The Kalinin K-12 was a proof-of-concept Ukrainian aircraft developed in the 1930s by the Kalinin Design Bureau during the era of the Soviet Union.
The K-12 was intended as a tailless bomber aircraft.
Also called the Kalinin BS-2 or the Zhar-Ptitsa Firebird, it featured welded steel-tube construction with fabric covering, as well as a dummy nose and tail turrets.
The K-12 was painted in a garish colour scheme representing a bird.
A subscale glider to test the K-12’s features flew in 1934, piloted by V.O. Borisov.
The K-12 flew in autumn 1936 and was demonstrated at Tushino in August 1937.
The full-size K-12, however, was cancelled after Konstantin Kalinin was arrested and executed as an enemy of the state.
Specifications
Crew
3
Length
8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Wingspan
18 m (59 ft 1 in)
Wing area
72.75 m2 (783.1 sq ft)
Empty weight
3,070 kg (6,768 lb)
Gross weight
4,200 kg (9,259 lb)
Powerplant
2 × Shvetsov M-22 9-cylinder air cooled radial engine,
324 kW (435 hp) each
Propellers
2-bladed metal variable-pitch propeller
Performance
Maximum speed
240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
Service ceiling
7,170 m (23,520 ft)
Take-off distance
700 m (2,300 ft)
Landing distance
300 m (980 ft)
Armament
Guns
2 x 7.62 mm (0.300 in) ShKAS machine guns in nose and tail turrets.
