History of origin The aircraft was created as another of the multi-purpose twin-engine aircraft, planned for use in both the civilian sector as a line, and in the military aviation as a communications, ambulance, bomber and reconnaissance. from May 7 to June 1, 1934, the ongoing factory tests were completed quickly and successfully. Its concept was close to a wing, but it differed fundamentally in its two-body arrangement.
He flew in May 1934. The future famous pilot Valery Petrovich Čkalov ( # 1042; & # 1083; & # 1088; & # 1080; & # 1081; & # 1055; & # 1077; & # 1090; & # 1088; ; & # 1095; & # 1063; & # 1082; a & # 1083; & # 1086; & # 1074;). At that time, he was deprived of the opportunity to fly (emergency - crashed the assigned plane) and took advantage of the situation where the official test pilot AB Jumashev (& # 1040 ;. & # 1041 ;. & # 1070; & # 1084; & # 1072 ; & # 1096; & # 1077; & # 1074;) fell ill and the new machine had to fly as fast as possible. The first flight almost ended in disaster, but Čkalov was able to land and after the necessary adjustments the tests could continue successfully. The factory tests were then completed quickly and successfully in the period from May 7 to June 1, 1934.
June 12, 1934 Chkalov flies to Moscow to the central airport jm. Frunze (former Trotsky Airport and formerly Chodynsky Field -) ; & # 1084; & # 1088; & # 1086; & # 1094; & # 1082; & # 1086; & # 1075; & # 1086; & # 1080; & # 1073; & # 1074; & # 1096; & # 1077; & # 1061; & # 1086; & # 1076; & # 1099; & # 1085; & # 1089; & # 1082; & # 1086; & # 1086; 1077; & # 1087; & # 1086; & # 1083; & # 1077;), in record time - 2 hours 15 minutes, where he then performs his other special tests.The machine has demonstrated good stability and maneuverability in all modes and, In particular, the absence of vibrations, so typical of double-hull structures.Here also the aircraft inspected by the commission headed by GK Ordzhonikidze, MN Tukhachevsky and JA Alksnis (& # 1043 ;. & # 1050 ;. & # 1054; & # 1088; & # 1076; & # 1078; & # 1086; & # 1085; & # 1080; & # 1082; & # 1080; & # 1076; & # 1079; & # 1077 ;, & # 1052 ;. & # 1053 ;. & # 1058; & # 1091; & # 1093; & # 1072; & # 1095; & # 1077; & # 1074; & # 1089; & # 1082; & # 1080; & # 1081 ;, & # 1071 ;. & # 1 048 ;. & # 1040; & # 1083; & # 1082; & # 1089; & # 1085; & # 1080; & # 1089;). The G-37 aroused admiration, especially the commission was impressed by its high takeoff speed, as the then mass-produced obsolete R -6 (KR 6, cruiser) AN Tupoleva developed a lower speed.
The wing for the G - 37 was taken almost unchanged from the destroyed (written off after accident) passenger aircraft ANT-9 (& # 1040; & # 1053; & # 1058; -9) design A. N. Tupolev. Without corner balancing on the ailerons, it had an area of 80.97 m 2. M-17 engines (500/680 hp) and double-bladed propellers with a diameter of 3.15 m were also taken from this machine.
The covers of the G-37 engines were smoothly extended backwards by two parallel beams, which were terminated by two small keel surfaces, equipped with a corner aerodynamic balance. The ends of the beams were connected by a stabilizing surface of a permanent profile, which thus created a light and strong frame. This frame, together with it, also formed the wing beams, tail beams and stabilization area.Thanks to the use of this scheme, it was possible to reduce the weight of an empty aircraft to one ton!
