W hen in mid-1917 concept of high speed
flying boat (see M-11,
VM-5) came to the dead end, 2nd Capt. Scherbachev came up with idea of a 'counter-fighter'. It was
a land-based single-seat monoplane aircraft with dropable wheel gear, designed to land on water surface. At the moment of
landing engine had to be stopped and propeller blocked in horizontal position.
On Summer 1917 the UMA
decided to proceed with this project. 'Counter-fighter' was ordered to D.P.Grigorovich,
AIS bureau and A.Yu.Villish. The expected 'champion' was
D.P.Grigorovich, but only A.Yu.Villish came up with complete project.
Other two contenders bailed out.
Project was ready in details on September 13, 1917. It included not
just an aircraft, but also a catapult. Rails, undercarriage, compressed air system were well designed. Construction started
at the end of 1917 and almost finished in Spring
1918. Waterproof boat-shaped fuselage was covered with plywood.
Tail was very slim.
Disturbed political situation did not allow A.Yu.Villish to finish the project. As a landlord and
exploiter he was obviously in danger. Though he left Russia for his home land, and never returned to aircraft construction.
References:
"History of aircraft construction in the USSR" by
V.B.Shavrov, Vol.1 p.255-256;
| Technical data |
|---|
