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Bratukhin B 5

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Top speed
  
218 km/h

Manufacturer
  
Bratukhin

First flight
  
1947

The Bratukhin B-5 was a prototype Soviet twin-rotor transport helicopter designed by the Bratukhin aircraft design bureau.

Contents

Development

The B-5 was an improved and larger design based on the bureau's earlier G-4, a twin-rotor helicopter, with each rotor driven by an Ivchenko AI-26 radial engine. Each engine was housed in a pod on an outrigger with the related rotor above. The programme was delayed waiting for appropriate engines and the B-5 was not completed until 1947, it only made a few short hops before the programme was abandoned due to vibration and structural flexing.

An air ambulance variant, the Bratukhin B-9 was built but was abandoned without being flown. Another variant was the Bratukhin B-10 which had uprated 575 hp (429 kW) engines and was modified for use in the artillery observation role with the military designation VNP (Vosdushnii Nabludatelnii Punk - Aerial Observation Point). The B-10 had three-seat for the crew, the cabin could hold three passengers or equipment. The B-10 flew in 1947 but although it did not have the wing stiffness problems of the B-54, demonstrating adequate handling like the B-5 and B-9 was also abandoned. A variant with an improved variant was built as the Bratukhin B-11.

Variants

B-5
Prototype, one built.
B-9
Prototype air ambulance variant, one built.
B-10
Prototype observation and reconnaissance variant, one built.

Specifications (B-10)

Data from

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Capacity: 3 or additional equipment
  • Empty weight: 3,019 kg (6,656 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 3,900 kg (8,598 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Ivchenko AI-26GVF) radial piston engine, 429 kW (575 hp) each
  • Main rotor diameter: 2× 10.00 m (32 ft 10 in)
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 218 km/h (135 mph; 118 kn)
  • Range: 440 km (273 mi; 238 nmi)
  • References

    Bratukhin B-5 Wikipedia