AK-1, TsAGI/V.L.Alexandrov/V.V.Kalinin


T
he first Soviet passenger aircraft, created within research program ordered by military.
TsAGI received an order to study aircraft design with thick wing (wooden structure), and check calculations technic used at the time. Most of job was done by V.L.Alexandrov, K.A.Kalinin and A.M.Cheremukhin performed part of calculations.
High wing monoplane with struts. Mixed construction, but mostly wood.
Project was presented to the VVS and GlavVozduhoFlot (predecessor of the Aeroflot) in February 1922, when K.A.Kalinin was suspended from students for political reasons;
Aircraft was built in April-November 1923 on GAZ-5 factory, parallel with the R-1. Flight tests (pilot Tomashevskij) started February 1 (8?) (March 8?), 1924 and continued until June 15, 1924. Funds for financing the project were collected by Latvian Sharpshooters, and AK-1 was named 'Latyshskij Strelok'.
Aircraft was transferred to 'Dobrolet';
Several flights were performed on line Moscow-Kazan' (total 11,000km). In 1925 AK-1 participated in propaganda flight Moscow-Beijing, covering 7,000km in 38 days. Flights from Beijing to other China cities also were performed.
Sources
  • [6], Vol.1 p.346-347;
    More Links
  • AK-1 at Virtual Aircraft Museum
    		• Technical data
    Type AK-1
    Function Experimental
    Passenger
    Year 1924
    Crew 2
    Engines 1*170hp Salmson
    Length 11.0m
    Wingspan 14.9m
    Wing area 37.0m2
    Empty weight 1145kg
    Loaded weight 1685kg
    Wing load 45.5kg/m2
    Power load 9.9kg/hp
    Maximum Speed (0m) 147km/h
    Climb to 1000m 16min
    Climb to 2000m 29min
    Ceiling 2200km
    Payload
    Passenger Seats 2
    (+1 on extra seat in cockpit)
    Load 540kg
    Created March 20, 1997
    by Alexandre Savine;    		 Back to
    Main Gate