Grigorovich M-15
M-15 | |
---|---|
Sole surviving Grigorovich M-15 on display in the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków | |
Role | Reconnaissance flying boat |
Manufacturer | Shchetinin |
Designer | Dmitri Grigorovich |
Retired | 1920s |
Primary users | Russian navy Finnish Air Force |
Number built | 80 planned |
Developed from | Grigorovich M-9 |
Grigorovich M-15 (alternative designation ShCh M-15 (Russian: Щ М-15), sometimes also Shchetinin M-15) was a successful Russian World War I-era biplane flying boat, developed from the M-9 by Grigorovich.
The M-15 was a smaller version of the M-9 intended to replace the latter, however it was only built in small numbers due to shortage of the more powerful Hispano-Suiza engines. After the summer of 1917 it was mostly used as a trainer.
Two M-15s fell into Finnish hands during the Russian Civil War, having been left at Åland and Turku. The Russian officer J.Herbert flew the Åland aircraft to mainland Finland and was awarded an officer's title in the Finnish Air Force. Only the Åland aircraft was in flyworthy condition. The aircraft was flown until 1919.
Operators
Specifications (M-15)
Data from Thulinista Hornettiin
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 8.40 m (ft in)
- Wingspan: 11.9 m (ft in)
- Height: m (ft in)
- Wing area: 44.0 m² (ft²)
- Empty weight: 840 kg (lb)
- Useful load: kg (kg)
- Loaded weight: kg (lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 1,320 kg (lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza pusher, kW (140 hp)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: km/h (knots, mph)
- Maximum speed: 125 km/h (knots, mph)
- Cruise speed: km/h (knots, mph)
- Stall speed: km/h (knots, mph)
- Range: km (nm, mi, 5.5 h)
- Service ceiling: 3,500 m (ft)
- Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: W/kg (hp/lb)
Armament
1x MG
Sources
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grigorovich M-15. |
Heinonen, Timo: Thulinista Hornetiin - Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3, Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo, 1992, ISBN 951-95688-2-4