Sikorsky S-16
| Sikorski S-16 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Fighter plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
February 6, 1915 |
| Commissioning: |
January 1916 |
| Number of pieces: |
18th |
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The Sikorsky S-16 ( Russian Сикорский С-16 ) was a Russian biplane and intended as an escort fighter for heavy long-range bombers in the First World War .
development
The Sikorsky S-16s were developed in 1915 by Igor Sikorsky as a companion to the four-engine Sikorsky Ilja Muromets bombers of the Russian air force . On December 17, 1915, the War Ministry ordered 18 planes to be assigned to the "Flying Ships" squadron (Эскадра воздушных кораблей, ЭВК).
War effort
The S-16 was the first Russian fighter to be armed with a synchronized machine gun. It turned out to be very manoeuvrable, but due to the weak engine it was only able to cope with the conditions at the front to a limited extent; some of the aircraft were even equipped with only a 60 hp Kalep engine and a Lewis MG mounted on the upper wing. In winter, the chassis wheels were exchanged for skids. A small series was delivered to the air force by 1917. Some of the planes were still used in the Russian Civil War in 1918 and remained in service until 1923.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| Period of use | 1916-1923 |
| crew | 1-2 men |
| span | 8.40 m |
| length | 6.20 m |
| height | 2.78 m |
| Wing area | 25.36 m² |
| Empty mass | 407 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 676 kg |
| drive | a rotary engine Le Rohne 9C or Gnôme with 80 PS (59 kW) or 100 PS (74 kW) |
| Top speed | 120 km / h |
| Rate of climb | 8 min at 1000 m |
| Armament | 1 Lavrov machine gun, 7.7 mm |
Replicas
A replica that is true to the original, but not airworthy, is on display in the New England Air Museum in Connecticut .
See also
literature
- William Green, Gordon Swanborough: The Complete Book of Fighters . Color Library Direct, Godalming, UK 1994, ISBN 1-85833-777-1 .
Web links
- WWI Aviation Illustration. Accessed December 14, 2014 (English, history / color profile).
- Igor I. Sikorsky's S-16. Retrieved December 14, 2014 (English, history, photos).
- Сикорский С-16. Retrieved April 10, 2017 (Russian, history, dates, photos).