Gribovsky G-23 Komsomolyets 2

Vladislav Gribovsky · Soviet Union · first flew 1937 · light aircraft

The Gribovsky G-23 Komsomolyets 2 was a two-seat experimental sports aircraft built in the USSR in the 1930s.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsLow-mounted, tapered
E — Engines1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — FuselageLow-wing cantilever monoplane with a flat-sided fuselage
T — TailConventional

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The original G-23 had a radiator under the nose and a low-set propeller, with two tandem seats.

Specifications

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

It was designed to test the suitability of the GAZ-M-60, a car-derived water-cooled engine, for light aircraft. It was much like the single-seat G-22 but with a 25 per cent greater span and an extra tandem seat.

Variants

The G-23 flew in 1937 with the GAZ-M-60, the G-23bis in 1938 with a 150 hp M-11Ye radial, and the G-23bis-GAZ in late 1938 with a GAZ-11. The figures here are for the G-23bis.

Where you'll see it

In summer 1937 it flew a 2,584 km out-and-return race from Moscow to Sebastopol in 21 hours, configured as a single-seater.

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