Its rigid landing gear was very tall, but it was not, as usual, due to the designer's efforts to get the propeller circuits high enough above the ground, but because of the suspension cabin the designer planned to hang like a balloon under the flat bottom of the crew gondola and under the centerplane. Under these circumstances, it would be really difficult to create a retractable landing gear and, under the conditions of use of an unmodified finished wing, simply impossible. The designers therefore "dressed" this chassis in clever "pants" - an aerodynamic cover, in which they also hid oil and water coolers. The tail beams ran along the upper wing cover from the inner anchors of the landing gear webs. These beams were terminated by two keeled surfaces with spring spurs under each beam.
The universal removable cabin, which they made in Podlipky and was hung on a plane in Moscow, could accommodate 10 passengers or 12 paratroopers with personal weapons, 5 to 10 wounded, or four patients on stretchers and a nurse. It was also assumed to transport various loads with a total weight of up to one ton (in case of overload). And in the event of an accident, damage or according to a special assignment, it was possible to drop the cabin itself, regardless of its contents, on a parachute with a diameter of 40 m.
The construction of the cabin was all-metal with wooden passenger seats. Other various containers and cargo platforms could also be attached to its suspension nodes. The most impressive possible cargo was a ton of bombs of various calibers.
The success of the G-37 was aided by a number of extensive testing activities and trials, carried out by Grochovsky's team earlier, starting in 1930. Specifically, 12-seater cabins were created, as well as single-seater parachutist seats suspended under the TB-1, and a 17-seater cabin for dropping on a KPS-17 parachute, which they referred to as a buffet and hung under the TB-3.
During the flights on the G-37, Čkalov also set an unofficial all-union speed record for twin-engine aircraft. He managed to fly the distance from Leningrad to Moscow in 2 hours and 15 minutes, the pilot squeezed out of the machine an average flight speed of more than 310 km/h. According to him, the machine would be able to fly even faster if the overheated engines were not only simply overhauled, but well set and tuned to a maximum speed of 3000 m.In addition, the wooden propellers, taken over without change also from the abolished ANT-9 (they were for a long time - three seasons - in the open air and cracked from the sun, wind and snow), were only scraped and repainted with varnish. They lost the original profile and were therefore able to give a maximum of 15-20% of the original move.
Thorough tests of the G-37, which took place until the winter of 1935, proved good stability and maneuverability. The achievable centering and static moments of the tail surfaces systems were kept the same as for the ANT-9. No vibrations were observed in motor installations, beams or other parts in all speed ranges. The VMG cooler of the cooling system worked well during the flight. This system was soon adopted by the VF design team Bolchovitinov and (& # 1042 ;. & # 1060; & # 1086; & # 1083; & # 1093; & # 1086; & # 1074; & # 1080; & # 1090; & # 1080; & # 1085; & # 1086; & # 1086; 1074;), but for more complex use in four-engine aircraft DB-A and DB-2A, where similar "pants" were created for the semi-retractable landing gear.
The suspension cabin was about 7 m long. The rounded front aerodynamic cover served as an entrance door, folded to the right around a vertical one-piece suspension. The paratroopers (passengers) were seated on the cabin benches in the cabin, facing each other, alternating their knees with a colleague sitting opposite. The lack of space was, of course, forced, caused by the necessary tax on aerodynamics - the maximum frontal cross-section of the cabin was barely more than 2 m 2.
At the beginning of 1935, new M-17 engines were installed on the aircraft, acquired on behalf of UVVS Chief JI Alksnis (& # 1071 ;. & # 1048 ;. & # 1040; & # 1083; & # 1082; & # 1089; & # 1085; & # 1080; & # 1089;). The aircraft's performance has increased significantly, in particular the maximum speed has increased to 375 km/h, which offered the possibility of using the machines as courier mail aircraft or for the needs of aerial reconnaissance.
In the spring of 1935, tests with the airborne cabin continued. There were several skydiving jumps, which jumped through the stern hatch. The creators of the facility, designers and their collaborators took part in the experiments. Everyone wanted to check for themselves on their own creation.
The designers planned to further increase the performance of their machine by using new M-34N engines and a new, wing-designed wing. A tunnel model of this version was built, laboriously designated G-37A. Tunnel measurements have shown that it is possible to reach a maximum speed of 400 km/h.
