Grigorovich M-16

Summary

Grigorovich M-16 (alternative designation ShCh M-16, sometimes also Shchetinin M-16) was a successful Russian World War I-era biplane flying boat of the Farman type, developed from the M-9 by Grigorovich. Somewhat larger than the M-9, the M-16 was a version especially intended for winter operations, with better aerodynamic qualities.

M-16
Role Reconnaissance flying boat
Manufacturer Shchetinin
Designer Dmitri Grigorovich
Introduction 1916
Retired 1920s
Primary users Russian navy
Finnish Air Force
Number built 40
Developed from Grigorovich M-9

Wartime use edit

Six M-16s fell into Finnish hands during the Russian Civil War. The first Finnish parachute jump was made on June 17, 1922 from a M-16 by Eero Erho. The aircraft were flown until 1923. One additional plane was captured by the fledgling Estonian Air Force.

Variants edit

  • M-16 : Two-seat reconnaissance floatplane.

Operators edit

  Estonia
  Finland
  Russia
  Soviet Union

Specifications (M-16) edit

Data from Thulinista Hornetiin – 75 vuotta Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneita,[1] Grigorovich Flying Boats[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 8.6 m (28 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 1 in)
  • Wing area: 61.8 m2 (665 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,100 kg (2,425 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,450 kg (3,197 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Salmson P9 -cylinder water-cooled radial piston engine, 110 kW (150 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 120 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)
  • Endurance: 4 hours
  • Service ceiling: 3,500 m (11,500 ft)

Armament

References edit

  1. ^ Heinonen, Timo (1992). Thulinista Hornetiin – 75 vuotta Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneita (in Finnish). Tikkakoski: Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo. ISBN 951-95688-2-4.
  2. ^ "Grigorovich Flying Boats". Russian aviation in WW1 and Civilian War (in Russian and English). Retrieved 18 December 2019.

Bibliography edit

  • Gerdessen, Frederik. "Estonian Air Power 1918 – 1945". Air Enthusiast, No. 18, April – July 1982. pp. 61–76. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Kulikov, Victor (December 1996). "Le fascinante histoire des hydravions de Dimitry Grigorovitch" [The Fascinating History of the Seaplanes of Dimitry Grigorovitch]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (45): 20–33. ISSN 1243-8650.