Sikorsky Russky Vityaz
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Early version with two propellers. |
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Improved version with four propellers. |
The
Sikorsky Russky Vityaz (
"Русский витязь" in
Russian, or Russian Knight), also called
Le Grand, was the first four-
engine aircraft in the world, designed and built by
Igor Sikorsky in
Russia in the
spring of
1913.
Sikorsky conceived the Russky Vityaz in
1911, when no known
aircraft could lift more than 600
kilograms. The carrying capacity record belonged to a
French pilot Ducis, who had flown 800
meters with a load of 600 kg. On hearing about the ongoing construction of the Russky Vityaz and its capabilities in the early spring of 1913, the experts and the media around the world were predicting its complete failure. However, the first aerial test of the Russky Vityaz on
May 10,
1913 was successful. At the time, many people in other parts of the world considered it to be a newspaper
hoax, and did not believe it. Observers believed that an aircraft with such dimensions would never leave the ground.
The Russky Vityaz was a four-engine multi-
stanchion biplane with different-sized
wings. The dual-
spar wings had a
rectangular form and a depth of 2.5 m. The distance between the wings was 2.5 m, as well. Its
fuselage represented a
girder with a rectangular section, trimmed with
plywood sheets. The aircraft had a cabin with a duplicated steering column, two passenger cabins and a storage room for spare parts. There was also an area in the pilot's cabin equipped with a
searchlight and
machine gun. The
ailerons on the upper wings secured the aircraft's stability. The Russky Vityaz was equipped with four engines, installed in tandem (it was designed as a two-engine plane).
After the Russky Vityaz's first
test flights between May 10 and
May 27,
1913, it was established that a passenger could even walk around the cabins without causing any problems to stability. The aircraft left the ground after a 700-meter
takeoff run.
Unfortunately, Sikorsky's aspirations for the Russky Vityaz proved to be short-lived. While parked on the
runway, the aircraft was crushed by an engine, which had fallen off of the landing one-passenger
Morane aircraft. Sikorsky decided not to repair the seriously damaged Russky Vityaz and began working on his next brainchild " the famous
Ilya Muromets.
{{Aircraft specification|
plane or copter?=plane |
>crew=3 | length alt=65 ft 7 in | span main=
*Top wing: 27 m (88 ft 7 in)
*Bottom wing: 20 m | span alt=65 ft 7 in | height alt= | area alt=1,290 ft² | empty weight alt=7,495 lb | loaded weight alt=8,820 lb | max takeoff weight alt=10,890 lb | more general= | engine (prop)=Argus Motoren | type of prop=inline engines | number of props=4 | power main=75 kW | power alt=100 hp | max speed alt=55 mph | range alt=105 mi | ceiling alt=1,970 ft | climb rate alt= | loading alt= | power/mass main= | power/mass alt= | more performance= | armament={{aircontent|related= | similar aircraft= | sequence= | see also= | lists=
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