Sukhoi Su-5
| Company type | Experimental fighter aircraft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1944 |
| Headquarters | Soviet Union |
| Products | Mixed-propulsion fighter aircraft |
The Sukhoi Su-5, also known as the I-107, was a Soviet experimental fighter featuring mixed propulsion—combining a propeller and a motorjet—developed during the closing stages of World War II.
Development
The emergence of the German turbojet-powered Messerschmitt Me 262 towards the end of World War II spurred the Soviet Union to pursue faster fighter designs. Due to the absence of a turbojet engine ready for mass production, Soviet engineers focused on hybrid-powered aircraft that primarily relied on a piston engine driving a propeller, supplemented by a small rocket or jet engine to provide brief speed boosts.[1]
Conceived in 1944, the Su-5 (originally designated I-107) shared conceptual similarities with the Mikoyan-Gurevich I-250. Its maiden flight took place on 6 April 1945, followed by limited test flights. Later modifications included fitting a laminar flow wing, enabling it to reach speeds of 793 km/h (428 kn, 493 mph) at an altitude of 4,350 m (14,270 ft) while utilizing the motorjet.[2]</ref> On 15 June 1945, the aircraft’s Klimov VK-107A piston engine suffered irreparable damage during flight. After replacing it with another VK-107A, testing proceeded until 18 October when the engine reached its operational limit. With no additional VK-107A engines available, the project was terminated.[3]</ref>
The Su-5 featured a traditional all-metal monoplane design. Positioned at the rear fuselage was the Kholshchevnikov VRDK motorjet, powered via a driveshaft linked to the VK-107 piston engine. This motorjet could deliver an extra 100 km/h (54 kn, 62 mph) for up to three minutes.[1]