Air Enthusiast 1971-11
J.Marmain - Lyulka, a Soviet pioneer
The first production application of the afterburning AL-7F engine was in the Sukhoi Su-7 single-seat ground attack fighter, which, first flown in 1956, has been in continuous production for more than a dozen years. Several versions of the Su-7 have been produced in quantity, including the two-seat Su-7UTI illustrated here, and the principal version of Lyulka's engine employed by these is the AL-7F-1 rated at 15,432 lb (7 000 kg) thrust dry and 22,046 lb (10 000 kg) with afterburning. The Su-7MF, which has improved short-field characteristics, has a normal take-off weight of the order of 26,455 lb (12 000 kg) and an overload weight of some 30,865 lb (14 000 kg), and maximum speed without external stores is approximately 720 mph (1 160 km/h) at 1,000 ft (305 m), or Mach 0-95, and 1,056 mph (1 700 km/h) at 39,370 ft (12 000 m).
Первые реактивные бомбардировщики. 24 июля 1947 года - на три дня раньше туполевского Ту-12 - в воздух поднялся бомбардировщик Ил-22, оснащенный четырьмя ТРД (фото) - первый советский реактивный бомбардировщик, первый в Европе четырехдвигательный реактивный самолет (после Ar 234C). В серию самолет не пошел, но стал важной промежуточной вехой на пути к созданию в КБ превосходного фронтового бомбардировщика Ил-28.
The first aircraft to fly with turbojets designed by Arkhip Lyulka was the Ilyushin Il-22 flown on 24 July 1947 with four 2,866 lb (1 000 kg) TR-1 turbojets. The Il-22 carried a crew of five and a maximum internal bomb load of 6,614 lb (3 000 kg). With 2,475 Imp gal (11 250 I) of fuel, the Il-22 had a maximum range of 1,160 miles (I 865 km), and performance included a top speed of 446 mph (718 km/h) Overall dimensions included a wing span of 75 ft 5 3/4 in (23,06 m), a length of 68 ft 11 in. (21,05 m), and a gross wing area of 801-91 sq ft
(74,5m2).
Lyulka's AL-5 turbojet saw commercial application for the first time in 1957 with the debut of the Tupolev Tu-110 powered by four uprated AL-5s of 12,125 lb (5 500 kg) thrust. Possessing an all-up weight of 165,347 lb (75 000 kg), the Tu-110 had a high-speed cruise of 559 mph (900 km/h) at 32,810 ft (10 000 m), and a range with one hour's reserves, and a 26,455-lb (12000-kg) payload of 2,050 miles (3 300 km). Overall dimensions included a span of 112 ft 31 in (34,54 m), a length of 126 ft in (38,50 m). and a wing area of 1,829-86 sq ft (170 m2). The Tu-110 offered no advantage over the Tu-104 and was not, therefore, placed in production.
Built in 1954 and flown early in 1955, the Ilyushin Il-54 three-seat light tactical bomber was one of the first aircraft to receive Lyulka's AL-7 of 14,330 lb (6 500 kg) thrust. The wing was swept 55 deg on the leading edge and had a span of 58 ft 4 3/4 in (17,80 m), overall length being 71 ft 6 1/4 in (21,80 m). Like the earlier Il-30, it featured a widely-spaced “bicycle" undercarriage with twin-wheel main members and small outrigger wheels, and performance included a maximum speed of 714 mph (1 150 km/h) at low altitude, and a range of 1,490 miles (2 400 km), loaded weight being 63,934 lb (29 000 kg).
The Lyulka AL-5 at its initial rating of 9,921 lb (4 500 kg) was installed in the Ilyushin Il-30 twin-engined tactical bomber which carried a maximum bomb load of 6,614 lb (3 000 kg). Maximum speed was of the order of 621 mph (1 000 km/h), and a 4,410-lb (2 000-kg) bomb load could be carried over a distance of 2,175 miles (3 500 km). A crew of four was carried and the wings, which had a span of 54 ft 1 1/2 in (16,50 m), were swept 35 deg on the leading edges, overall length being 59 ft 0 2/3 in (18,00 m).
Contemporary of the La-190 and similarly powered by an AL-5 turbojet, the Yak-1000 transonic fighter featured a dipped narrow-delta wing platform with tapered trailing edges, a tailplane of similar configuration, and a zero-track tricycle undercarriage with outrigger stabilising wheels. A maximum speed of 714 mph (1 150 km/h) was anticipated, but its characteristics were allegedly poor and trials were abandoned at an early stage.