POLIKARPOV RZ (NATACHA)

version 2 (10.12.2002)

Republican Air Force


A biplane with wings of unequal span, with bracing wires between them and ailerons on the upper surfaces only.

A direct derivation of the R-5, it was the last of that family, with a fuselage almost one metre shorter but of larger section, new M-34 750 H.P.engine whose radiator was positioned behind the mainwheels and a new triangular fin and rudder. 

The cockpit was semi-enclosed with folding transparent side panels, and the observer was accommodated beneath a hatch comprising a partly fixed, partly sliding section - except when manning the trainable 7.62 mm machine gun.

Design began in 1933 under engineers D.S. Markov and A.A. Skarbov. The prototype first flew in January 1935.Production ceased two years later after the construction of just over 1,000 aircraft. 

  
  
  With the arrival in Spain of 31 aircraft in January 1937, 20 Group was formed under the command of Abelardo Moreno.
Squadron aircraft were allocated the serial LN. The first combat mission took place in March the same year in the battle of Guadalajara. They later saw combat in Andaluca, Aragn, the Madrid front and at Toledo. 
       
 EThe second batch of 31 aircraft arrived in February, forming 25 Group under the command of Ricardo Monedero. Two further batches of Natashas arrived in May and 30 Group was formed. In June they saw combat in La Granja and Huesca, where they suffered heavy losses. As a result 20 and 25 Groups were disbanded and three independent squadrons were formed, (numbers 20,40 and 50). Further losses were sustained at Brunete and Belchite, where18 aircraft were lost.

In September the 60 surviving aircraft were formed into the 1st, 2nd , 3rd and 4th Squadrons of 30 Group, and they fought in Levante, Andaluca and Extremadura.

In all 113 aircraft of the type fought in the war, their performance enabling them to give a good account of themselves.
They operated at low level in close formation, exploiting to the maximum crossing fire from their defensive armament. The most used evasive manoeuvre was to dive and escape at absolute minimum height, keeping formation. If the formation broke up they risked serious losses.

After the war the 36 aircraft still in service served in Morocco using callsign 17W.
   
 DETAILS:          
 POWER 750 HP 
WINGSPAN 15,5 m. 
LENGTH 9,72 m. 
HEIGHT 3,6 m. 
WING AREA 42,54 m2. 
EMPTY WEIGHT 2.430 Kg. 
ALL UP WEIGHT 3.500 Kg. 
POWER/WEIGHT RATIO 4,67 kg./C.V. 
MAX SPEED 290 km./h. 
RANGE 1.000 Km 
CEILING 8.000 m. 
           
       
More information: http://www.aire.org/gce/english/rac/natacha.htm


structure of 3dz model

pp51bf.3dz	fuselage		pp51btex.pcx	pp51btra.pcx
p951be.3dz	second wing		pp51btew.pcx
pp51ba.3dz	right wing struts	pp51btex.pcx	pp51btra.pcx
pp51bb.3dz 	left wing struts	pp51btex.pcx	pp51btra.pcx


Thanks - Kapitain Kurt-help with crew member and add bombs hardpoint
      
Have a fun !!!

--------------------------------------

--------------------------------------

Karel Chvojka