| Technical data |
|---|
| Type |
BICh-7A |
| Function |
Experimental |
| Year |
1932 |
| Crew |
1 |
| Engines |
1*100hp Bristol-Lucifer |
| Length |
4.74m |
| Wingspan |
12.2m |
| Wing area |
30.0m2 |
| Empty weight |
627kg |
| Loaded weight |
880kg |
| Wing Load (kg/m2) |
29.3 |
| Power load (kg/hp) |
8.8 |
| Speed at 0m |
165km/h |
| Landing Speed |
70km/h |
Sluggish on
takeoff, the BICh-7 was rebuilt. Now aircraft had conventional
fixed landing gear. Wingtip rudders and skids were deleted. Enclosed cockpit was integrated
into tailfin, same way as it was done on the BICh-3.
Those efforts resulted in aircraft with superior handling, very stable on
sharp turns. First flights (pilot N.A.Blagin) also revealed strong reaction force on the control
stick due to large area of control surfaces. This problem was quickly solved by minor changes
in ailerons/elevators shape.
Real problem of the BICh-7A was the engine. As in other attempts to use the
3-cylinder 140hp Bristol-Lucifer, the power had to be restricted to 100hp due to
heavy vibration. Yet with this lower power engine allowed only to perform few test flights, and
production could not be considered. It is very unfortunate that domestic
M-11 was not fitted.
| Predecessors | Modifications |
|---|
| BICh-7 |
? |
