The history of the Great Patriotic War, even almost seventy-five years after its end, continues to keep many secrets. One of them is the unanswered answer to the question: why, with an unprecedented rise in Soviet industry in the 1930s only a few aircraft models "flew away" to fight, and during the period of hostilities only one aircraft was put into production?
But the design bureaus did not tire of offering all the new options for attack aircraft and bombers that could to strengthen the military power of the Red Army, and some of them had no analogues at all in certain design details and weapons. To your attention 5 promising Soviet aircraft of the times of the Great Patriotic War, which were not allowed into series.
1. VIT-1 (Designer - N.N. Polikarpov)
This aircraft could have been a great addition to the Red Army's fleet if completed. Although it has already proven itself in the best possible light at the stages of development and testing. The brainchild of the legendary aircraft designer Polikarpov was a multipurpose aircraft with a crew of two. The armament for the VIT-1 consisted of: a turret with a ShKAS machine gun, two 37-mm Shpitalny OKB-13 guns, and a 20-mm ShVAK cannon mounted in the nose of the aircraft. In addition, the car could hold up to 600 kg of bombs in the bomb bay, or two FAB-500 units on an external sling.
The first tests of the promising aircraft took place on October 14, 1937. The legendary test pilot Valery Chkalov was at the helm that day. Even then, VIT-1 showed good results for its time: the maximum flight speed at an altitude of 3000 m is 494 km / h, the flight range is about a thousand kilometers at 410 km / h.
Further tests only confirmed the high performance of the aircraft. So, according to the surviving data, the pilots left positive reviews about VIT-1: the car is easy controlled, maneuvered well and behaved satisfactorily in the air under conditions of flight on one engine.
However, the promising aircraft did not succeed with a masterpiece of the Soviet aircraft industry, despite all the prerequisites for this. Even the stage of factory testing was not completed - the project was simply put aside. Moreover, there are no reliable reasons for such an incomprehensible decision today, and all the versions put forward to date have not yet been effectively proven in any way.
2. VIT-2 (Designer - N.N. Polikarpov)
There are those who consider this plane to be a kind of "attempt number two", but this is not entirely true. The VIT-2 was a completely new machine, which Polikarpov took up without looking back at the previous failure. The idea of the aircraft designer was to create a universal strike aircraft. Moreover, the engineer did not intend to stop: in parallel with the design of VIT-2, he considered options for creating several machines of various modifications: a dive bomber, a multi-seat cannon fighter, a multi-gun attack aircraft and even a heavy naval attack aircraft.
VIT-2 possessed impressive and, in some respects, unique technical characteristics and weapons. Thus, he was the first aircraft to acquire the M-105 engine. And this despite the fact that these motors can hardly be called brought to mind at that time. In addition, the car could develop considerable speed, while being well armed: VIT-2 equipped with four 20-mm ShVAK-20 cannons, a pair of 37-mm ShVAK-37 cannons, as well as two 7.62 mm machine guns ShKAS. The bomb bay of the aircraft intervened up to 1600 kg.
In fact, the only serious drawback of Polikarpov's brainchild was the practical complete rejection of armor for him: the only exception was the pilot's armored back. Excellent flight performance was confirmed from the first test flight made by Chkalov on May 11, 1938. So, the following indicators were noted: the maximum speed at an altitude of 4500 meters with a flight weight of 6166 kg - 498 km / h, with a flight weight of 5350 kg - 508 km / h.
Despite the fact that the car was promising, difficulties arose almost immediately on its way. So, initially, the Main Directorate of the Aviation Industry of the USSR, in fact, did not pay attention to VIT-2. When the plane showed itself perfectly in factory tests, they nevertheless showed interest in it: after successful state tests and even participation in the May Day parade, he was still recommended for serial production. But it never went into production - it was suddenly ordered to be refitted, as a result of which turned out to be a completely different plane, known as SPB - a high-speed dive bomber - with the index "D"
3. Sh / LBSh (Constructor - Kocherigin)
Although this aircraft did not go into mass production, it still remained in the history of aviation - it was the first in the world with wing-mounted cannons. The LBSh was a monoplane developed on the basis of the R-9 reconnaissance aircraft. In total, two prototypes of the machine were built with different motors - M-88 and M-87A, respectively.
The armament of the aircraft was represented by: two wing-mounted ShVAK cannons (ammunition - 150 shells each), two machine guns ShKAS (ammunition - 900 rounds each), as well as one ShKAS with 500 rounds of ammunition as a defensive weapons. Normal bomb load - 200 kg. Among the design features, the non-retractable chassis can be noted.
In 1939, tests were carried out, the results of which were the following indicators: maximum speed at the ground - 360 km / h, afterburner - 382 km / h. The maximum speed at an altitude of 6650 m is 437 km / h, at an altitude of 7650 m - 426 km / h. The tests were carried out with a take-off weight of 3500 kg.
