Sh-2 | |
---|---|
General information | |
Type | Amphibious aircraft |
Manufacturer | Zavod 23, Zavod 31, Aeroflot, and others |
Designer | |
Primary user | Soviet Air Forces (VVS) |
Number built | 700+ [1] |
History | |
Manufactured | 1934-1952 [2] |
Introduction date | 1933 [2] |
First flight | 11 November 1930 [2] |
Retired | 1964 [2] |
Developed from | Sh-1 |
The Shavrov Sh-2 (later ASh-2) [3] was a 1930s Soviet amphibious sesquiplane flying boat developed from the Sh-1, with a more powerful engine, slightly increased size and amphibious undercarriage. The Sh-2 could carry three people including the crew.
The Shavrov Sh-2 was developed from the Sh-1 flying boat prototype, which had been built in Shavrov's apartment and which first flew on 21 June, 1929. The Sh-2 was a slight enlargement of the Sh-1, with some detail improvements. [4]
The hull was primarily constructed of pine with the keel and longerons being ash, with a 3mm plywood skinning covering 25 frames, of which 4 were watertight bulkheads. [3] The planing bottom was covered with 6mm plywood, and the entire structure was covered in doped fabric. [3] The cockpit seated three, with a pilot and passenger in the front, both with controls, and an additional passenger behind them while cargo or additional fuel could be carried in the nose and under the seats. [3] The wings formed a staggered sesquiplane, and the outer wing panels, which were given 3 degree of dihedral could be folded back along the fuselage. [3] The centre section used the Kol'chugaliminum aluminium alloy and had a dead eye for hoisting onto ships. [3] The small cantilevered lower wing served as attachment for the stabilizing floats. The cruciform tail had horn balanced elevators, while the rudder was slightly enlarged over that of the Sh-1. [3] The undercarriage retracted by rotating forwards and up in an arc until the axle was level with the cockpit coaming, pulled into position with cables and springs. [3] It could also be fitted with skis for winter operations from ice and snow, while some examples had the undercarriage removed, or weren't built with them. [3] During 1950s, more powerful versions of M-11 were fitted, and some examples were modified with enclosed cabins. [2]
The prototype Sh-2, which had been built at Zavod No.23 in Leningrad made its first flight on November 11, 1930. [2] State Acceptance trials were carried out through 1931, and were passed on 9 May, 1932, without problems, having previously passed its trials for Aeroflot, and series production began in 1933, with the first production batch of 270 being built at Zavod No.31 in Taganrog. [2] Production eventually exceeded 700 aircraft, with the last examples being built in small workshops, in 1952. [2] The Sh-2 remained in service until 1964 [2] and set a number of unofficial flying boat and seaplanes records.[ citation needed ] The Sh-2 replaced the obsolete MU-1 floatplane, whose design dated from before World War One, with the Soviet Air Forces. [2] Examples were operated from the SS Chelyuskin, Fyodor Litke and Krasin icebreakers as well as other vessels. [2] One example was used as a glider tug for the Gribovsky G-16 hydrofoil flying boat glider prototype. [2] Aeroflot was not only a major operator of the Sh-2, they also built them in their own workshops, including 30 to 35 in 1941. [2]
On 28 August 1942, the Finns captured two Sh-2s and impressed them into service in the liaison role. [1]
Data from Soviet aircraft and aviation, 1917-1941 [5]
General characteristics
Performance
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