The Moscow Aviation Institute BB-MAI (Russian: ББ-МАИ) was a Soviet light bomber/attack plane prototype aircraft. Designed in 1939 by Peter Grushin of the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI, hence the designation), it was delayed by problems with the new Klimov M-105 engine and eventually only a single prototype was built. While the design was not accepted for serial production, it was the first Soviet aircraft to use a tricycle landing gear and one of the first to feature a supercharger and leading-edge slats.
| BB-MAI | |
|---|---|
| Role | light bomber attack aircraft |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer | Moscow Aviation Institute |
| Designer | Peter Grushin |
| First flight | 1940 |
| Status | prototype only |
| Number built | 1 |
Design and development
editThe work on the design was started in 1938, but was delayed by the fact that the intended powerplant, the modern Klimov M-105 engine, was still under development.[1] In early 1939 work commenced on the first prototype, but proceeded at a very slow pace.[1] The construction team was led by A.A. Lebedinski and A.A. Manucharov.[1] It was not until late 1940 that the prototype was completed and flight-tested by MAI's own test pilot A.N. Grinchik.[1] By that time the Soviet Air Forces lost interest in the design and focused on the more advanced Ilyushin Il-2 instead.[1] As neither this design nor the even more revolutionary Sh-MAI were accepted, the Design Bureau of the Moscow Aviation Institute was disbanded and its head Pyotr Grushin was sent to Kharkov as the new head of a local Aircraft Factory No. 135.[1]
The two-spar wings of BB-MAI were of mixed construction typical to other Soviet experimental designs of the era.[1] Each wing was equipped with leading-edge slats and was composed of three crescent-shaped caisson sections, each formed of fanera – layers of plywood strengthened with glue and bakelite.[1] The fuselage was a typical wooden monocoque reinforced with fanera.[1] The materials used in the BB-MAI were designed at the VIAM Institute.[1] The relatively small wings resulted in relatively high wing loading to maximise the aircraft's cruising speed.[1]
The engine was equipped with a new experimental TsIAM supercharger powered by exhaust fumes.[1] The aircraft was equipped with a modern tricycle landing gear, with the front wheel retracting into a bay in front of the engine's radiator, while main gears retracted into wing bays close to the fuselage.[1]
Specifications (BB-MAI)
editData from Volkov, op. cit.[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
- Wingspan: 10.00 m (32 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 15.20 m2 (163.6 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 2,965 kg (6,537 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,490 kg (7,694 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Klimov M-105 V12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 780 kW (1,050 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 550 km/h (340 mph, 300 kn)
- Range: 500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 9,000 m (30,000 ft)
- Wing loading: 210 kg/m2 (43 lb/sq ft)
References
editNotes
editBibliography
edit- Andersson, Lennart (1997). Soviet Aircraft and Aviation 1917–1941. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-859-3.
- Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.
- Nĕmeček, Václav (1989). "Grušin BB-MAI". Letectví a Kosmonautika (in Czech). Vol. LXV, no. 4. p. 29. ISSN 0024-1156.
- Dale Volkov (ed.). ББ-МАИ [BB-MAI]. Ugolok neba (in Russian). Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
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