Anatra Anadis
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The Anatra Anadis was developed in 1916 as a single-seat fighter variant of the Anatra Anasal reconnaissance biplane. The main difference between the two aircraft was the streamlined fuselage, the lack of a rear seat in the Anadis, plans for a forward-firing gun (not implemented) and a different engine.[2]
| Anatra Anadis | |
|---|---|
| |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter |
| National origin | Russian Empire |
| Manufacturer | Anatra |
| Designer | Elisee Alfred Descamps |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 23 October 1916[1] |
| Developed from | Anatra Anasal |
Development
In the spring of 1916, Elisee Alfred Descamps, a French designer and chief engineer of the Anatra company of Odessa was ordered to build a single-seat fighter based on the Anasal two-seat reconnaissance biplane. Retaining the Anasal's two-bay configuration and fabric-covered wooden construction, the fighter, dubbed the Anadis, differed in having a streamlined fuselage, the rear cockpit removed, provision made for forward-firing armament and the 150 hp Salmson water-cooled radial engine replaced by a similarly-rated Hispano-Suiza V8 water-cooled engine.[2][3]
The prototype Anadis was flown on 23 October 1916 by the factory test pilot, another Frenchman, Jean Robinet.[2] The test pilot and designer modified the fighter to recover the second seat and carry extra fuel tanks, the idea being to use it to escape Russia in the event of the impending revolution.[1] Their plan was discovered by one Lieutenant Kononenko, an Imperial Army acceptance pilot attached to Anatra, and the modifications were reverted. Testing continued until 11 November 1916, the official report to the Imperial Army stating that it was "... not inferior to any German aircraft of the same type and with greater power".[3]
Nevertheless, no further examples were ordered and the tested aircraft remained at the factory until the autumn of 1917. In September 1917, Staff Captain N.A. Makarov applied for permission to fly the aircraft on a long-distance propaganda flight along the route Odessa-Thessaloniki-Rome-Marseille-Paris with a subsequent return to Russia in order "to visit the fronts and factories, to see the Allied aviation... so that the Allies would supply us better". The flight was authorized. On 14 October, the Anadis was tested with a load of 500 kg.[2] Interestingly, in addition to the identifying Russian cockades, the Anadis was painted very picturesquely: a two-headed eagle with the flags of the Entente countries were drawn on the fuselage and half-naked girls on the wings.[4]
In November 1917, Makarov went on the flight, but he crashed near the city of Iași in Romania due to an engine failure. The subsequent history of the aircraft is unknown.[4]
Specifications
Data from The Complete Book of Fighters[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 500 kg (1,102 lb) payload
- Length: 7.75 m (25 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 11.4 m (37 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 37 m2 (400 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 665 kg (1,466 lb)
- Gross weight: 1,165 kg (2,568 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8A V-8 water--cooled piston engine, 110 kW (150 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 153 km/h (95 mph, 83 kn)
- Rate of climb: 2.22 m/s (437 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 29.7 kg/m2 (6.1 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.13 hp/kg
Deployment
The Anatra Anadis prototype underwent initial testing flights starting on October 23, 1916, piloted by factory test pilot Jean Robinet.[5] Trials continued until November 11, 1916, during which the aircraft performed well at a top speed of 153 km/h (95 mph) and good maneuverability, with an official report stating it was "not inferior to any German aircraft of the same type."[5] However, persistent engine issues placed its reliability into question, along with structural concerns inherited from the Anatra D-series, which prevented production orders.[5] One prototype was completed, but it did not see front-line deployment with the Imperial Russian Air Service. Following testing, the aircraft was stored under cover at the Anatra factory in Odessa until autumn 1917.[5]
In October 1917, amid the turbulent conditions of World War I, Staff Captain N.A. Makarov obtained permission to use the Anadis for a long-range propaganda flight from Odessa to Allied countries, routing via Thessaloniki, Rome, Marseille, and Paris, with a return to Russia.[5] The aircraft had additional fuel capacity, making it suitable for an extended endurance trip of up to 14 hours, via a mission aimed at observing allied aviation practices and promoting Russian capabilities. The prototype was modified with extra fuel tanks and decorated with national insignia before departure in November 1917. However, the flight ended prematurely when Makarov was forced to make a crash landing near Iași, Romania, due to engine failure.[5] The aircraft's subsequent use is unknown, making the flight the end of its active use.
