Gribovsky G-21

Last updated
Gribovsky G-21
Role Two/three seat cabin monoplane
National origin USSR
Designer Vladislav Gribovsky
First flight 1936
Number built 1

The Gribovsky G-21 (Russian : ГРИБОВСКИЙ Г-21) was a single engine cabin monoplane designed and built in the USSR in the mid-1930s. Intended for touring and civil utility rôles, only one was completed.

Russian language East Slavic language

Russian is an East Slavic language, which is official in the Russian Federation, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as being widely used throughout Eastern Europe, the Baltic states, the Caucasus and Central Asia. It was the de facto language of the Soviet Union until its dissolution on 25 December 1991. Although, nowadays, nearly three decades after the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russian is used in official capacity or in public life in all the post-Soviet nation-states, as well as in Israel and Mongolia, the rise of state-specific varieties of this language tends to be strongly denied in Russia, in line with the Russian World ideology.

Monoplane Fixed-wing aircraft with a single main wing plane

A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with a single main wing plane, in contrast to a biplane or other multiplane, each of which has multiple planes.

Contents

Design and development

The G-21 had much in common with that of the earlier G-15, a two-seat touring aircraft, with a two spar wing of similar construction and geometry and a monocoque fuselage. The G-15's side-by-side cockpit was replaced with an enclosed cabin able to seat two or three. Suggested rôles included that of air ambulance. [1]

Monocoque Structural design that supports loads through an objects external skin

Monocoque, also structural skin, is a structural system where loads are supported through an object's external skin, similar to an egg shell. The word monocoque is a French term for "single shell" or "single hull". First used in boats, a true monocoque carries both tensile and compressive forces within the skin and can be recognised by the absence of a load-carrying internal frame.

Cockpit area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft

A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft or spacecraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft.

Like the G-15 it had a completely plywood covered wing centre section which was an integral part of the fuselage. The outer wing panels were ply covered from the leading edge back to the rear spar, with the rest fabric covered. In plan the wings were strongly tapered, mostly on the trailing edges, and ended in long, elliptical tips. Its automatic leading edge slats were interconnected through the fuselage with a steel tube and its ailerons were slotted. [1]

Plywood manufactured wood panel made from thin sheets of wood veneer

Plywood is a material manufactured from thin layers or "plies" of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another. It is an engineered wood from the family of manufactured boards which includes medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and particle board (chipboard).

Fuselage aircraft main body which is the primary carrier of crew, passengers, and payload

The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section. It holds crew, passengers, and cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, as well, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage, which in turn is used as a floating hull. The fuselage also serves to position control and stabilization surfaces in specific relationships to lifting surfaces, which is required for aircraft stability and maneuverability.

Aileron Aircraft control surface used to induce roll

An aileron is a hinged flight control surface usually forming part of the trailing edge of each wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. Ailerons are used in pairs to control the aircraft in roll, which normally results in a change in flight path due to the tilting of the lift vector. Movement around this axis is called 'rolling' or 'banking'.

The G-21 was powered by a five-cylinder 112 kW (150 hp) M-11Ye radial engine, [1] [2] installed with its cylinders projecting out of the smooth cowling for cooling and driving a two blade propeller. Behind the engine the fuselage was smoothly ply covered. The front of the cabin was over the leading edge, with panelled glazing that extended aft to about three-quarters chord. The G-21's cabin roof line extended rearwards unbroken, tapering only slightly to the tail, where a forward set, mid-fuselage mounted tailplane was braced on each side by a single strut to the fin-fuselage junction. The fin and unbalanced rudder had a curved profile; the rudder was broad and extended down to the keel. [1]

Radial engine reciprocating engine with cylinders arranged radially from a single crankshaft

The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. It resembles a stylized star when viewed from the front, and is called a "star engine" in some languages. The radial configuration was commonly used for aircraft engines before gas turbine engines became predominant.

A cowling is the covering of a vehicle's engine, most often found on automobiles and aircraft.

Tailplane small lifting surface located on the tail (empennage) behind the main lifting surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft as well as other non-fixed-wing aircraft such as helicopters and gyroplanes

A tailplane, also known as a horizontal stabiliser, is a small lifting surface located on the tail (empennage) behind the main lifting surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft as well as other non-fixed-wing aircraft such as helicopters and gyroplanes. Not all fixed-wing aircraft have tailplanes. Canards, tailless and flying wing aircraft have no separate tailplane, while in V-tail aircraft the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and the tail-plane and elevator are combined to form two diagonal surfaces in a V layout.

The G-21 had a tail skid undercarriage; like the G-15, its legs were attached to the end of the wing centre section with wheels mostly enclosed in large round profile spats. The tail skid was also faired. [1]

Landing gear aircraft part which supports the aircraft while not in the air

Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft and may be used for either takeoff or landing. For aircraft it is generally both. It was also formerly called alighting gear by some manufacturers, such as the Glenn L. Martin Company.

Aircraft fairing

An aircraft fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and reduce drag.

It made its first flight in 1936. Equipped with extra fuel tanks, it made several notable long distance flights. [1]

Specifications

Data from Gunston (1995), p.79 [1]

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 220 km/h (137 mph; 119 kn)
  • Range: 500 km (311 mi; 270 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,760 m (15,620 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 5.6 min to 1,000 m (3,280 ft)
  • Landing speed: 70 km/h (43 mph)

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey (Reed Consumer Books Ltd). p. 79. ISBN   1 85532 405 9.
  2. 1 2 Gunston (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. pp. XX–XXI.


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