Grigorovich MR-2

The Grigorovich MR-2 was a long-range reconnaissance flying boat designed by the Grigorovich Design Bureau for the Soviet Navy in the late 1920s.

MR-2
Role	Reconnaissance flying boat
Designer	Dmitry Pavlovich Grigorovich
First flight	23 September 1926
Primary user	Soviet Navy
Number built	1

Design

The MR-2 was similar to the MRL-1 but had a more powerful engine and larger upper wing, while the hull design was improved and less expensive materials used in its construction. Flights beginning in September 1926 impressed the MR-2's designers, and state acceptance trials were carried out by VVS pilot F.S.Rastegaev. One flight on October 19, however, ended in disaster when the MR-2 lost stability, and longitudinal oscillations with increasing amplitude resulted in steep dive, causing the aircraft to crash into the water up-side-down.

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 13.6 m (44 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 15.6 m (51 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 56.7 m² (610 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,770 kg (3,902 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,770 kg (6,107 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lorraine-Dietrich 12E W-12 water-cooled piston engine, 340 kW (450 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 179 km/h (111 mph, 97 kn)
• Endurance: 5 hours
• Service ceiling: 4,200 m (13,800 ft)
• Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in 7.0 minutes
• Wing loading: 49.0 kg/m² (10.0 lb/sq ft)

Armament

• Guns: 1-2 x machine guns

Bibliography

• Kulikov, Victor (December 1996). "Le fascinante histoire des hydravions de Dimitry Grigorovitch" [The Fascinating History of the Seaplanes of Dimitry Grigorovitch]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (45): 20–33. ISSN 1243-8650.