72144 TSAGI A-7 +TSAGI A-8 LIGHT AUTOGIRO (NT)

The Kamow TsAGI A-7 was a Soviet gyroplane (autogyre) from the early period of World War II. The machine first flew in 1934 and entered service in 1938. The overall length was 8.43 meters with a main rotor diameter of 15.18 meters. The drive was provided by a single M-22 engine with 473 hp. The maximum speed did not exceed 195 km / h, with a flight range of 400 kilometers. The deck armament consisted of three 7.62 mm machine guns. The A-7 gyroplane was designed in the TsAGI design office, and the Kamowa plant was responsible for its production. It was the first serial gyroplane in the USSR air force and the first large-scale military gyroplane in the history of aviation. It was used for reconnaissance, rescue and transport missions. It was rarely used to correct artillery fire. Despite its undoubted advantages, such as the simplicity of piloting, good maneuverability and the small size of the landing site needed to take to the air and later landing, the machine also had its disadvantages - mainly limited lifting capacity and range, relatively short flight time and high fuel consumption. Rotorcraft of this type were used to a small extent during the Winter War with Finland (1939-1940) and at the beginning of the Soviet-German war (1941-1945).