Machine gun defense was assumed for the combat application of the aircraft. In the open cabin of the navigator, it was possible to install a pair of DA machine guns in a rotating range. The G-37 crew in this version could consist of 1 to 3 people, depending on the event.
However, the promising work was radically terminated by austere administrative action. In November 1936, the GUAP order, created by A. N. Tupolev and signed by M. M. Kaganovich (& # 1040 ;. & # 1053 ;. & # 1058; & # 1091; & # 1087; & # 1086; & # 1083; & # 1077; & # 1074 ;, & # 1052 ;. & # 1052; & # 1072; & # 1075; & # 1072; & # 1085; & # 1086; & # 1074; & # 1080; & # 1095; Institute of Special Activities at UVVS RKKA and transferred to GUAP) & # 1054; & # 1082; & # 1086; & # 1085; & # 1073; & # 1102; & # 1088; & # 1086; (& # 1048; & # 1085; & # 1089; & # 1090; & # 1080; & # 1090; & # 1091; & # 1090; & # 1089; & # 1087; & # 1077; & # 1094; & # 1094; # 1080; & # 1083; & # 1100; & # 1085; & # 1099; & # 1093; & # 1088; & # 1072; & # 1073; & # 1086; & # 1090; & # 1087; ; & # 1088; & # 1080; & # 1059; & # 1042; & # 1042; & # 1057; & # 1056; & # 1050; & # 1050; & # 1040;) discarded. Its employees have been integrated into other offices and organizations. The test pilots were transferred to Kamchatka, Chukotka and the Far East as line pilots.
However, all knowledge gained with the G-37 was not lost. Other teams of the aviation industry continued their research to solve the tasks of airborne troops. In the years 1939 - 1940. OKB SV Ilyushina (& # 1054; & # 1050; & # 1041; & # 1057 ;. & # 1042 ;. & # 1048; & # 1083; & # 1100; & # 1102; & # 1096; & # 1080; & # 1085; & # 1072;) continued the activities of the PI InstituteGrochovsky and ensured in field conditions the rapid conversion of mass-produced DB-3 bombers into airborne aircraft for the transport of people and cargo over long distances. They hung AI Privalov (& # 1040 ;. & # 1055; & # 1088; & # 1080; & # 1074; & # 1072; & # 1083; & # 1086; & # 1074; & # 1074; ) created all-metal cabin D-20, designed for transport and individual drop of 10 paratroopers. They entered the cabin through the front door and sat on side benches with their knees interspersed, as in the suspended cabin of the G-37. They left the plane (at the signal of the navigator) through a two-wing hatch in the stern of the cabin. After all the paratroopers jumped, the empty cabin could be thrown away in an emergency by the carrier's crew. The flight weight of the loaded cabin was 1580 kg. The top speed of the modified DB-3-DK (& # 1044; & # 1041; -3 - & # 1044; & # 1050;) did not exceed 300 - 320 km/h at twice the engine power of the G-37, but it also allowed for twice the range.
Pavel Ignatievich Grochovsky's own destinies (& # 1055; & # 1072; & # 1074; & # 1077; & # 1083; & # 1048; & # 1075; & # 1085; & # 1072; & # 1090; & # 1100; & # 1077; & # 1074; & # 1095; & # 1043; & # 1088; & # 1086; & # 1093; & # 1086; & # 1074; & # 1089; & # 1082; & # 1082; 1080; & # 1081;) were very sad. After the end of his activities and the actual disbandment of his institute, he no longer received a permanent placement. He worked for some time within the mobilization headquarters of GUAP and NKAP (& # 1043; & # 1059; & # 1040; & # 1055 ;, & # 1053; & # 1050; & # 1040; & # 1055;), but was eventually arrested and imprisoned under a staged accusation of "enemy of the people", because he allegedly sold the Germans a design scheme "frame", which the Germans used for - the Russians so hated - artillery guidance aircraft Fw 189.
