Polikarpov R-5

infobox Aircraft
name = R-5
type = Reconnaissance/Light Bomber
manufacturer = Polikarpov



caption =
designer =
first flight = 1928
introduced = 1931
retired = 1944
status =
primary user = Soviet Air Force
more users =
produced =
number built =
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = Polikarpov R-ZThe Polikarpov R-5 was a Soviet reconnaissance bomber aircraft of the 1930s. It was the standard light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft with the Soviet Air Force for much of the 1930s, while also being used heavily as a civilian light transport, in the order of 7,000 being built in total.

Development and design

The R-5 was developed by the design bureau lead by Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov as a replacement for the R-1, the copy of the Airco DH.9A which served as the standard reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft with the Soviet Air Force.

The prototype first flew in autumn 1928, powered by an imported German BMW VI V-12 engine. It was an unequal span single bay biplane of mainly wooden construction.

After extensive evaluation, the R-5 entered production in 1930, powered by Mikulin M-17s, a licence built copy of the BMW-VI, as a reconnaissance bomber. Further modified versions were produced to serve as floatplanes, ground attack aircraft and civil transports.

The R-5SSS, an improved reconnaissance bomber with improved streamlining, served as the basis for the Polikarpov R-Z, which succeeded the R-5 in production.

Operational history

The aircraft was designed by Nikolai Polikarpov in 1928. 1,000 aircraft were manufactured for Aeroflot under the designation P-5. The aircraft was also taken into the Soviet Air Force's use in 1931. They operated 5,000 aircraft under the designation R-5.

The R-5 became the standard reconnaissance and attack aircraft with the Soviet Air Force, being used in large numbers, with over 100 regiments equipped with the R-5. R-5s served with the Soviet Air Force during the 1939 Battle of Khalkhin Gol, took active part in Soviet invasion of Poland (1939), fought against the Japanese and the 1939-40 Winter War against Finland, where they were known as the "hermosaha" ("nerve saw"). The Finns downed and captured several R-5s, but none were taken into operational service. They remained in service during the war against Germany in 1941-45, where they were mainly used as night bombers and liaison aircraft, serving until 1944.cite web |url=http://www.aviation.ru/Po/ |title= WWW.AVIATION.RU|accessdate=2007-07-29 |format= |work= ]

R-5s were also used by the Spanish Republicans in the Spanish Civil War, 31 being sold to Spain. [cite web |url= http://avia.russian.ee/air/russia/pol_r-5.php|title= Virtual Aircraft Museum|accessdate=2007-07-29 |format= |work= ] These arrived in November 1936, and were quickly deployed on combat operations, but were found to be slow and were relegated to night bombing. [cite web |url=http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Fuerzas/Armas/AvBomb/AvBomb.htm |title= República - Aviones de bombardeo|accessdate=2007-07-29 |language= Spanish|format= |work= ] Seven R-5s remained in good condition in March 1939. The aircraft was known as the "Natasha" in the Republican Air Force.

Civil versions of the R-5 were used in large numbers, mainly with Aeroflot. They were used to carry up to 400 kg (882 lb) of freight, with many being fitted with an enlarged rear cockpit to carry two passengers. Other aircraft were fitted with enclosed cabins for passengers. P-5s could also be used to carry underwing containers capable of carrying underwing containers (or "Kasseta") for freight or passengers with one P-5 carrying 16 adults, including seven in each "Kasseta". [cite web |url= http://www.ctrl-c.liu.se/misc/ram/R-5-pods.html|title=People Pods: Early Soviet Experiments |accessdate=2007-07-29 |format= |work= ] Ski equipped P-5s carrying Kasseta paid a key role in the rescue of the crew of the ice bound Soviet steamship Chelyuskin in 1934. Civil R-5s remained in service until after the end of the Second World War.

