MAI-60 Snezhinka
Moscow Aviation Institute · Soviet Union · first flew 1961 · glider
The MAI-60 Snezhinka ("Snowflake") was an FAI Standard Class single-seat sailplane designed and built in the USSR in the early 1960s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | V-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Mid-set, straight tapered wings with end plates on the tips
- Butterfly (V) tail
- Pilot semi-reclined under a one-piece canopy ahead of the wing leading edge
Look for the 15 m span, mid-set tapered wings with end plates, a butterfly tail and a semi-retractable central monowheel with forward and tail skids.
Specifications
- The MAI-60 Snezhinka has a length of 5 m (16 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was built by the Moscow Aviation Institute with a largely traditional wooden structure strengthened by PVC foam filler, and first flew in 1961.
Variants
It was a prototype sailplane that did not reach production.
Where you'll see it
Testing over 1961 and 1962 showed poor flight characteristics, including directional instability, and a structural problem caused by low-strength glue.
Related aircraft
- MAI Kvant
- BB-MAI
- Moscow Aviation Institute Sh-Tandem
- Grigorovich Stal-MAI
- Akaflieg Braunschweig SB-6 Nixope
- Beagle B.206
- Bede XBD-2
- Beechcraft Musketeer
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.