Path: news.nzbot.com!not-for-mail
From: Miloch <Miloch_member@newsguy.com>
Newsgroups: alt.binaries.pictures.aviation
Subject: Polikarpov Po-2
Date: 18 Feb 2017 07:35:27 -0800
Organization: NewsGuy - Unlimited Usenet $23.95
Lines: 121
Message-ID: <o89pjv0nmt@drn.newsguy.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: p561bfb46c65fcd03afa03636e38bbddcfc3f86064b4a6628.newsdawg.com
User-Agent: Direct Read News 5.60
X-Received-Bytes: 5282
X-Received-Body-CRC: 1667832149
Xref: news.nzbot.com alt.binaries.pictures.aviation:5492
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polikarpov_Po-2
The Polikarpov Po-2 (also U-2) served as a general-purpose Soviet biplane,
nicknamed Kukuruznik (Russian: ??????????, from Russian "kukuruza" (????????)
for maize; thus, "maize duster" or "crop duster"), NATO reporting name "Mule".
The reliable, uncomplicated concept of the Po-2's design made it an ideal
training aircraft, as well as doubling as a low-cost ground attack, aerial
reconnaissance, psychological warfare and liaison aircraft during war, proved to
be one of the most versatile light combat types to be built in the Soviet Union.
As of 1978 it remained in production for a longer period of time than any other
Soviet-era aircraft.
It is one of the most produced aircraft, and may be the most produced biplane
with production possibly as high as 30,000 Po-2s built between 1928 and 1959.
However, production figures for Polikarpov U-2 and Po-2 bombers and trainers
combined are between 20,000 and 30,000. with production ending as early as 1952.
Correct figures are hard to come by since low-rate production by small repair
shops and air clubs likely continued until 1959.
The aircraft was designed by Nikolai Polikarpov to replace the U-1 trainer (a
copy of the British Avro 504), itself known as Avrushka to the Soviets. Its name
was changed to Po-2 in 1944, after Polikarpov's death, according to the new
Soviet naming system, usually using the first two letters of the designer's
family name, or the design bureau that created it.
The prototype of the U-2, powered by a 74 kW (99 hp) Shvetsov M-11 air-cooled
five cylinder radial engine, first flew on 7 January 1928 piloted by M.M.
Gromov. Aircraft from the pre-production series were tested at the end of 1928
and serial production started in 1929 in Factory number 23 in Leningrad.
Production in the Soviet Union ended in 1953, but license-built CSS-13 were
still produced in Poland until 1959.
Role
Utility biplane
Manufacturer
Polikarpov
First flight
24 June 1927
Introduction
1929
Primary users
Soviet Air Force
Aeroflot
DOSAAF
Produced
1928-1952
Number built
From the beginning, the U-2 became the basic Soviet civil and military trainer
aircraft, mass-produced in a "Red Flyer" factory near Moscow. It was also used
for transport, and as a military liaison aircraft, due to its STOL capabilities.
Also from the beginning it was produced in an agricultural aircraft variant,
what earned it its nickname Kukuruznik. Although entirely outclassed by
contemporary aircraft, the Kukuruznik served extensively on the Eastern Front in
World War II, primarily as a liaison, medevac and general supply aircraft. It
was especially useful for supplying Soviet partisans behind the front line.
Manufacturing of the Po-2 in the USSR ceased in 1949, but until 1959 a number
were assembled in Aeroflot repair workshops.
The Polish Air Force used these slow and manoeuvrable aircraft for air
reconnaissance and COIN operations against UPA bands in mountainous area of
Bieszczady. Pilots and navigators were dispatched to look for concentrations of
UPA forces and if needed, engage them with machine guns and grenades. On several
occasions, the UPA managed to bring down some of the Po-2s, but never captured
or operated them.
North Korean forces used the Po-2 in a similar role during the Korean War. A
significant number of Po-2s were fielded by the Korean People's Air Force,
inflicting serious damage during night raids on United Nations bases. During one
such attack, a lone Po-2 attacked Pyongyang airfield in northwestern Korea.
Concentrating on the 8th Fighter-Bomber Group's parking ramp, the Po-2 dropped a
string of fragmentation bombs squarely across the group's lineup of P-51
Mustangs. Eleven Mustangs were damaged, three so badly that they were destroyed
when Pyongyang was abandoned several days later.
Specifications (U-2)
General characteristics
Crew: 1, pilot/instructor
Capacity: 1, passenger/student
Length: 8.17 m (26 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 11.40 m (37 ft 5 in)
Height: 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in)
Empty weight: 770 kg (1,698 lb)
Useful load: 260 kg (573 lb)
Loaded weight: 1,030 kg (2,271 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 152 km/h (82 kn, 94 mph)
Cruise speed: 110 km/h (59 kn, 68 mph)
Range: 630 km (340 nmi, 391 mi)
Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
Rate of climb: 2.78 m/s (546 ft/min)
Power/mass: 60 W/kg (0.04 hp/lb)
Armament
(U-2VS / LNB only)
Bombs: Six 50 kg (110 lb) bombs
*
|
|