Variants

;R-5: Main production reconnaissance bomber. Initial production powered by M-17B engine, M-17F from 1933. 4,914 produced.;R-5Sh:"Shturmovik". Ground attack variant. Additional gun armament.;R-5a: Twin float, reconnaissance seaplane. Also known as MR-5, MR-5bis or Samolet 10. 111 built 1934-35.;R-5D:Long-range version. One built.;R-5 Jumo:Experimental engine test-bed, fitted with an enlarged rear cockpit to accommodate two observers. Also known as the ED-1. ;R-5M-34:This experimental version was fitted with a M-34 engine.;R-5T:Single seat torpedo bomber with divided undercarriage to allow torpedo to be carried under fuselage.;R5-SSS:Improved version with reduced drag and increased gun armament. Also known simply as SSS. Increased performance. Over 100 built 1935-36. cite book|author=Donald, David (Editor)|title = The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft|year = 1997
publisher = Aerospace Publishing|isbn = 1-85605-375-X] ;P-5:Light transport version for Aeroflot.M-17B engine. Approximately 1000 produced by 1940.;P-5a:Twin float version of P-5 - built in small numbers.;R-5L:"Limuzin" Passenger version with cabin for two passengers. Built in small numbers in 1931.;P-5L:Revised passenger transport. Several built in 1933.;PR-5:Final modernised transport version. New semi-monocoque fuselage with enclosed cabin for four passengers. 210 converted for use by Aeroflot.;PR-12:Passenger monoplane based on PR-5. One built in 1938.;ARK-5:Arctic exploration version with enclosed, heated cockpit and streamlined containers for payload faired into lower wing and sides of fuselage. Two built.;LSh:"Legkii Shtumovik" Light armoured attack aircraft - Modified design by Grigorovich. One built 1930.;TSh-1:"Tyazheli Shtumovik" Heavily armoured ground attack aircraft (6 mm armour) based on R-5, again by Grigorovich. Three prototypes.;TSh-2:Refined derivative of Tsh-1 with new lower wings. Ten aircraft built.;ShON:Light attack version with folding wings built for counter insurgency operations against Basmachi rebels in Central Asia. 30 ordered.

Operators

;flag|Iran|1925;flagicon|Spain|1931 Spanish Republic
*Spanish Air Force;MGL;TUR;USSR
*Aeroflot
*Soviet Air Force

pecifications (1930 production)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft from 1875 - 1995 Cite book|author=Gunston, Bill|authorlink =Bill_Gunston|title=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft from 1875 - 1995|publisher=Osprey Aerospace |location=London|year=1995|isbn= 1-85532-405-9

crew=2
capacity=
length main= 10.56 m
length alt= 34 ft 7½ in
span main= 15.5 m
span alt= 50 ft 10¼ in
height main= 3.25 m cite book|last=Angelucci|first=Enzo|title=World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft|year=1981|publisher=Jane's Publishing|location= London|isbn= 0-7106-0148-4]
height alt= 10 ft 8 in
area main= 50.2m²
area alt= 540 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 1,969 kg
empty weight alt= 4,341 lb
loaded weight main= 3,247 kg
loaded weight alt= 7,158 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)=Mikulin M-17B
type of prop= water cooler V-12
number of props=1
power main= 507 kW
power alt= 680 hp
power original=

max speed main= 228 km/h
max speed alt= 123 knots, 142 mph
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 800 km
range alt= 432 nm, 497 mi
ceiling main= 6,400 m
ceiling alt= 21,000 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 64.7 kg/m²
loading alt= 13.3 lb/ft²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.16 kW/kg
power/mass alt= 0.095 hp/lb
more performance=*Climb to 1000 m (3,300 ft): 2.1 min

armament=
*One fixed forward firing PV-1 machine gun and one DA machine gun in rear cockpit
*250 kg (550 lb) bombs on bomb racks

avionics=

ee also

aircontent

related=*Polikarpov R-Z

similar aircraft=*Hawker Hart

*Curtiss Falcon

lists=* List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union

see also=

References

External links