NIAI LEM-3

LEM-3
Role	Transport
National origin	USSR
Manufacturer	NIAI (Naoochno-Issledovatel'skiy Aero-Institoot - scientific test aero-institute)
Designer	Yuri Vladimirovich Domrachayev & Leonid Sergeyevich Vild'grub
First flight	early 1934
Number built	1

The LEM-3 , (a.k.a. LIG-6 (Leningradskii Institoot Grazdahnskovo Vozdooshnovo Flota- Leningrad Institute civil air fleet)), was a transport aircraft designed and built in the USSR from 1936.

Development

In 1930 the LIIPS ( - Leningrad institute for sail and communications engineers) formed a UK GVF ( - training centre for civil air fleet), in turn the UK GVF formed the NIAI (Naoochno-Issledovatel'skiy Aero-Institoot - scientific test aero-institute) which became the focus of several good design engineers who were given command of individual OKB (Osboye Konstrooktorskoye Byuro – personal design/construction bureau).

The LEM-3 was designed by Yuri Vladimirovich Domrachayev & Leonid Sergeyevich Vild'grub as a very high efficiency transport akin to a motor-glider, with high aspect ratio wings and a low-powered engine. The all wood LEM-3 had a conventional tricycle undercarriage, long span wings were supported by a truss running from approx 1/3 span to the bottom of the u/c legs to the other wing. The initial version had a side by side open cockpit, for the two pilots, and an eight seat cabin with four bench sets under hinged roof access panels with small windows as well as four cargo compartments in the enlarged wing roots. The engine drove a U-2 Propeller, with which the flight tests began in 1936. The factory testing was completed by early 1937 when the aircraft was flown to Moscow for testing at the NII GVF(Naoochno-Issledovatel'skiy Institoot Grazdahnskovo Vozdooshnovo Flota - scientific test institute for civil air fleet), unfortunately the aircraft suffered a forced landing on arrival at the NII GVF airfield and further work was abandoned. A modifiied version with a large enclosed cabin, trousered main undercarriage, anti nose-over skid and Townend ring cowling, was mooted in a contemporary drawing but there is no evidence that this version was built, modified, or flown.

Specifications (LEM-3)

Data from Gunston, Bill. "Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995". London:Osprey. 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 8
• Length: 13.3 m (43 ft 7-2/3 in)
• Wingspan: 26 m (85 ft 3-2/3 in)
• Wing area: 57 m² (613 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,050 kg (2,315 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,240 kg (4,938 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × MG-11, 74.6 kW (100 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 122 km/h (76 mph)
• Cruising speed: 100 km/h ( mph)
• Range: 800 km (497 miles)
• Service ceiling: 2,200 m (7,218 ft)

See also

Related lists

• List of aircraft
  

References

• Gunston, Bill. “The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875 – 1995”. London, Osprey. 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9