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Kalinin K-4

January 01, 1970

The Kalinin K-4 was an airliner built in the Soviet Union in the late 1920s which was also adapted for use as a photographic survey aircraft and as an air ambulance. A further development of the K-1, it was a conventional high-wing, strut-braced monoplane with separate enclosed cabin and cockpit. Kalinin undertook the design to offer a locally produced alternative to pioneering Ukrainian airline Ukrvozdukhput, which was at that time flying Dornier designs. The structure was of mixed wood and metal construction, but with major assemblies designed in both wood and metal versions, allowing them to be interchanged. The design also featured a variable-incidence horizontal stabiliser, and the engine mounting was intended to facilitate the ready interchange of different powerplants.

K-4
Role Airliner
National origin Soviet Union
Manufacturer Kharkov Aviation Factory
Designer Konstantin Alekseevich Kalinin
First flight June 1928
Introduction 1929
Primary user Ukrvozdukhput
Number built 39

Development edit

By May 1928, four pre-production machines were being constructed at the Kharkiv Aviation Factory. While this work was proceeding, Dobrolyot placed an order with Ukrvozduhput for two photographic survey aircraft, a request that the latter undertook to fill with two specially equipped K-4s. These machines took priority at the factory, and differed from the passenger version in having a ventral hatch for one or two cameras mounted on the cabin floor, plus a self-contained darkroom. The air ambulance version was developed initially for exhibit at the 1928 Berlin Air Show, and examples would later see military service with Soviet forces in Finland during the Winter War.

In summer the same year, Soviet pilots evaluated the K-4 against a Dornier Merkur that was making a promotional tour. Encouraged by the positive feedback for his design, Kalinin obtained approval for a demanding flight between Kharkiv, Baku, Tbilisi, and back. Piloted by Mikhail Artemevich Snegirev, a K-4 named Червона Украина (Chervona Ukraina - "Red Ukraine") made the trip between 22 and 24 August. This same pilot and aircraft would set a new aerial distance record almost exactly a year later, flying from Kharkiv to Moscow to Irkutsk, then back to Moscow and Kharkiv. Although the original intention had been to reach Vladivostok, Snegirev still covered 10,400 km (6,500 mi) in 73 hours.

Operational history edit

Flight testing was concluded in July 1928, and the four pre-production machines were handed over to Ukrvozduhput. They were put into service on routes linking the Crimea and Caucasus, and another ten aircraft were ordered. The following year, services were expanded to Tehran in a joint service arrangement with Junkers Luftverkehr. On 1 May 1929, seven Ukrvozduhput K-4s flew in formation from Kharkiv to Rostov, Sochi, Mineralnye Vody and Tbilisi. Service with the airline was short, however, as the K-4 demonstrated a poor safety record. Between 23 May and 24 August, K-4s were involved in fourteen accidents, including two in which passengers were killed. The first of these fatal accidents took place on 25 June, when K-4 (registered СССР-219) crashed after take-off from Sukhumi due to engine failure, killing two passengers. The second took place on 24 August when K-4 registered СССР-217 dove suddenly into the sea shortly after takeoff from Sochi. The wooden wings of the aircraft enabled it to float long enough for rescuers to reach it, however it sank soon afterwards, taking one passenger and one of the rescuers with it. The rescuer who drowned was celebrated Latvian military commander Jānis Fabriciuss, who had been Commander and a commissar of the Red Army during the Russian Civil War. Although the subsequent investigation attributed the crash to pilot error, numerous manufacturing defects were discovered throughout the K-4 fleet, leading to their withdrawal from service shortly thereafter.

Dobrolyot's survey machines commenced operations in August 1928, and were soon joined by around a dozen examples of the airliner version, which were used on routes in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The K-4 proved unsuitable for these conditions, with the hot conditions causing the aircraft's wooden structures (especially the wings) to deform. The cost of maintenance and repairs soon became prohibitive, and by spring 1930, the aircraft were withdrawn. The type was evaluated for service on routes in the north, and one was used for the first passenger flight from Moscow to Tashkent, but nothing came of this. Eventually, the remaining aircraft were used for survey work in Siberia and the Urals.

Operators edit

  Soviet Union

Specifications (airliner version) edit

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: four passengers / 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) max payload / 2 bed patients, 1 attendant and one Doctor
  • Length: 11.35 m (37 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 16.72 m (54 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 40 m2 (430 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,400 kg (3,086 lb)
  • Gross weight: 2,360 kg (5,203 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,400 kg (5,291 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 550 L (150 US gal; 120 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × M-6 V-8 water-cooled piston engine, 220 kW (290 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 185 km/h (115 mph, 100 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 160 km/h (99 mph, 86 kn)
  • Landing speed: 75 km/h (40 kn; 47 mph)
  • Range: 1,040 km (650 mi, 560 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,250 m (20,510 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 2.4 m/s (470 ft/min)
  • Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 8.5 minutes; 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 45 minutes
  • Time to altitude with 640 kg (1,410 lb) load: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 5 minutes 35 seconds, 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 20.5 minutes, 51,000 m (167,000 ft) in 47 minutes 18 seconds
  • Wing loading: 59 kg/m2 (12 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.092 kW/kg (0.056 hp/lb)

References edit

  1. ^ Grey, C.G., ed. (1928). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. pp. 182c–183c.
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kalinin K-4.

Further reading edit

  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 547.

