The Moskalyev SAM-10 was a late 1930s Soviet light transport aircraft suited to passenger or ambulance roles. Despite proving outstanding in trials, engine supply curtailed its production.
The SAM-10 was powered by a 220 kW (300 hp) Bessonov MM-1, a six cylinder. air-cooled, inverted inline engine, though its unobtainability led to the SAM-10bis, fitted instead with a 200 kW (270 hp) Voronezh MV-6, a similar six cylinder engine. The engine cowling was light alloy, as were the cabin roof frames, but the rest of the fuselage had a wooden structure, the forward part covered with ply and the rest with fabric. At the rear, the fin was triangular, carrying a narrower, round-tipped rudder. Its cantilever tailplane was mounted on top of the fuselage.[1][2]
The date of the SAM-10s first flight is not known but it underwent two months of official tests from early June 1938. Its outstanding performance resulted in orders for both passenger and ambulance configurations but the unavailability of its engine blocked production.[1]
In response, two SAM-10bis, powered by the more available but less powerful MV-6 and with unaltered dimensions but one less seat, were built. The reduced power reduced performance, for example, the time taken to reach 1,000 m (3,300 ft) rose from 2.7 to 3.2 minutes; no further orders were forthcoming.[1]
Variants
SAM-10
Original 5/6 seat passenger or ambulance, with 220 kW (300 hp) MM-1 engine.
SAM-10bis
4/5 seats, with 200 kW (270 hp) MV-6 engine.
Specifications (SAM-10)
Data from Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995[1]