Boris Ivanovich Cheranovskij

...-December 17, 1960

Boris Ivanovich Cheranovsky was a pioneer designer of flying wings. His early 'parabolas' were first in the world full-size aircraft, built following this concept. Moreover, his experimental planes remained the 'cleanest' tailless flying wings for a long time.
His first project was resented to the TsAGI in 1921 - and received serious disbelieve. Many decorated 'professors' objected against this unusual concept. But wind tunnel studies of several models proved that 'flying wing' should fly.
In 1924 two flying wing gliders of B.I.Cheranovskij (BICh-1 and BICh-2) were presented at the Glider Contest. Pilot was almost hidden inside of the thick 'inhabited' wing. Whole trailing edge was formed by ailerons and elevators. The rudder was rather tradition than a necessity, because ailerons alone provided sufficient direction control.
BICh-1 had quite a 'prototypish' performance, but following BICh-2 was a normal experimental glider with fine handling and stability. It was the world first successful flying wing aircraft.
The BICh-2 became a airframe prototype for the BICh-3 (1926) - the world first successful powered 'flying wing'! Seven other tailless flying wing aircraft followed, all of wooden design with typically fabric skin.
The most outstanding project became the BICh-26. This 1948 project, intended for speed Mach1.7, included compound-sweep tailles delta wing, bifurcated air intakes, cockpit canopy similar to one of F-16 'Falcon' and other features seen at modern jets.
Boris Ivanovich Cheranovskij is author of about 30 different glider and airplane designs.
Modified April 4, 1998
by Alexandre Savine;		 Back to
Main Gate