External links edit

  • Russian Aviation Museum
  • Уголок неба
  • Авиалайнеры мира

January 01, 1970
kalinin, airliner, built, soviet, union, late, 1920s, which, also, adapted, photographic, survey, aircraft, ambulance, further, development, conventional, high, wing, strut, braced, monoplane, with, separate, enclosed, cabin, cockpit, kalinin, undertook, desig. The Kalinin K 4 was an airliner built in the Soviet Union in the late 1920s which was also adapted for use as a photographic survey aircraft and as an air ambulance A further development of the K 1 it was a conventional high wing strut braced monoplane with separate enclosed cabin and cockpit Kalinin undertook the design to offer a locally produced alternative to pioneering Ukrainian airline Ukrvozdukhput which was at that time flying Dornier designs The structure was of mixed wood and metal construction but with major assemblies designed in both wood and metal versions allowing them to be interchanged The design also featured a variable incidence horizontal stabiliser and the engine mounting was intended to facilitate the ready interchange of different powerplants K 4 Role Airliner National origin Soviet Union Manufacturer Kharkov Aviation Factory Designer Konstantin Alekseevich Kalinin First flight June 1928 Introduction 1929 Primary user Ukrvozdukhput Number built 39 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications airliner version 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksDevelopment editBy May 1928 four pre production machines were being constructed at the Kharkiv Aviation Factory While this work was proceeding Dobrolyot placed an order with Ukrvozduhput for two photographic survey aircraft a request that the latter undertook to fill with two specially equipped K 4s These machines took priority at the factory and differed from the passenger version in having a ventral hatch for one or two cameras mounted on the cabin floor plus a self contained darkroom The air ambulance version was developed initially for exhibit at the 1928 Berlin Air Show and examples would later see military service with Soviet forces in Finland during the Winter War In summer the same year Soviet pilots evaluated the K 4 against a Dornier Merkur that was making a promotional tour Encouraged by the positive feedback for his design Kalinin obtained approval for a demanding flight between Kharkiv Baku Tbilisi and back Piloted by Mikhail Artemevich Snegirev a K 4 named Chervona Ukraina Chervona Ukraina Red Ukraine made the trip between 22 and 24 August This same pilot and aircraft would set a new aerial distance record almost exactly a year later flying from Kharkiv to Moscow to Irkutsk then back to Moscow and Kharkiv Although the original intention had been to reach Vladivostok Snegirev still covered 10 400 km 6 500 mi in 73 hours Operational history editFlight testing was concluded in July 1928 and the four pre production machines were handed over to Ukrvozduhput They were put into service on routes linking the Crimea and Caucasus and another ten aircraft were ordered The following year services were expanded to Tehran in a joint service arrangement with Junkers Luftverkehr On 1 May 1929 seven Ukrvozduhput K 4s flew in formation from Kharkiv to Rostov Sochi Mineralnye Vody and Tbilisi Service with the airline was short however as the K 4 demonstrated a poor safety record Between 23 May and 24 August K 4s were involved in fourteen accidents including two in which passengers were killed The first of these fatal accidents took place on 25 June when K 4 registered SSSR 219 crashed after take off from Sukhumi due to engine failure killing two passengers The second took place on 24 August when K 4 registered SSSR 217 dove suddenly into the sea shortly after takeoff from Sochi The wooden wings of the aircraft enabled it to float long enough for rescuers to reach it however it sank soon afterwards taking one passenger and one of the rescuers with it The rescuer who drowned was celebrated Latvian military commander Janis Fabriciuss who had been Commander and a commissar of the Red Army during the Russian Civil War Although the subsequent investigation attributed the crash to pilot error numerous manufacturing defects were discovered throughout the K 4 fleet leading to their withdrawal from service shortly thereafter Dobrolyot s survey machines commenced operations in August 1928 and were soon joined by around a dozen examples of the airliner version which were used on routes in Kazakhstan and Central Asia The K 4 proved unsuitable for these conditions with the hot conditions causing the aircraft s wooden structures especially the wings to deform The cost of maintenance and repairs soon became prohibitive and by spring 1930 the aircraft were withdrawn The type was evaluated for service on routes in the north and one was used for the first passenger flight from Moscow to Tashkent but nothing came of this Eventually the remaining aircraft were used for survey work in Siberia and the Urals Operators edit nbsp Soviet Union Ukrvozdukhput Dobrolyot Soviet Air ForceSpecifications airliner version editData from Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1928 1 General characteristicsCrew 2 Capacity four passengers 1 000 kg 2 200 lb max payload 2 bed patients 1 attendant and one Doctor Length 11 35 m 37 ft 3 in Wingspan 16 72 m 54 ft 10 in Height 3 8 m 12 ft 6 in Wing area 40 m2 430 sq ft Empty weight 1 400 kg 3 086 lb Gross weight 2 360 kg 5 203 lb Max takeoff weight 2 400 kg 5 291 lb Fuel capacity 550 L 150 US gal 120 imp gal Powerplant 1 M 6 V 8 water cooled piston engine 220 kW 290 hp Propellers 2 bladed wooden fixed pitch propeller Performance Maximum speed 185 km h 115 mph 100 kn Cruise speed 160 km h 99 mph 86 kn Landing speed 75 km h 40 kn 47 mph Range 1 040 km 650 mi 560 nmi Service ceiling 6 250 m 20 510 ft Rate of climb 2 4 m s 470 ft min Time to altitude 1 000 m 3 300 ft in 8 5 minutes 3 000 m 9 800 ft in 45 minutes Time to altitude with 640 kg 1 410 lb load 1 000 m 3 300 ft in 5 minutes 35 seconds 3 000 m 9 800 ft in 20 5 minutes 51 000 m 167 000 ft in 47 minutes 18 seconds Wing loading 59 kg m2 12 lb sq ft Power mass 0 092 kW kg 0 056 hp lb References edit Grey C G ed 1928 Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1928 London Sampson Low Marston amp company ltd pp 182c 183c nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kalinin K 4 Further reading editTaylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 547 External links editRussian Aviation Museum Ugolok neba Avialajnery mira Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kalinin K 4 amp oldid 1215567937, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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