM »

In 1929, the Blackburn Ripon torpedo bomber began to arrive in the squadrons of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. It was equipped with an outdated Napier Lion engine, so after 3 years Blackburn Aircraft began working on updating this aircraft. Taking Ripon as a basis, the company developed a project for the B5 Baffin torpedo bomber. September 30, 1932 - the first flight of the Blackburn B-5 Baffin torpedo bomber.

The differences from Ripon were minimal. The B-5 was a two-seat biplane with a non-retractable landing gear. The Bristol Pegasus I. M3 radial engine (565 hp) allowed speeds up to 219 km/ h. The flight range was 790 km. The armament consisted of 2 ? 7.92 mm machine guns + 820 kg torpedo or 740 kg bombs.

After comparative tests, the B-5 Baffin was adopted. A total of 97 aircraft were produced, all versions. In addition to the British Navy, they were also in service with the New Zealand Air Force.

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Combat Warplanes / Antonov AN-74

« on: September 29, 2021, 08:46:08 PM »

In 1982, the Antonov Design Bureau began work on a specialized version of the AN-72 for use in the Arctic and Antarctic. The modified aircraft received the designation AN-72A ("Arctic"). A year later, the name of the project was officially changed to AN-74. September 29, 1983 - the first flight of the AN-74 transport aircraft.

Like its predecessor, the AN-74 was a high-wing aircraft with a T-shaped tail. 2 ? D-36 engines with a thrust of 63.7 kN are installed above the wing to increase lift due to the Coanda effect. It differed from the AN-72 with a more powerful auxiliary power plant, larger tanks, an anti-icing wing system, etc. It took on board up to 10 passengers or 5000 kg of cargo. Cruising speed - 700 km / h, flight range - 4150 km.

After successfully passing the tests, the AN-74 was put into serial production. 81 aircraft were produced (the last one was in 2013). More than 50 of them are currently in operation in Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Iran, etc.