Anatra D

Anatra D
Role	Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer	Anatra
Designer	Elysée Alfred Descamps
First flight	19 December 1915[1]
Number built	170[1]
Variants	Anatra DS

The Anatra D or Anade was a two-seat reconnaissance aircraft built in Russia and flown during World War I. It was a two-bay biplane of conventional configuration that seated the pilot and observer in tandem, open cockpits. Test flights revealed a number of design flaws, including weak wing structure (that killed company test pilot Jean Robinet on 21 July 1917)^[2] and poor stability. Nevertheless, the aircraft was ordered into production by the Army, and deliveries commenced in May 1916 after revisions had been made to correct the aircraft's centre of gravity in the hope of addressing the worst handling problems. The type continued in limited service after the war, eventually being used as a trainer until about 1919.

Operators

 Russia

• Imperial Russian Air Force: Initial deliveries began on 16 May 1916 with 170 acquired^[1]

 Soviet Union

• Soviet Air Force

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and observer
• Length: 7.70 m (25 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 11.50 m (37 ft 9 in)
• Height: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 35.0 m² (377 ft²)
• Empty weight: 515 kg (1,135 lb)
• Gross weight: 865 kg (1,907 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Gnôme Monosoupape, 74 kW (100 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 132 km/h (82 mph)
• Range: 350 km (220 miles)
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,100 ft)
• Rate of climb: 2.4 m/s (470 ft/min)

Armament

• 1 × .303 Vickers machine gun for observer
• up to 30 kg (65 lb) of bombs^[1]

References

1. Gunston, Bill, The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995, Osprey Publishing, 1995, p. 1
2. http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/books-magazines/53827-ready-index-augie-blume%92s-russian-military-air-fleet-ww1-volume-2-a-4.html

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
• Russian Aviation Museum
• avia.ru