Lebedev-12
| Lebedev XII | |
|---|---|
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| Type: | Light bomb and reconnaissance aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: |
Lebedev plant in St. Petersburg |
| First flight: |
December 28, 1915 |
| Commissioning: |
1916 |
| Production time: |
1916-1919 |
| Number of pieces: |
216 |
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The Lebedev-12 ( Lebedev-XII , also Lebed-XII , Russian Лебедь-XII ) is a Russian military aircraft from the time of the First World War . It was mainly used as a reconnaissance aircraft , but could also carry some light bombs. Since the German types Albatros CI and Albatros B.II had been copied during construction , it was also referred to as the Albatros with Salmson (engine).
history
The aircraft was developed by Vladimir Lebedev , a Russian aviation pioneer who also designed gliders and who founded his own aircraft construction company in Petersburg in 1912.
The previous model was called Lebedew-11 and was equipped with a Mercedes-Benz drive, the series machines received a Salmson engine. In June 1915, 225 of these were ordered. Since the model had some design flaws, the type was further developed into the Lebedew-12, which flew for the first time on December 28, 1915. As a modification, the wingspan and length were reduced and the tail unit improved. Although her characteristics and performances were far from remarkable, she played an essential role in the Russian aviation forces of the First World War. While the German original model had an aerodynamically cleanly fitted in-line engine, only rotary engines were available in Russia.
Production was delayed due to engine problems, so that the first Lebedev-12 could not be delivered until October 1916. After the October Revolution , production was initially discontinued, then the Soviet government allowed production to continue until 1919, which resulted in a total of 216 machines built. The Lebedev-12 was used especially in the Russian civil war. In use, the Lebedev-12 showed clear weaknesses: it was difficult to fly, in some cases the pilots could no longer intercept a dive that had been initiated, the exhaust gases guided under the fuselage often penetrated the cockpit and caused fires. Despite these shortcomings, it remained used for a long time in the hinterland for pilot training and was only eliminated from 1924.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| constructor | Vladimir A. Lebedev |
| crew | 2 (pilot / observer) |
| length | 7.96 m |
| span | 13.15 m |
| height | 3.4 m |
| Wing area | 42.0 m² |
| Top speed | 133 km / h |
| Rise time | 8.5 min at an altitude of 1000 m |
| Service ceiling | 3500 m |
| Range | 300 km |
| Flight duration | 3 h |
| Empty mass | 862 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 1212 kg |
| Engines | a radial engine Salmson , 110 kW (150 PS) |
| Armament | one or two MG bombs from 7.7 mm to 100 kg |
See also
literature
- Wilfried Copenhagen: Infantry and Attack Aircraft of the First World War . In: Wolfgang Sellenthin (ed.): Fliegerkalender der DDR . Military Publishing House of the GDR, Berlin 1984, p. 234/235 .
