“THE BEST OF SOVIET AIRPLANES”

That was in October 1925. Just ended all-Union glider competitions in Koktebel. Among non-motorized vehicles, flown there, considerable success has and the second design assistant mechanic usernamei squadron of the air force Academy named after N. Zhukovsky, Alexander Yakovlev. Winged victory, the young designer decided to take on the matter is much more complex — to build a light sport plane, then according to the accepted terminology — the aviette.

Just at this time, the voluntary society of aviakhim announced a competition of projects of airplanes. Enthusiast of this work was existed in the Academy cell OCO Society of assistance to defense (since 1927, after the merger of the CCA and Aviahim — cell osoaviahima).

For advice and assistance Yakovlev went to the students of the Academy Vladimir Pyshnov, reputed to be an expert in aerodynamics. Pyshnov advised to do a double aviette. “This plane is more important than single — he said, — it can be used for training flights”.

The basis of the project of the aircraft, called VVA-3, was laid the task of the cell CCA for military service aviette connection with the motor 40-60 HP, landing speed 50 km/h, the maximum is not less than 120 km/h and fuel for 3 hours flight.

The work was much more difficult than the construction of the glider. Calculations and preparation of drawings took about a year. During this time, Yakovlev independently deepened the knowledge on the theory of aviation, strength calculations, strength of materials, etc., and also thoroughly studied the experience of domestic and foreign aircraft. Thus, this year was an important stage in his development as aircraft.

Technical Commission Aviahim approved the project.

Built VVA-3 under the motor “Cirrus” power of 60 HP in the club room of the Academy. The designer had to perform in the role of contractor, and draftsman, and a Treasurer, and administrator. Worked evenings. Gradually formed a group of enthusiasts, which later became the backbone of the design Bureau of A. S. Yakovlev.

The work took eight months. And along the way had to repel the attacks of the skeptics who did not believe that the 20-year-old worker and self-taught will be able to competently build an airplane, and even a brake job. But well-wishers was much more. It was the students-members of the most far-sighted leaders of the Academy.

By may 1, 1927, VVA-3, was finished and transported to the Central airfield. It was a single-strut biplane, very simple wooden structure, without complex metal parts, very lightweight (empty weight 335 kg). Chassis of steel pipes had a large margin of safety.

The first test flight, held on 12 may, a famous test pilot Yu. I. Piontkovsky, caused General rejoicing.

Flight tests, during which was performed 12 flights, convinced the Commission that the machine is stable, well managed, easy to tear off from the ground and so just sits. Even without the intervention of a pilot in the air, the plane kept steady and straight flight and turns with roll more than 50° do not lose height. Flying qualities were mostly above the specified top speed was 150 km/h, landing — 60 km/h; the flight duration was up to 4 hours of a Good climb rate and short takeoff and landing capability permits the use of even a small platform.

Other double machine with the motor “Cirrus” — the best foreign aviette “Mots” domestic and RAF-2 and were heavier (RAF-2 is almost 100 kg) and inferior in speed, range and other factors. Testers noted the thoughtful design, careful exterior trim of the aircraft.

Yakovlev and Piontkovsky submitted to the Commission on the organization of large Soviet flights of 1927, the proposal to hold a sports flight Moscow — Kharkov — Sevastopol — Moscow.

Began preparations for the first long-distance flights domestic aviette. Motor, appliances, components of the aircraft are carefully checked on the ground and in the air. In the front passenger cabin installed plus tank 50 kg of fuel, which increased the flight duration up to 8 hours shining lacquer surface caused identification sign R-R AIR (R-R — Russian Republic, the AIR — marking the aircraft).

Subsequently, when there is a new design, as Yakovlev, they also began to call Arami, and the first car was renamed the air-1. Under the famous names of the Yak, it appeared in late 1940 when, in accordance with the decision of the government of the people’s Commissar of aviation industry A. I. Shakhurin issued a decree on awarding aircraft symbols by first letters of the names of chief designers.

