Grigorovich E-2

Grigorovich E-2 (DG-55)
General information
Type	Sport aircraft
Manufacturer	Grigorovich
Number built	1
History
First flight	1935
Developed from	De Havilland DH.88 Comet

The Grigorovich E-2, or DG-55 (Russian Григорович Э-2, ДГ-55), was a two-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, prototype sport aircraft of Soviet origin.

Design and construction

Inspired by the de Havilland DH.88 Comet racer which had won the MacRobertson Air Race in 1934, the Grigorovich OKB began work on a similar aircraft. Like the DH.88, the Russian "Kometa" was a highly streamlined conventional low-wing monoplane with twin engines forward of retractable main undercarriage in nacelles under each wing. Built of wood, it also featured an enclosed cockpit and landing flaps.

Intended to be a lightweight, high-speed sport aircraft the DG-55, later designated the E-2, was slightly smaller than the DH.88 and with less powerful engines, using the 120 hp (89 kW) Cirrus Hermes.

Only one prototype was constructed, flying in 1935.

Operational history

Following completion of its flight tests, the E-2 Kometa was handed over to the OSOAVIAKhIM paramilitary sports organisation, who used it for light liaison duties.

Specifications

Data from The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 7.9 m (25 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 11.0 m (36 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 13.8 m² (149 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,051 kg (2,317 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,546 kg (3,408 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Cirrus Hermes inverted air-cooled 4-cylinder inline engines, 89 kW (120 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 296 km/h (184 mph, 160 kn)
• Range: 2,200 km (1,400 mi, 1,200 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,000 ft)

References

• Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.

Further reading

Flugzeugtypen der Welt : Modelle, Technik, Daten (in German) (Genehmigte Lizenzausg. ed.). Augsburg: Bechtermünz Vlg. 1999. ISBN 978-3860475935.

External links

• "ДГ-55 (Э-2) (DG-55 (E-2))". Уголок неба (in Russian). Retrieved 2 February 2016.
• Grigorovich DG-55 / E-2 Kometa, Airwar 1946.