The Kharkiv KhAI-5, (sometimes Neman R-10) was a Sovietreconnaissance and light bomber aircraft, designed in the mid-1930s in the Kharkiv Aviation Institute (KhAI, - in Ukrainian: ХАІ), under the direction of Iosif Grigorevich Nyeman (sometimes written as Neman).
The first prototype of the plane, with a factory designation KhAI-5 (ХАІ-5), flew in June 1936. Despite a lower performance, the aircraft won a contest against another reconnaissance plane design, the Kochyerigin R-9, and was accepted for a production with the military designation R-10 ('R' indicated razvyedchik meaning reconnaissance in Russian). It was a modern design for the time. 493 R-10s were manufactured in the Kharkiv and Saratov aviation plants by early 1940. The first series showed some teething problems, which resulted in Iosif Nyeman being arrested by the NKVD on December 11, 1938 under the accusation of sabotage and espionage, a common accusation at the time.
In 1938 a variant, the KhAI-5bis was tested with an M-25E engine, achieving a speed of 425 km/h (264 mph). In 1938, the KhAI-52 ground attack aircraft, based on the R-10, was also developed. It was powered by a Shvetsov M-63 670 kW (900 hp) radial engine and armed with seven machine guns and 400 kg (880 lb) bombs. A production run of an experimental series of 10 aircraft was prepared, but it was cancelled with Nyeman's arrest.
Some production R-10s were fitted with more powerful Tumansky M-88, Shvetsov M-62 and M-63 engines. Over 60 aircraft, withdrawn from the Air Force, were used from 1940 as mail carriers by Aeroflot, under the designation PS-5 (Russian: ПС-5), with 3 passenger seats.
Combat use
The aircraft entered service in the Soviet Air Force in 1937, replacing some Polikarpov R-5s. R-10s were first used in combat in the 1939 Soviet-Japanese Battle of Khalkhin Gol. Then, they were used in the initial stage of World War II, starting with use in the invasion of Poland (without combat encounters) and against Finland in the Winter War (1939–1940). R-10s were next used in the first period of the German-Soviet war, following the German attack on June 22, 1941. By this time, they were outdated and suffered heavy losses, as did the rest of the Soviet Air Force. Many planes were destroyed on the ground. They were used as tactical reconnaissance aircraft, and, in need, also as light bombers. Later many were used as night bombers, to reduce losses from opposing fighters. The remaining R-10s were withdrawn from combat service in 1943 although two Finnish pilots claimed R-10s in 1944.
Description
The aircraft was conventional in layout, with a low mounted, plywood-covered wooden cantilever wing. The fuselage was of semi-monocoque construction. The undercarriage retracted into the wings. The crew consisted a pilot and an observer/rear gunner in a turret with a single machine gun. In the observer compartment's floor there was an AFA-13 camera for reconnaissance duties. Between the crew compartments there were fuel tanks and a vertical bomb bay. The maximum bomb load was 300 kg (660 lb) (6 × 50 kg (110 lb) or 10 × 25 kg (55 lb) bombs). The plane was powered by various variants of the Shvetsov M-25 and related M-63 radial engines, a development of the Wright R-1820 built under licence, which spun an all-metal two-bladed Hamilton Standard variable-pitch propeller.
^Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey. p. 149. ISBN1-85532-405-9.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kharkov KhAI-5.
Неман Р-10 (ХАИ-5). Уголок неба (in Russian). Retrieved 27 February 2011.
