Grigorovich TB-5
TB-5 | |
---|---|
Role | Heavy bomber |
National origin | Soviet Union |
Designer | Grigorovich |
First flight | 1931 |
Status | Retired |
Primary user | Soviet Union |
Number built | One |
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Grigorovich TB-5 (Russian: Григорович ТБ-5) was an experimental heavy bomber designed and tested in the Soviet Union in the early 1930s. Designed as a competitor for TB-3, TB-5 was intended to be powered by two FED 24-cylinder X engines of 746 kW (1,000 hp) each. When these were canceled, the underwing pods were revised to each house a pair of Bristol Jupiter engines in a push-pull configuration. Despite projected performance inferior to TB-3, it was hoped that TB-5 would gain an advantage by using less metal (in short supply at the time) thanks to its mixed construction of fabric-covered metal frame.[1]
Test flights began on 1 May 1931 with disappointing results, in part due to poor thrust of the rear-facing engines.[1] The prototype TB-5 was wrecked in a crash landing following the in-flight detachment of an engine in Spring 1932,[2] and with the entry into service of the superior TB-3 that year, the TB-5 project was abandoned.[1]
Specifications (TB-5)
Data from Shavrov 1985[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: Six[3]
- Length: 22.1 m (72 ft 6 in)
- Wingspan: 31 m (101 ft 8 in)
- Height: ()
- Wing area: 150 m² (1614.6 ft²)
- Empty weight: 7,483 kg (16,497 lb)
- Loaded weight: 12,535 kg (27,635 lb)
- Powerplant: 4 × Bristol Jupiter V radial engine, 336 kW (450 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 180 km/h (97 knots, 112 mph)
- Service ceiling: 2,600 m (8,530 ft)
- Wing loading: 84 kg/m² (17 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 107 W/kg (0.07 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns: Two turrets, each with 2× 7.62 mm (0.3 in) PV-1 machine guns
- Bombs: Up to 2,500 kg (5,512 lb) of bombs
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grigorovich TB-5. |
- Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.