Moskalyev SAM-6
GAZ-18 (Moskalyev) · Soviet Union · first flew 1934 · light aircraft
The Moskalyev SAM-6 was an experimental aircraft intended to test the suitability of monowheel undercarriages, lighter than conventional gear, on tailless aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Short, deep fuselage with a pointed nose and open single-seat cockpit |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low wing with Scheibe-type oval wingtip fins and rudders
- Central monowheel or ski undercarriage
- Short, deep fuselage with a pointed nose and open single-seat cockpit
A low-wing wooden monoplane with a three-cylinder M-23 radial in the pointed nose, a conventional tail, oval wingtip fins and sprung skids under the wings.
Specifications
- The Moskalyev SAM-6 has a length of 4.5 m (15 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8 m (26 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The wooden SAM-6 was designed by Aleksandr Moskalyev and first flew in early 1934 with a long, non-retracting central ski and a tail ski. The main ski was later replaced by a wheel in a trouser fairing.
Variants
The original SAM-6 had a central mono-skid or wheel and a single open cockpit. By late 1934 it had been modified into the SAM-6bis, with two fixed trousered mainwheels and a second tandem seat in an enclosed cockpit.
Where you'll see it
One was built and the trials were reasonably successful. No reports from tests with the wheel landing gear are known.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.