Air-1. The first aircraft General designer A. Yakovlev.

The start was scheduled for 9 July. In two hours the night Yu. I. Piontkovsky, A. S. Yakovlev as a passenger took off in the direction of Kharkiv. However, low clouds and continuous rain in the region of Serpukhov made the machine to return to Moscow.

Again they rose from the airfield on 12 July, again at two in the morning. This time to Kursk the weather was favorable for the flight, then due to the low cloud had reduced to 40-50 m To Sebastopol (with planting and a four-hour stay in Kharkov) flew for 10 hours and 30 minutes flying time at an average speed of 135 km/h in the evening, the crew bathed in the Black sea.

In Sevastopol in the passenger cabin installed pre-cooked tank for 90 kg Pilot, therefore, was left alone, but the total fuel capacity reached 190 lbs. With a full tank Yu. I. Piontkovsky, July 19 at 3 h 45 min flew from Sevastopol in 19 hours and 15 minutes landed at the Moscow Central airport, landing without breaking the 1420 km in 15 h 30 min I Must say that the return flight took place in extremely adverse conditions — strong frontal wind along the way, fog, rain and even hail, why the flight continued for 3 h more than expected. Average speed dropped to 92 km/h.

The plane greeted a large group of leaders of the young Soviet aviation, headed by Deputy chief of air force Ya. I. Alksnis. Soon at the request of Osoaviakhim supported by the air force chief P. I. Baranov, A. S. Yakovlev was enrolled student of the Academy.

In handed him the letter osoaviahima signed by the Deputy people’s Commissar for military and naval Affairs, I. S. Unshliht, said: “This success secured the plane Your design the world record non-stop flight for distance and duration for airplanes low power and all-Union record duration of stay in the air aircraft of all categories advanced by Soviet light aircraft on one of the first places in several other countries.”

Recall that the official world distance record without landing, was the International aviation Federation (FAI), was then only 868 km. the Soviet Union entered the FAI in 1935, so the records of air-1, previously established remained unconfirmed. And yet it was the first domestic world achievements.

Meanwhile, Ira is also had to withstand the new test. In September 1927, the plane, along with a single RAF-1 and the OGPU took part in the maneuvers of the red Army near Odessa in the role of connected cars. Single planes with weak motors 18 and 27 HP immediately “withdrew”. Air also reliably served at the headquarters of the daily took off in touch with the best parts, without difficulty, sat on a small unprepared ground and dashing off with them. Even the plowed field, rough field, were not a serious obstacle: the plane crept to this “airfield” at low speed, strong chassis and confidently took on the load.

There were days when you had to make up to 12 flights. Despite the nasty autumn weather — rain, strong wind, the plane worked perfectly n brilliantly proved its suitability for the most intense exploitation.

The test allowed the commissions aviation society and the Academy to conclude that air-1, “as the best among the other aircraft, can be recommended for serial construction”. In the letter, to celebrate the success of air-1 on maneuvers, it is also named “the best of Soviet airplanes”.

At the end of the maneuvers air-1 fulfilled agitiraat Odessa — Ochakov — Nikolaev — Kharkov — Orel — Moscow, a distance of 1,650 km, after staying in the air for 18 h followed by gitolite in the Moscow region, participation in the opening ceremony of the Moscow Planernaya station in Red, competition modelers Moscow. On air-1 has trained many pilots, he was lifted in the air peasants, pioneers, activists, osoaviahima. Operated with the same success it winter or summer, in rain, in heat, in no way inferior aircraft factory buildings.

Only from may to October 1927 aviette has performed 80 operations and flew 72 hours And in all that time there was not a single failure: never disappoint even the chassis and a crutch — a weak point not only of airplanes but also military planes of the time.

This was the first work in aircraft 20-year-old designer self-taught.

It remains to add that in 1977, the first aircraft General designer, twice hero of Socialist Labor academician A. S. Yakovlev to the 50th anniversary of its creation, it was reconstructed and took pride of place in the Museum KB.

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