VZLU TOM-8

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VZLÚ TOM-8
VZLU TOM-8 trainer aircraft in the Kbely Aviation Museum in Prague
Type: Trainer aircraft
Design country:

CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia Czechoslovakia

Manufacturer:

VZLÚ

First flight:

April 23, 1956

Commissioning:

not happened

Number of pieces:

1

The VZLÚ TOM-8 was a training aircraft developed by the Výzkumný a zkušební letecký ústav (German: Aeronautical Research and Testing Institute; abbreviation VZLÚ). It didn't get past the prototype stage.

history

The TOM-8 was developed in the mid-1950s by the engineer Karel Tomas employed by the VZLÚ. Development was slow and suffered from unclear requirements from the Czechoslovak Ministry of Defense. The main problem was that a two-seat training aircraft with a piston engine with a power of no more than 184 kW was required. That was an anachronism at the time when the first jet trainers were being developed. The similarly designed Jak-11 , which was produced in large numbers under license in the ČSR , had an engine with a starting power of 515 kW.

The flight tests showed that the airframe met the requirements, but the engine was unsuitable and unreliable. Because of the engine problems and the imminent introduction of jet trainers, the type was not taken into production. The TOM-8 was the last piston-engine military aircraft developed in Czechoslovakia.

The only produced copy was taken to a psychological clinic in Opařany after testing , where it was used to entertain the patients. From 1967 to 1968 it was overhauled by the VZLÚ, another major overhaul took place from 1973 to 1978. The machine is exhibited in the Kbely Aviation Museum .

construction

The TOM-8 is a three-bladed propeller driven low wing aircraft with a normal tail unit and retractable nose wheel landing gear.

Technical specifications

Parameter Data
crew 2
length 9.34 m
span 10.93 m
Engine 1 piston engine Praga M-208C with 184 kW (250 PS)
Empty mass 1050 kg
Takeoff mass 1350 kg
Top speed 285 km / h near the ground
Range 720 km
Service ceiling 6000 m

Web links

Commons : VZLU TOM-8  - collection of images, videos and audio files

source

  • Information boards of the Kbely Aviation Museum