Bolkhovitinov S
Bolkhovitinov · Soviet Union · first flew 1940 · bomber
The Bolkhovitinov S (Sparka, meaning twin or joined engine) was a high-speed bomber designed and built in the USSR from early 1937.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Two Klimov M-103 engines mounted in tandem in the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two Klimov M-103 engines mounted in tandem in the fuselage
- Contra-rotating coaxial three-blade propellers
- Long nose with the cockpit set well back, and twin fins on the tailplane tips
The structure was mostly light-alloy stressed skin, with Fowler flaps and an undercarriage that rotated through 90 degrees to lie flat in the wing.
Specifications
- The Bolkhovitinov S has a length of 13.2 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.8 m (45 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 570 km/h (354 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The first prototype, the S-1, flew on 29 January 1940 with one M-103 engine. The second prototype, the S-2, had two engines and was armed with a single machine gun and bombs.
Variants
It was also known as the BBS, BB, LB-S or SSS. Two were built.
Where you'll see it
State testing ran from 20 March to July 1940 and reached 570 km/h. Take-off and landing were difficult because of the high wing loading.
Related aircraft
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