- Sikorsky Russky Vityaz
infobox Aircraft
name = Russky Vityaz
type = four-engine passenger aircraft
manufacturer =Igor Sikorsky
caption = Improved version with four propellers.
designer =Igor Sikorsky
first flight =May 10 ,1913
introduction =
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 1
program cost=
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =The Sikorsky Russky Vityaz ("Русский витязь" in Russian, or Russian Knight), also called Le Grand, was the first four-
engine aircraft in the world, designed and built byIgor Sikorsky inRussia in the spring of 1913.Sikorsky conceived the "Russky Vityaz" in 1911, when no known
aircraft could lift more than 600kilograms . The carrying capacity record belonged to a French pilot Ducis, who had flown 800meters with a load of 600 kg. On hearing about the ongoing construction of the Russky Vityaz and its capabilities in the early spring of 1913, the experts and the media around the world were predicting its complete failure. However, the first aerial test of the Russky Vityaz onMay 10 ,1913 was successful. At the time, many people in other parts of the world considered it to be a newspaperhoax , and did not believe it. Observers believed that an aircraft with such dimensions would never leave the ground.The Russky Vityaz was a four-engine multi-
stanchion biplane with different-sizedwing s. The dual-spar wings had arectangular form and a depth of 2.5 m. The distance between the wings was 2.5 m, as well. Itsfuselage represented agirder with a rectangular section, trimmed withplywood sheets. The aircraft had a cabin with a duplicated steering column, two passenger cabins and a storage room for spare parts. There was also an area in the pilot's cabin equipped with asearchlight andmachine gun . Theaileron s on the upper wings secured the aircraft’s stability. The Russky Vityaz was equipped with four engines, installed in tandem (it was designed as a two-engine plane).After the Russky Vityaz's first test flights between
May 10 andMay 27 ,1913 , it was established that a passenger could even walk around the cabins without causing any problems to stability. The aircraft left the ground after a 700-metertakeoff run.Unfortunately, Sikorsky’s aspirations for the Russky Vityaz proved to be short-lived. While parked on the
runway , the aircraft was crushed by an engine, which had fallen off the landing one-passenger Morane aircraft. Sikorsky decided not to repair the seriously damaged Russky Vityaz and began working on his next brainchild – the famous "Ilya Muromets".pecifications (Russky Vityaz)
Aircraft specification
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=3
length main=20 mlength alt=65 ft 7 in
span main=
*Top wing: 27 m (88 ft 7 in)
*Bottom wing: 20 m
span alt=65 ft 7 in
height main=4mheight alt=
area main=120 m²area alt=1,290 ft²
empty weight main=3,400 kgempty weight alt=7,495 lb
loaded weight main=4,000 kgloaded weight alt=8,820 lb
max takeoff weight main=4,940 kgmax takeoff weight alt=10,890 lb
more general=
engine (prop)=Argus Motoren
type of prop=inline engines
number of props=4
power main=75 kW
power alt=100 hp
max speed main=90 km/hmax speed alt=55 mph
range main=170 kmrange alt=105 mi
ceiling main=600 mceiling alt=1,970 ft
climb rate main=climb rate alt=
loading main=loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=ee also
aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
sequence=Sikorsky Ilya Muromets -Sikorsky Alexander Nevsky
see also=
lists=
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