Grigorovich TB-5

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TB-5
300px
Role Heavy bomber
National origin Soviet Union
Designer Grigorovich
First flight 1931
Status Retired
Primary user Soviet Union
Number built One

Grigorovich TB-5 (Russian: Григорович ТБ-5) was an experimental heavy bomber designed and tested in the Soviet Union in the early 1930s. Designed as a competitor for TB-3, TB-5 was intended to be powered by two FED 24-cylinder X engines of 746 kW (1,000 hp) each. When these were canceled, the underwing pods were revised to each house a pair of Bristol Jupiter engines in a push-pull configuration. Despite projected performance inferior to TB-3, it was hoped that TB-5 would gain an advantage by using less metal (in short supply at the time) thanks to its mixed construction of fabric-covered metal frame.[1]

Test flights began on 1 May 1931 with disappointing results, in part due to poor thrust of the rear-facing engines.[1] The prototype TB-5 was wrecked in a crash landing following the in-flight detachment of an engine in Spring 1932,[2] and with the entry into service of the superior TB-3 that year, the TB-5 project was abandoned.[1]

Specifications (TB-5)

Data from Shavrov 1985[1]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

  • Guns: Two turrets, each with 2× 7.62 mm (0.3 in) PV-1 machine guns
  • Bombs: Up to 2,500 kg (5,512 lb) of bombs

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

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  2. Gunston 1995, p. 91.
  3. Gunston 1995, p. 90.
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