PM-1, P-2 by N.N.Polikarpov and A.A.Semenov

In 1924 first passenger airlines were open in the USSR. Necessity to replace German aircraft dominated domestic lines became obvious. First indigenous passenger aircraft (AK-1 and GAZ-5) were built in 1923, but airliners with better performance and larger capacitance were needed.

Aviatrest ordered Factory 1 creation of new passenger aircraft, allowing only 3 months for design and assembly! Why? Because aircraft was scheduled to participate in propaganda flight Moscow-Bejing in June 1925. Eventually this demand was fulfilled, and on June 8 (90 days since first line on the paper) the PM-1 was completed. General layout belongs to engineer A.A.Semenov, detailed design belongs to Technical Division of Factory-1 lead by N.N.Polikarpov.

PM-1 was an all wooden biplane with fabric wing cover, of clean airdynamic shape. Honeycomb retractable radiator was installed under the engine. First flight by A.I.Zhukov was performed on June 10 1925, exact day of the Moscow-Bejing flight. PM-1 did not join the team.

Aircraft passed all trials without complications, and batch of 10 was ordered.

Since July 26 some demonstration flights were performed, including non-stop flight Moscow-Leningrad. Later PM-1 was used on Moscow-Berlin line (for ~1.5 years). It was damaged during emergency landing, when engine gave up (over Germany). At the time Maybach engines were rejected by Aviatrest. Since 1925 superior passenger aircraft by K.A.Kalinin entered production, and PM-1 was not restored.

Created August 25, 1998

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