Moskalyev SAM-9 Strela
GAZ-18, Voronezh · USSR · first flew 1937 · light aircraft
The Moskalyev SAM-9 Strela (Arrow) was a one-off Soviet experimental tailless aircraft of the 1930s, designed to test the characteristics of a leaf-shaped, low-aspect-ratio delta wing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.15 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Leaf-shaped delta wing of very low aspect ratio
- Tailless layout with a large triangular fin and narrow-chord rudder
- Wing set at shoulder height with broad-chord elevons
Look for the leaf-shaped delta wing with its root running from ahead of the engine to the extreme tail, a wooden plywood-skinned structure, and a single large triangular fin with no separate tailplane.
Specifications
- The Moskalyev SAM-9 Strela has a length of 6.15 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 3.55 m (12 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 310 km/h (193 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was an interim type that grew out of the never-built SAM-4 Sigma, which was to be rocket-powered. Aleksandr Moskalyev used a 200 kW engine derived from the Renault 6P because the 570 kW Hispano-Suiza 12Y he wanted was not available, and it first flew in early 1937 at Voronezh.
Variants
There were no versions of the Strela: only one aircraft was built. The SAM-7 Sigma was the other interim type leading towards the SAM-4.
Where you'll see it
A. N. Rybo made the first flight, and A. N. Gusarov and A. P. Chernavskii explored its handling over the next few months, finding it controllable but demanding. Development ended in mid-1937.
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