Rocket glider

The rocket glider (rocket glider ) - began to be developed in the Jet Propulsion Research Group (GIRD) - a research and development organization engaged in the development of rockets and engines , the chairman was S. P. Korolev , team number 4, which was also led by Korolev . After the merger of the GIRD and the Gas-Dynamic Laboratory (GDL) on October 31, 1933 - the Reactive Research Institute (RNII) . The basic principle of flight is the acceleration of a glider by a liquid-propellant rocket engine with further planning. Photos are here ^[1] .

• RP-1 - a missile glider designed by B.I. Cheranovsky on the basis of a serial glider BICH-11 with a liquid rocket engine OR-2 designed by F.A. Zander , manufactured in December 1932 . At the first test in March 1933, the engine collapsed.
• RP-318 ^[2] - the first Soviet manned rocket glider with a liquid rocket engine, created in 1936-1940 at the RNII according to the project of S. P. Korolyov . RP-318 - a monoplane with a mid-wing wing of large elongation; fuel tanks were located in the fuselage, behind the cockpit, the engine - in the rear, under the plumage. Starting weight 657 kg, fuel weight (nitric acid and kerosene) 75 kg, length 7.9 m, wingspan 17 m, estimated flight speed up to 270 km / h. Ground testing was carried out in 1936-1938 with the RD ORM-65 , and further flights with the RDA-1-150 engine.

External Images
	Photo RP-318

External Images
	Photo of the RP-318 Missile Glider in flight (February 1940 )

RNII then did not have its flight test station. For help in finding a pilot, the aircraft designer A. Ya. Shcherbakov turned to him, he eagerly responded to the request and suggested that one of the best pilots of his enterprise , V.P. Fedorov, conduct flight tests of the rocket plane . The testers were warned that flying might be unsafe. However, Fedorov, aware of the degree of risk, without hesitation agreed to conduct the tests.

P-5 towing aircraft

The first flight was scheduled for February 28, 1940 . In the morning, mechanics prepared the rocket for flight. At 5 p.m. Fedorov, equipped with a parachute, took his place in the cockpit. P-5 towing aircraft was piloted by pilot N. D. Fixon. In addition to him, A. Ya. Shcherbakov were on the plane to work on the winch of the tow rope, and A. V. Pallo as an observer for the flight of the rocket plane. Take-off RP-318 for the P-5 aircraft took place at 17 hours 28 minutes. Having risen to a height of 2600 meters, Fedorov unhooked the tow rope and launched the rocket engine. The rocket plane increased speed and began to gain altitude. Soon, he safely landed at the airport.

RP-318 flights provided valuable materials for the subsequent development of jet aircraft.