SAM-13 by A.S.Moskalev

70k b/w photo, courtesy of Sergey Andreev

A twin-engined push/pull wooden fighter with twin tail booms. The tail unit was unconventional: a single fin was fitted on the center of the tailplane. Typical for push-pull aircraft problem of pilot escape was solved by adding a device locking rear propeller in horizontal position.

Tricycle landing gear was completely retractable, fuselage was very slim and airdynamically clean. Several problems were linked to extremely small wing area - long Takeoff Roll, insufficient climb rate and ceiling, difficult takeoff and landing.

Aircraft was flown twice by pilot N.D.Fikson in the beginning of 1940 (factory trials). Maximum speed trials were not performed because gear retraction system was not tuned in time. For a long time aircraft was tested in full-size TsAGI wind tunnel. Later in LII taxi trials continued (M.L.Gallay). Trials stopped with German invasion.

No materials or reports are known to survive.

One built.

56k and 20k b/w drawings, courtesy of Sergey Andreev