Iosif Grigorievich Neman
I.G.Neman started his career in the design bureau of K.A. >Kalinin.
When he was 30 years old, he came to the Kharkov Aviation Institute (KhAI),
where he made an unique attempt to link together education and practical R&D.
Whole family of high speed arcraft (from transports to bombers) were designed
and assembled by teachers and students. For example, the KhAI-1 (the first in
the Europe aircraft with with retractible landing gear) was created within
ordinary diploma project.
In 1934 magazine "Samoliot" (Aircraft) praised team as a candidates for leading
position in the Soviet Union. But four years later I.G.Neman was imprisoned,
and his design bureau was disbanded.
- KhAI-1 -
Passenger single-engine aircraft, designed in Kharkov Aviation Institute within
diploma project. It was the first in Europe aircraft with retracting landing
gears. Obviously it caught interest not only in civil aviation circles, and
next year I.G.Neman received military order (or contract) to develope a high
speed unarmed photo-recconaisater (what became a KhAI-6 aka SFR). 1932.
- KhAI-5 (20K) -
KhAI-5 was a prototype of the fast photorecconaisance aircraft. It featured
numerous innovations developed for KhAI-1 aircraft, including retractable gear,
wing and control surfaces with stressed skin, internal bomb/camera bay, new type
of gunner's turret, and remotely controlled camera capable to make shots at 80
degree relatively to flight direction. M-25 730hp (later M-25E, M-88, M-62 and
M-63 were used on production aircraft). 1936.
Modifications:
- R-10 - production version.
- PS-5 - civil version.
- KhAI-6/SFR (12K) -
After success of the KhAI-1, I.G.Neman received military order (or contract) to
develope a high speed unarmed photo-recconaisater KhAI-6/SFR; Project
included a lot of innovations - new design of fuel tanks, advanced wing
mechanisation, unique phototurret. Remotely controlled camera could make shots
up to 50 km away from arcraft flight line using automatically opening doors.
Despite record speed, unarmed aircraft was found too vulnerable, and KhAI-6 did
not came into production. Several innovations were used in KhAI-5/R-10, which
was designed in parallel starting 1934. One 712hp engine. 1935.
- KhAI-51 -
Neman's attempt to develope R-10 into front line attack aircraft. 1938.
See also KhAI-52.
- KhAI-52 -
Neman's attempt to redesign R-10 into front line attack aircraft. It was a
promising development of KhAI-51. Imprisonment of I.G.Neman (not an unique
case at the time) put the end to just started production of KhAI-52.
One 900hp M-63. 1938.
- Ivanov -
- R-10 (56K) -
Recon/light bomber version of KhAI-5.
- PS-5 (16K) -
a civil developement (rebuilt retired R-10's), designated PS-5.
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