And-4
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And-4

Fighter-4. Photo. Story. Characteristics.

 

And-4 («fourth fighter") - Easy Single polutoraplan Soviet fighter. At the time of its creation it was considered the most maneuverable aircraft in the world. Developments on the establishment and conducted in-4 1925-1927 years. It was planned to involve in the construction materials such as wood and metal elements. This is the first air combat vehicle created by a team of designers under the direction of Sukhoi Tupolev TsAGI. Series production began in 1927 year. In the period of 1928 1933 years. It was placed on the Air Force Red Army.

History of creation and-4

Designing and fighter-4 engaged AGOS TsAGI Department, headed by Tupolev. Work began on the creation at the end of the year 1925. Directly-4 the development and design teams spent P. Sukhoi. And the first option-4, which is a part of the design was the engine power 420 hp, saw the world in July 1927 years. A year later he was released and alternate-4.

And-4

Description and application

Had 2-index notation:

  • 1) ANT-5 - by the initials of the chief Soviet aircraft designer (Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev);

  • 2) I-4 - "fourth fighter". This abbreviation applied to vehicles in service.

Combat mission polutoraplanov and biplanes at the time was in charge of air combat aircraft against enemy forces in order to destroy or damage the enemy.
In the Red Army Air Force called it completely "easy maneuverable single-seat fighter and-4».

Tests and-4

Test the prototype of the new fighter was charged with test pilots M. Gromov, A. Yumashev and Kozlov.

During the tests revealed that the AND-4 has satisfactory fighting and flying qualities. In terms of top speed, acceleration and the ceiling plane ahead of all the counterparts of the time. As much maneuverability won by foreign aircraft.

And-4

After finishing the test program, and set-4 the Air Force Red Army.

Mass production

Running the model in series production in December 1927 years. He settled on the aircraft factory, headed by SP Gorbunov. Technical representatives of the ASSC to the factory sent a design engineer P. Sukhoi. The serial fighter equipped with a more powerful engine than its trial version, with a capacity of 480 hp (M-22).

The first serial copy off the line 15.10.1928. Compared with the prototype production model it was heavier and had a relatively low flight characteristics. However, based on combat performance, and-4 not concede its main competitors by air. Total 369 released copies of which were armed with at 1928 1933 years.

Leaders of the Red Army Air Force decided: And at the same time-4 put into mass production of fighter-3 And, to be designed by N. Polikarpov design using wood, metal and fabric. The military leadership of the task was to compare these fighters for flight and combat characteristics.

Modifications and experimental samples and-4

 

  • And bis-4 - monoplane, having no design as a part of the lower wing with the modified bonnet. This version of the revamped production aircraft and tested in 1931 year. I had the best indicators of stability and speed at the expense of maneuverability.

  • And-4 for "links" Vahmistrova had shortened the lower wing with the aim of starting a simple TB-1; released in 1930 year.

  • And-4, who had machine guns on the upper wing, before the test was not adjusted.

  • And-4, which had as part of the dynamo-reactive recoilless guns, which were placed on top of the wing is a screw drive. Frequent breakdowns forced to remove this option from service.

  • And with jet-4 accelerators - test version with floats, which did not experience unnecessary.

Design and-4

And-4 is braced polutoraplan the lower cantilever wing small size. Almost completely fighter is made of metal, the exception is only some parts of the unit.

And-4

Chassis form two wheels and a crutch, which is located under the aft fuselage. Fixing the wheels to the frame rigid, it had the opportunity to operate the aircraft on unpaved airfields.

Fixed pitch propeller is made of glued wood.

Cabins and-4 single, open-ended.

In service in the fighter were two machine guns, caliber 7,62 mm that hit air targets in the forward hemisphere.

At that time the aircraft competed with the German version of the serial light fighter Fokker D.XI, which was in service in the Red Army.

P. Sukhoi design team was able to realize the main demand of the military units - perform airplane and-4 mainly of metal and surpass the already outdated "Fokker". Though take-off weight, and he was heavier than the German version, but with new engines has surpassed competitor 32 km / h in terms of the maximum speed. Improvements have also climb performance and range. Use as part of a new sub-frame design made it much stronger.

And-4

And-4 really made a breakthrough in the field of aircraft, mainly because it used all-metal components. Thus, the aircraft received protection from bad weather and vitality during the execution of combat missions. However, from a technological point of view, it was difficult and expensive to produce.

A little later-4 equipped with more powerful weapons: machine guns set to replace recoilless guns L. Kurchevsky. The fighter was fighting qualities interceptor-attack aircraft. Unfortunately, in such a way for mass production of variants and-4 failed.

Planes and-4 characteristics:



Modification   And-4
Wingspan, m   11.40
Length m   7.28
Wing area, m2   23.80
Weight, kg of empty aircraft   978
Weight, kg normal takeoff   1430
engine's type   1 PD M-22
Power, hp   X 1 480
Maximum speed km / h  
  near the ground   220
  on high   231
Cruising speed, km / h   186
Practical range, km   840
Flight duration, h   2.3
The maximum rate of climb, m / min   555
Practical ceiling, m   7000
Crew   1
Armament:   two 7.62-mm machine guns

 

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