Bratukhin B-5

The Bratukhin B-5 was a prototype Soviet transverse rotor helicopter designed by the Bratukhin aircraft design bureau.

Development
The B-5 was an improved and larger design based on the bureau's earlier G-4, a twin-rotor helicopter, with each rotor driven by an Ivchenko AI-26 radial engine. Each engine was housed in a pod on an outrigger with the related rotor above. The programme was delayed waiting for appropriate engines and the B-5 was not completed until 1947, it only made a few short hops before the programme was abandoned due to vibration and structural flexing.

An air ambulance variant, the Bratukhin B-9 was built but was abandoned without being flown. Another variant was the Bratukhin B-10 which had uprated 575 hp (429 kW) engines and was modified for use in the artillery observation role with the military designation VNP (Vosdushnii Nabludatelnii Punk - Aerial Observation Point). The B-10 had three-seat for the crew, the cabin could hold three passengers or equipment. The B-10 flew in 1947 but although it did not have the wing stiffness problems of the B-54, demonstrating adequate handling like the B-5 and B-9 was also abandoned. A variant with an improved performance was built as the Bratukhin B-11.

Variants

 * B-5
 * Prototype, one built.


 * B-9
 * Prototype air ambulance variant, one built.


 * B-10
 * Prototype observation and reconnaissance variant, one built.