RP-318
The Soviet Union's first rocket-powered aircraft. Built in 1936 by Sergei
Korolev as an adaptation of his SK-9 glider,
it was originally to have been used to flight test an early rocket engine
designed by Glushko. When both Korolev and
Glushko were arrested and sent to the Gulag in 1938, development of the
RP-318 was continued by others, culminating in the first powered flight
on Feb. 28, 1940. Test pilot V. P. Fedorov was towed to 2,600 m and cast
off at 80 km/hr before firing the rocket engine and accelerating the aircraft
to 140 m/s andan altitude of 2,900 m. In all, the RP-318 flew nine times
before World War II ended the work.
| length |
7.4 m |
| mass |
700 kg |
| propellants |
nitric acid/kerosine |
| thrust |
1,370 newtons |
Related entry
• rocket plane
Related categories
• EXPERIMENTAL
AIRCRAFT
• MILITARY
AIRCRAFT
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