Soviet 'Taran' Flying Rams and Aerial Mines.

[Wingknut]

This was originally on the Spitfire / Focke Wulf ramming fighter thread but I thought these two might merit a thread of their own:
1) I've seen references to a purpose-designed Soviet flying ram called the Grokhovskij G-39 "Cucaracha" but information seems scarce: http://ram-home.com/ram-old/g-39.html
2) The same site mentions the 'Taran' Ta-1 project: http://ram-home.com/ram-old/taran-1.html.
Proposed Ta-1 variants supposedly included radio-controlled glide bomb or 'flying mine' versions, plus various manned rammers. I think none were built.
Any more information on either project would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
'Wingknut'

 

[lark]

In the Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995 by Bill Gunston
the 'Kukaracha' in the Grokhovskii chapter is described as a experimental
lightplane with wings swept at 35° wingtip rudders and no horizontal tail.

M-11 pusher engine . 160km/h . construction of wood ,ply and fabric.
Structural failure on ake of...

 

[Retrofit]

Not exactly on the "Taran" concept, sorry:
In his Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995, Bil Gunston also mentioned a flying wing project designed by Ilyushin as TsKB-16.
Is there more information available now on that particular design?

Thanks in advance,

 

[Retrofit]

Same question concerning the flying scale-model of the Putilov (OOS) Stal-5, test flown in late 1935 by V. V. Karpov & Y. G. Paul.

Thanks in advance,

 

[Wingknut]

Hi - I'm afraid the best I can do on the flying scale-model Putilov Stal-5 is to refer you to this aviation-models site (whence the attached came):
http://www.ussr-airspace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1031
No more info. there though than in the scanned article above, alas.
All best,
'Wingknut'

 

[lark]

This is strange. The photo on the ram.co.home site is exact the
same from the Osprey Encyclop. which mentions it as a lightplane.

There's a 3-view and more extensive description of the OOS Stal'-5 in
Soviet X-planes by Yefim Gordon & Bill Gunston( page 148)

 

[Retrofit]

Thanks, Wingknut

 

[Wingknut]

A bit more on the Grokhovsky G-39 "Cucaracha":
Plan and profile from: http://karopka.ru/forum/forum259/topic20857/
Shots of model Grokhovsky G-39 "Cucaracha" (1: 144) can be found at: http://karopka.ru/community/user/17732/?MODEL=412365

 

[hesham]

Great find Wingknut.