May 05, 2023
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The Kharkiv KhAI 5 sometimes Neman R 10 was a Soviet reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft designed in the mid 1930s in the Kharkiv Aviation Institute KhAI in Ukrainian HAI under the direction of Iosif Grigorevich Nyeman sometimes written as Neman KhAI 5 R 10 PS 5Role Reconnaissance and light bomber monoplaneNational origin Soviet UnionManufacturer Kharkiv Aviation InstituteDesigner Iosif Grigorevich NyemanFirst flight June 1936Primary user Soviet Air ForceNumber built 500 Contents 1 Development 2 Combat use 3 Description 4 Operators 5 Variants 6 Specifications 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksDevelopment EditThe first prototype of the plane with a factory designation KhAI 5 HAI 5 flew in June 1936 Despite a lower performance the aircraft won a contest against another reconnaissance plane design the Kochyerigin R 9 and was accepted for a production with the military designation R 10 R indicated razvyedchik meaning reconnaissance in Russian It was a modern design for the time 493 R 10s were manufactured in the Kharkiv and Saratov aviation plants by early 1940 The first series showed some teething problems which resulted in Iosif Nyeman being arrested by the NKVD on December 11 1938 under the accusation of sabotage and espionage a common accusation at the time In 1938 a variant the KhAI 5bis was tested with an M 25E engine achieving a speed of 425 km h 264 mph In 1938 the KhAI 52 ground attack aircraft based on the R 10 was also developed It was powered by a Shvetsov M 63 670 kW 900 hp radial engine and armed with seven machine guns and 400 kg 880 lb bombs A production run of an experimental series of 10 aircraft was prepared but it was cancelled with Nyeman s arrest Some production R 10s were fitted with more powerful Tumansky M 88 Shvetsov M 62 and M 63 engines Over 60 aircraft withdrawn from the Air Force were used from 1940 as mail carriers by Aeroflot under the designation PS 5 Russian PS 5 with 3 passenger seats Combat use EditThe aircraft entered service in the Soviet Air Force in 1937 replacing some Polikarpov R 5s R 10s were first used in combat in the 1939 Soviet Japanese Battle of Khalkhin Gol Then they were used in the initial stage of World War II starting with use in the invasion of Poland without combat encounters and against Finland in the Winter War 1939 1940 R 10s were next used in the first period of the German Soviet war following the German attack on June 22 1941 By this time they were outdated and suffered heavy losses as did the rest of the Soviet Air Force Many planes were destroyed on the ground They were used as tactical reconnaissance aircraft and in need also as light bombers Later many were used as night bombers to reduce losses from opposing fighters The remaining R 10s were withdrawn from combat service in 1943 although two Finnish pilots claimed R 10s in 1944 Description EditThe aircraft was conventional in layout with a low mounted plywood covered wooden cantilever wing The fuselage was of semi monocoque construction The undercarriage retracted into the wings The crew consisted a pilot and an observer rear gunner in a turret with a single machine gun In the observer compartment s floor there was an AFA 13 camera for reconnaissance duties Between the crew compartments there were fuel tanks and a vertical bomb bay The maximum bomb load was 300 kg 660 lb 6 50 kg 110 lb or 10 25 kg 55 lb bombs The plane was powered by various variants of the Shvetsov M 25 and related M 63 radial engines a development of the Wright R 1820 built under licence which spun an all metal two bladed Hamilton Standard variable pitch propeller Operators Edit Soviet UnionSoviet Air Force AeroflotVariants EditKhAI 5bis Improved R 10 KhAI 5 one example flown early 1939 KhAI 51 alternative designation for KhAI 5bis KhAI 52 Production version of KhAI 51 Ten ordered but production cancelled R 10 Production version of KhAI 5Specifications EditData from Gunston 1 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 9 3 m 30 ft 6 in Wingspan 12 2 m 40 ft 0 in Wing area 26 8 m2 288 sq ft Empty weight 1 823 kg 4 019 lb Gross weight 2 515 kg 5 545 lb Fuel capacity 260 kg 573 lb fuel 30 kg 66 lb oil Powerplant 1 Shvetsov M 25 license built Wright SGR 1820 F 3 Cyclone 9 cyl air cooled radial piston engine 531 kW 712 hp Propellers 2 bladed Hamilton Standard two pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 350 km h 220 mph 190 kn at sea level388 km h 241 mph at 2 500 m 8 202 ft dd dd dd dd Landing speed 125 km h 78 mph Range 1 450 km 900 mi 780 nmi Service ceiling 7 700 m 25 300 ft Time to altitude 1 000 m 3 281 ft in 2 minutes 24 seconds5 000 m 16 404 ft in 12 minutes dd dd dd dd Take off distance 250 m 820 ft Landing distance 230 m 755 ft Armament Guns 2 x fixed forward firing 7 62 mm 0 300 in ShKAS machine guns in the forward top decking 1 x manually aimed ShKAS machine gun in the rear turret Bombs 6 x 50 kg 110 lb FAB 50 bombs in internal baysSee also EditRelated development Kharkiv KhAI 6 Kharkiv KhAI 51 Kharkiv KhAI 52Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Heinkel He 70 PZL 23 Karas DAR 10 Vultee V 11 Northrop DeltaRelated lists List of interwar military aircraft List of aircraft of World War II List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CISReferences Edit Gunston Bill 1995 The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875 1995 London Osprey p 149 ISBN 1 85532 405 9 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kharkov KhAI 5 Neman R 10 HAI 5 Ugolok neba in Russian Retrieved 27 February 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kharkiv KhAI 5 amp oldid 1090245957, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
