ANBO IV

Anbo IV
300px
ANBO 41 replica as found at Kaunas Aerodrome
Role	Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer	Karo Aviacijos Tiekimo Skyrius
Designer	Antanas Gustaitis
First flight	14 July 1932
Introduction	1934
Retired	1940 (Lithuania) 1941 (Soviet Union)
Number built	14 ANBO IV, 20 ANBO 41
Developed from	ANBO III

The ANBO IV was the unique home-designed military combat aircraft in use by the Lithuanian Air Force in World War II, designed by Lithuanian aircraft designer Antanas Gustaitis.

Development

ANBO IV aircraft was developed from the training aircraft ANBO III. The design was supervised by colonel Antanas Gustaitis. First flight took place on July 14, 1932 and the prototype was powered by a Wasp engine. Ater successful trials serial production began. Thirteen serial built aircraft was powered by British Bristol Pegasus engines and were manufactured by Lithuanian Aircraft State Factory. It could be armed with two pairs of light machine guns and could carry 200 kg of bombs.

Operational history

ANBO IVs were introduced into Lithuanian Air Force in 1934 and shortly before that few aircraft made demonstration flights in few European countries: Soviet Union, France, United Kingdom and most Scandinavian countries. Between June 25 and July 29, 1934 three aircraft commanded by colonel Gustaitis flew 10,000 km route.

ANBO IV and ANBO 41 aircraft equipped respectively one and two reconnaissance squadrons in Lithuanian Air Force, at the time of Soviet Occupation of Baltic Republics in the summer of 1940.

A photo exists showing that least one Anbo IV or Anbo 41 survived this period and was operated by the Luftwaffe during the German occupation.

Variants

File:Romuladas Marcinkus reporting.jpg

three ANBO-41s

ANBO IV

Designation of prototype and 13 serial-built aircraft used for night and day reconnaissance.

ANBO 41

Second production version with more powerful engine and three blade wooden propeller. It was then the only aircraft in Europe to employ a wooden three blade propeller.

Operators

Lithuania

• Lithuanian Air Force

Soviet Union

• Soviet Air Force incorporated Lithuanian units with equipment and personnel.

Specifications (ANBO 41)

General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and observer
• Length: 8.80 m (28 ft 10 in)
• Wingspan: 13.20 m (43 ft 4 in)
• Wing area: 29.0 m² (312 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,500 kg (3,310 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,300 kg (5,070 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Pegasus XXIII, 750 kW (1,010 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 360 km/h (220 mph)
• Range: 800 km (500 miles)
• Service ceiling: 9,000 m (29,500 ft)
• Rate of climb: 6.9 m/s (1,360 ft/min)

Armament

• 2 × fixed, forward-firing machine guns
• 2 × flexible machine guns for observer
• Up to 200 kg (440 lb) of bombs

References

• Lithuanian Aviation Museum

External links

• Lithuanian description (Lithuanian)