Swan 12 – Spy plane

One of the first in the Russian aviation enterprises become Plant "Joint-Stock Company aeronautics VA. Lebedev "in St. Petersburg. In April 1914 g. Lebedev bought land on the edge of the Commandant's airfield and built a number of industrial buildings. It was the beginning of his factory. earlier, at 1912 city, it was opened in St. Petersburg workshop for repair and manufacture of propellers, as well as parts of the plane, "De perdyussen".

Besides, Lebedev organized a workshop for the repair of motor boats, and building trolleys for transport aircraft "Nieuport-IV» unassembled. His studio Lebedev profitable to insure against fire, and a new night, 1913 g. workshop burnt. Soon, she was restored, but it burned again, and also after a favorable insurance. So went his "primitive accumulation".

Initially, the plant produced French aircraft, and flying boats FBA. In summer 1915 g. Plant received a trophy German spy "Albatross". The plane has been studied, and it began to produce, by making some changes in design. Aircraft of this type are called "The Swan". AT 1916 g. the plant produced an average of one aircraft per day, sometimes a half. In addition "Albatrosov", factory built aircraft and other types of foreign, Sometimes only one copy. They are also called "The Swan" with another number. Some were started in small series. In just four years at the plant was built near 700 machines. Along with their serial construction of the plant has produced several prototypes and Russian design.

Vladimir Lebedev - one of the first Russian sports pilots. He graduated from flight school in France Farman and graduated pilot aviator under number 98 (after M. N. Eftimova and H.E. Popova). He was fond of many sports. Lebedev was the champion of Russia on cycling, he held the record: he rode a bicycle 375 miles of 19 hours. He brought with him from France Plane "Farman-IV», which he has trained many Russian pilots. 15 May 1911 g. Lebedev made a record flight of the airplane with four passengers.

Among the "Swan" series occupies a special place, "Swan-XII». He was not some kind of original aircraft, and it is simply a matter, that it was the engine "Salmson" in 150 hp, Russia's only engine of such power, We produce hundreds of copies, development and reliable. This radial engine, which had high drag, German conceded more powerful inline engine. VA. Lebedev did not take any measures to change the form of the fuselage with respect to the radial engine, which could zakapotirovat. The military department is not the urge to plant this, which was completely unacceptable to the 1917 city, plane by the time clearly inferior to new machines.

Aircraft “Swan 12” Skiing with a modified engine cowling and exhaust manifold

The plane "Swan-XII» began to build in the middle 1915 g. just before 1 Martha 1919 city, ie. already during the Soviet era, It was produced and tested 216 machines, of which 192 aircraft engine "Salmson" in 150 HP. The aircraft was used in the Civil War and was used until the 1924 g.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the aircraft Cygnus 12

Swan-12 airplane photo

Aircraft pilots “Swan 12” with machine gun Colt

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