| TB-5 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Heavy bomber Type of aircraft |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Designer | Grigorovich |
| First flight | 1 May 1931 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Soviet Union |
| Number built | One |
TheGrigorovich TB-5 (Russian:Григорович ТБ-5) was an experimental heavy bomber designed and tested in theSoviet Union in the early 1930s. Designed as a competitor for theTupolev TB-3, the TB-5 was intended to be powered by two FED 24-cylinderX engines of 746 kW (1,000 hp) each. When these were canceled, the underwing pods were revised to each house a pair ofBristol Jupiter engines in apush-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 the spring of 1932,[2] and with the entry into service of the superior TB-3 that year, the TB-5 project was abandoned.[1]
Data from Shavrov 1985[1]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
