Bratukhin, or OKB-3, was a Soviet aircraft design bureau created in 1940 from within
TsAGI
The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (also (Zhukovsky) Central Institute of Aerodynamics, russian: Центра́льный аэрогидродинами́ческий институ́т, ЦАГИ, Tsentral'nyy Aerogidrodinamicheskiy Institut, ...
to develop helicopters. Headed by Ivan Pavlovich Bratukhin, the bureau built several experimental helicopters over the next decade. Each model had the same basic design of two rotors with separate engines carried on the ends of outriggers to each side of the fuselage. The bureau was dissolved in 1951.
Models Produced
Bratukhin Omega
The Bratukhin Omega (also known as the 2MG) was an early Soviet helicopter, the first product of a new Soviet design bureau, OKB-3 that was created from within TsAGI specifically to develop rotary-wing aircraft. Bratukhin's design was a side-by-s ...
Original prototype helicopter with two 164 kW engines mounted at the end of outriggers.
Bratukhin Omega II
Improved version of the Omega, with 261 kW engines and structural strengthening. One example produced, which was flown to an altitude of 3000m in January 1945 and used thereafter for pilot training.
Bratukhin G-3
Similar to the Omega II, but powered by 336 kW
Pratt & Whitney R-985
The Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior is a series of nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial aircraft engines built by the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company from the 1930s to the 1950s. These engines have a displacement of ; initial versions produced , ...
Wasp Juniors. Two prototypes were followed by five production aircraft. Four were used for research and one for pilot training.
Bratukhin G-4
Similar to the original Omega, but powered by 373 kW
Ivchenko AI-26
The Ivchenko AI-26 is a seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine used in early Soviet helicopters and later used in light utility aircraft.
Design and development
The AI-26 engine was designed by A.G Ivchenko in 1945 with the early designation M ...
GR engines. Two prototypes and four production aircraft built.
Bratukhin B-5 __NOTOC__
The Bratukhin B-5 was a prototype Soviet twin-rotor transport helicopter designed by the Bratukhin aircraft design bureau.
Development
The B-5 was an improved and larger design based on the bureau's earlier G-4, a twin-rotor helicopter ...
Improved and larger design completed in 1947. Powered by improved AI-26 engines developing 410 kW. Only brief hops were made due to structural problems.
Bratukhin B-9
Similar to B-5 with fuselage designed for air ambulance use. Cancelled after failure of B-5
Bratukhin B-10
Similar in configuration to B-5, with uprated AI-26 engines of 429 kW. Fuselage designed for use in artillery observation role. Flown in 1947 but ultimately abandoned.
Bratukhin B-11
The Bratukhin B-11 was a prototype Soviet twin-rotor transport helicopter and the last design of the Bratukhin Bratukhin, or OKB-3, was a Soviet aircraft design bureau created in 1940 from within TsAGI to develop helicopters. Headed by Ivan Pavlo ...
The last of Bratukhin's helicopters. Generally similar to B-5 with an improved rotor system. Two prototypes produced. One lost in fatal accident on 13 December 1948.
Unbuilt projects
From
[Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Sergey (2013). ''Unflown wings: Soviet and Russian unrealized aircraft projects 1925-2010.'' Birmingham: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd. .]
;Bratukhin B-6
:Two-seat helicopter
;Bratukhin B-7
:heavy-lift assault transport helicopter
;Bratukhin B-8
:agricultural helicopter
;Bratukhin heavy transport helicopter
:heavy transport helicopter with tip-jet powered rotors
;Bratukhin heavy transport convertiplane
:heavy transport convertiplane with burners at blade tips and a compressed-air rotor drive
;Bratukhin heavy-lift flying crane helicopter
:flying crane helicopter intended to haul huge loads over distances of 63 miles (100 km)
See also
*
References
*
* {{cite journal
, title = Airplane Magazine
, volume = 4
, issue = 46
, page=1286
, publisher = Orbis Publishing Ltd
, location = London
, year = 1990
Helicopter manufacturers of the Soviet Union
Design bureaus