The Grigorovich E-2, or DG-55 (Russian Григорович Э-2, ДГ-55), was a two-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, prototype sport aircraft of
Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
origin.
Design and construction
Inspired by the
de Havilland DH.88 Comet
The de Havilland DH.88 Comet is a British two-seat, twin-engined aircraft built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was developed specifically to participate in the 1934 England-Australia MacRobertson Air Race from the United Kingdom to A ...
racer which had won the
MacRobertson Air Race
The MacRobertson Trophy Air Race (also known as the London to Melbourne Air Race) took place in October 1934 as part of the Melbourne Centenary celebrations. The race was devised by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sir Harold Gengoult Smith, and th ...
in 1934, the Grigorovich
OKB
OKB is a transliteration of the Russian initials of "" – , meaning 'experiment and design bureau'. During the Soviet era, OKBs were closed institutions working on design and prototyping of advanced technology, usually for military applications. ...
began work on a similar aircraft. Like the DH.88, the Russian "''Kometa''" was a highly streamlined conventional low-wing monoplane with twin engines forward of retractable main undercarriage in nacelles under each wing. Built of wood, it also featured an enclosed cockpit and landing flaps.
Intended to be a lightweight, high-speed sport aircraft the DG-55, later designated the E-2, was slightly smaller than the DH.88 and with less powerful engines, using the Cirrus Hermes.
Only one prototype was constructed, flying in 1935.
Operational history
Following completion of its flight tests, the E-2 ''Kometa'' was handed over to the
OSOAVIAKhIM paramilitary sports organisation, who used it for light liaison duties.
References
Further reading
External links
*
Grigorovich DG-55 / E-2 Kometa Airwar 1946.
{{Grigorovich aircraft
Grigorovich aircraft
1930s Soviet aircraft
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1935
Low-wing aircraft