After a series of state tests, the aircraft, eventually named BB-21, was recommended for serial production, but this did not happen. It is interesting that the reason for the "non-hit" of the promising vehicle for the war was... the fighting itself: after the start invasion of the Third Reich into the territory of the USSR, the production facilities that were planned to be allocated for the BB-21 were given under the Yak-1.
4. "Pegasus" (Designer - D.L. Tomashevich)
This plane is interesting not only for the inglorious ending of its history, but also for the circumstances of its beginning. And the thing is that engineer Tomashevich created his "Pegasus" not only right during the conduct of military operations by his country, but also did it... in prison dungeons.
In December 1938, Dmitry Tomashevich, the leading designer of the I-180 fighter and the deputy Polikarpov, was arrested after the death of test pilot Chkalov. However, being in the so-called "sharashka" did not stop the engineer in his activities. In 1941, while still under arrest, Tomashevich completed work on an anti-tank aircraft project.
Interesting fact: in some way, the engineer can be called a visionary - the presented project literally predicted the tank battles of 1943.
The aircraft was designed to be as cheap and easy to manufacture as possible and, at the same time, efficient and functional. So, many parts of the Pegasus structure were supposed to be made of wood, including the chassis wheels. The power plant was supposed to be M-11 engines, which were distinguished by the ability to work on any type of aviation gasoline. In addition, it was assumed that the aircraft would be used in missions that did not require the use of aces pilots - there were enough pilots with low qualifications, which was an excellent solution in conditions of war.
Armament "Pegasus" was represented by one course machine gun UB caliber 12.7-mm, as well as other samples of weapons in various variants: bomb FAB-250, 37-mm air cannon NS-37, two 23-mm air cannon VYa-23 or four cluster bombs for anti-tank cumulative bombs. According to Tomashevich's calculations, the fuel consumption for the combat flight of five Pegasus anti-tank aircraft was equal to the fuel consumption for the departure of one Il-2.
It would seem that such a promising plane should have been appreciated and given a start in life, but an unexpected obstacle stood in the way. The very M-11 engine that Tomashevich chose was indeed very good, and therefore was used in a number of other aircraft that had already been put into production. There were simply not enough motors for the Pegasus.
5. Su-6 (Designer - P.O.Sukhoi)
The history of this aircraft is a prime example of the fact that time wasting can become the reason for a missed opportunity. In addition, it was not immediately possible to bring the Su-6 to mind. The first prototype of the vehicle was completed on February 28, 1941, and on March 13, it took to the skies for the first time. At the helm was the pilot V.K. Kokkinaki.
After that, full-fledged factory tests were already deployed, the end of which fell on April 1941. Then the following aircraft indicators were obtained: the maximum speed at the ground is 510 km / h, at a design altitude of 3000 meters - 527 km / h. The ascent time is 7.3 minutes.
Despite the fairly good test results, the Su-6 was still viewed with skepticism. First of all, the claims were aimed at the fact that the first checks were carried out in relation to the plane without weapons, and with it they were somewhat different.
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In addition, the 195 kg armor was unable to properly protect either the vehicle itself or its crew. The discontent of the specialists of the LII NKAP was also caused by the weapons, which were considered too weak and did not meet the requirements of the time. The plane was sent for revision.
In the period 1943-1944, aircraft designers of the P.O. Sukhoi was still able to bring the unfinished car to the mind, as a result of which she could boast of good flight, combat and aerobatic characteristics. So, the armament of the Su-6 was represented by two VYa-23 wing-mounted cannons (ammunition for 230 rounds) and two ShKAS wing-mounted machine guns (ammunition for 3000 rounds). In addition, there were jet armament in the form of ten RS-132 or RS-82.
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In 1944, state tests of the aircraft began, during which it showed excellent results. According to the surviving information, the Su-6 was noted for its brilliant stability and controllability characteristics, as well as ease of piloting. Moreover, in terms of a number of indicators, it significantly surpassed some of the vehicles already in service.
Only this did not save the promising plane from oblivion. The fact is that the delay with revision, and then with tests, led to the fact that the potential era of the Su-6 was lost. In May 1944, all checks of another machine, the Il-10 attack aircraft, were successfully completed, which showed flight data higher than the brainchild of the Sukhoi Design Bureau. Ultimately, it was the Il-10 that was put into mass production, and the launch of the Su-6 was considered inappropriate.
There are cases in history when a ticket to life for a promising car was still given, but they could not appreciate it: The underestimated Tu-204: the fate of a promising airliner, which was destined to appear at the wrong time
Source: https://novate.ru/blogs/190320/53833/