Technical description G-37: The wing of the aircraft is of all-metal construction, four-girder, borrowed from the ANT-9 aircraft, consisting of a centerplane and two girders. The wings formed almost the entire rear edge of the beam. The short fuselage of the aerodynamic shape was placed on top of the wing centerplane. In its bow was an open cabin of the shooter with a moving roof. This was followed by a two-seater crew cabin enclosed by a transparent canopy, with pilots placed side by side. Behind the cabin was a luggage compartment that had a large square opening at the top, closed by a cover. If necessary, the installation of an additional petrol tank in the luggage compartment was envisaged.
Two tail beams, fixed on the sides of the centerplane by means of adjustable nodes, served as an extension of the fuselage. Beams - a tubular all-metal lattice structure, made of the Soviet version of duralumin, referred to as kolčugaljuminium. The beams had an oval cross-section, tapering towards the rear end with a transition to a hernia area.
The tail surfaces were double, all-metal. The hernias were formed as a whole with tail beams. The rudders had corner aerodynamic balances at the top. In addition, small servo rudders or trimmers were installed at the rear edge of both rudders (this is difficult to determine from the photos). The horizontal tail surfaces were formed by a rectangular stabilizer and a rudder, having bevels on the sides at the ends allowing free movement of the rudders. The three-girder stabilization surface was fixed between the keel surfaces by means of 4 swinging nodes and two struts, which gave the possibility to change its setting angle on the ground. The area of the original horizontal tail area was 10.5 m 2, but during the tests they increased it by up to 20%. In addition, a servo rudder was installed along the entire rear edge of the elevator.
The cover of the tail surfaces was wavy, as well as the entire aircraft. Two-support chassis with tail spur, fixed. Each main leg - a metal structure, the hoods were riveted from lined sheets 2.5 mm thick. Rubber harness damping. A honeycomb cooler was placed in the upper parts of the legs on the sides. All this was covered together with the chassis leg by a large aerodynamic cover "pants", in which profiled tunnels were created in the area of the radiators, for better air supply.There was a square covered hole in the bottom of the wheels for inspection and maintenance. The wheels were simple, unbraked. The tail spurs were free to move with small plastic rubber shock absorbers. In winter, the assembly of skis was assumed instead of bicycles.
Aircraft control - double, levers. Divorce management mixed. Rope, in straight sections the rope was replaced by wire.
Power unit - two water-cooled engines M-17 with a total rated power of 1000 hp mounted on frames in front of the centerplane in line with the tail beams. The engines were covered with aerodynamic covers. Wooden propellers, double-bladed, of the same direction of rotation with a diameter of 3.5 m. The centers of the propellers were covered with propeller covers. Gasoline tanks with a total volume of 1000 kg (there are still a number of 1200 kg) were stored in the centerplane. The engine control levers were located on the center panel between the pilots' seats.
The armament was to consist of two articulated machine guns in the shooter's area in the bow of the fuselage. In the version of the bomber was assumed a special hanging cabin under the rear of the fuselage, with a shot angle of 120 degrees. The bombing equipment included two hangers Der-13 and Der-15, located below the centerplane.
The project envisaged various suspended cabins according to the purpose of the aircraft, but only one was implemented - passenger for 10 people. The cabin was a lattice structure with a corrugated lining and windows. The passengers had benches along the sides of the cabin. The seats had a tubular frame, forming small armrests. The corridor between the seats was quite narrow due to the small width of the cabin. The hinged front part, which is hinged by a hinge, fully tilted to the right, thus creating an entrance to the cabin. In the hinged parts, below, a manhole with two glazed wings was created, which opened inwards. In the rear of the cabin was expected to be installed when launching the automatically opening cargo parachute type G-40. It was planned to place a damping landing gear at the bottom of the cabin.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Grochovskij-G-37-ULK-t144580#465875
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