Russian Aviation Museum

Kvant (Quantum) advanced aerobatic trainer was designed at OSKBES MAI. It was a sophisticated aircraft, and its creation coincided with establishment of new experimental workshops and design bureau facilities.

A single-seat low wing cantilever monoplane, the Kvant taildragger has retractable landing gear. Fan-cooled radial engine drives variable-pitch propeller. Among novelties implemented on this airplane was a system of direct lift control system. It seems
that Kvant layout is strongly influenced by last Soviet piston engine fighter La-11.

Two built Kvant s passed through complete ground and flight trials program. During trials, five official FAI World records were established. It was the first aircraft not built at major industrial plant to perform maiden flight at LII.

According to [1], in October 1967 Kvant appeared at the People's Education Pavilion at the Economic Achievement Exhibition (VDNKh, Moscow). There was a suggestion that the DOSAAF might sponsor Kvant s participation in the 1970 World Aerobatic
Championships (Hullavington, England), but the Soviet Union was represented instead by Yak-18PM and Yak-18PM winning the event.

Large gap between the first aircraft presentation (1967) at the VDNKh and its first flight (according to MAI information, 1977) is obvious. Plus, aircraft presented at the Exhibition differs from ones at trials not only by the painting scheme, but also
by canopy and landing gear cover details. I wonder if the early one is just a mockup?


Type Kvant
Function Aerobatic / Trainer
Year 1977
Crew 1
Engine
Type AI-14P
Power 360hp
Length 5.7
Height 2.4
Wingspan 7.5
Wing area (m2) 8.56
Weight
Empty 676
Loaded 920
Wing Load (kg/m2) 107.5
Power load (kg/hp) 2.56
Speed
Maximum 380
Stall 110
g-Limits 7+9
Roll
Takeoff 150
Climb at 0m 16