Chyeranovskii BICh-11

The BICh-11 (a.k.a. RP-1) (Raketnyii Planer – rocket glider) was a twin-engined tailless research aircraft designed and built in the USSR from 1931.

BICh-11
Role Research
National origin USSR
Manufacturer Chyeranovskii
Designer Boris Ivanovich Chyeranovskii
First flight early 1932
Number built 1

Development

The BICh-11 was the first purpose-designed rocket-powered aircraft in the world. It was planned to power the BICh-11 with two Tsander OR-2 liquid fuelled rocket engines; however it was never flown with the rocket engines as they had not been proven safe for use in manned aircraft. Flight testing began early in 1932 as a bungee-launched glider with ski undercarriage. Later flight tests used an ABC Scorpion piston engine.

The 50 kg (110 lb) thrust Tsander OR-2 engines were to have been mounted either side of the central nacelle in small over-wing fairings, with large liquid-oxygen and gasoline tanks mounted forward of the engines' combustion chambers. The rocket engines were successfully bench run in 1933, but were never installed in the aircraft.

Variants
  • BICh-11 – Twin rocket powered tail-less aircraft
  • RP-1 – Alternate designation for BICh-11

Specifications (BICh-11 with ABC Scorpion)

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

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 12.1 m (39 ft 8.5 in)
  • Wing area: 20 m2 (215 sq ft)
  • Powerplant: 1 × ABC Scorpion , 26.1 kW (35 hp)

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

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