ROCKET-DRIVEN AIRCRAFT OBSERVED AT THE MOSCOW-KHIMKI AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R004700200004-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 8, 2004
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: May 3, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

INTELLOFAX 11
: fgrAkTi 00457R0047002000?t
CENTRAL INTELI. GENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
CLASSIFICATION SECRET
Approved For Release 20
COUNTRY USSR (Moscow Oblast)
SUBJECT Rocket-driven Aircraft Observed at the
I1loscow Q ir. tii Airfield
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
THIS OOCUC12 1T CONTAIWS INPORIIATICN APPECTINOTUR NATIONAL VSPRNSU
OPTPIC UWWTBD STATE3 QITNIN THU QLTAGISIO OP TiHR 99PIONA68 ACT 60
U. 8. C., 81 AND 82. AS ANINO21). ITS TRAUY367I5CIOW OR "If R6VCl.AT1OII
OP ITS COOTV4i3 IN ANY 19AIJOEU TO AN UMAUTNORIYQD PSR200 IT
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MIOI TO UT LAW, RGPP.ODUCTIOH OP THIS PORN Is PROHIUrllCD.
1. The airfield was on the western town border of Khimki (37o26eE/55?53'N)s
Moscow Oblast, northeast of the Moscow-Leningrad railroad line (see Annex 1).
2. Two rocket-driven aircraft were stationed at the field in June/July 1948 and
in June/July 1949. The planes were parked in front of or inside the hangars
on the eastern edge of the field and took off for test flights three or four
times daily. The take-off was effected by means of the propeller after a run
of about 60 to 70 meters. At an altitude of about 20 meters, a Jet of fire,
first yellow then changing to red, which was about as long as the plane,
emanated for four or five seconds from the bottom of the fuselage far behind
the trailing edge of the wings. Aloud hooting noise like that of an air raid
siren, however louder than the noise, at the V-2 testing station, was heard.
The jet of fire was replaced by a quiqkly vanishing black smoke plume, as long
as the plane. During the emanation }r fire the plane quickly gained in speed,
soon reaching an altitude of 600 to 700 meters. It climbed considerably
faster and steeper than was observed with German planes during the war. Its
speed was considerably faster than that of the Me-109. At every test flight
the rocket propulsion was put Into operation only once. The plane stayed in
the air for about 20 to 30 minutes and then slowly descended for landing,
Flying at a low speed it touched the ground and rolled for about 30 meters.
It then taxied to the hangar with the propeller in operation. Sometimes the
rocket propulsion failed to work and only a black cloud emanated from the
underside of the fuselage. In this case the plane had to land,
3. Description of the rocket-driven plane (see also sketch 2):
a. Propulsion: Engine with two-bladed propeller, presumably in-line engine
for low speed. Rocket in fuselage not visible, exhaust set far aft of
trailiw, edge of wings, almost horizontal to fus?lago, slightly slanting
downward, forward of rear third section of fuselage.
bo Wings: !ltd-.wing monoplanes, not swept back or dihedral, slightly cranked
in outer third section, leading edge tapering to the rear, trailing edge
apparently straight, tips rounded off, width at fuselage about 1* meters,
span about 3* meters.
CLASSIFICATION SECRET
STATE NAVY 1 $ NSRB IbIKIBMILIN 11 UUUU 0.
AAR14Y# AIR
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CONFIDENTIAL in accordance wtihihr 0~claxs ft d __
letter of 16 October 1970 from VW tt. le; TS S t
Director of Central Intelllgence 10 the
Archivist of the United States. tt lyna HR 70.2
571 Q04MV0 - S
Nett Rev:e.v~~'artgv9Wor Release 2 40
run ftvrA-
REPORT NO.
CD NO.
d. o yo 54
DATE DISTR. 3 a q 1960
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
2 25x15A-1
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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e. Tail unit: Single rudder assombl r, about ]. meter high, ;Protruding
beyond tail of fuselage, trailing edge straight, leading edge bent to the
fora.. Elevator assembly set in about mid-height of rudder assembly,
trailing edge apparently straight, loading edge tapering to the rear, not
swept bac1c, dihedral, or crankeda
d. Landing guar: '.'vain landing gear set under fuselage at the end of the
front third, begi ninw about in line with loading edge of wings, sloping
to the fore, sin ;le--tired, retracting rearward. No nose wheelo
e. Fusola s Torpedo-shaped, rounded nose, pointed tall,, somewhat thicl.or
at :;ring level, side a seem to be flat when seen from the front, length 7 to
8 rioters, one third of length fortrard of wings, two thirds aft of wines.
Sin ;le--seat, tortoise--shaped cockpit cat far to the fore, front section
higher than rear section, protruding beyond leading edge of wings, trailing
odgo about as far as mid-wing, glazed.
f. Paint and marking: Dark green; a Soviet star at bottom side of each
wing, at both sides of fuselage aft of wings, and at both sides of rudder
assembly above the elevator assembly. The Russian letters "CCCPt? with a
figure were painted aft of the Soviet star.
g. Additional features: A cigar-shaped body, similar to a mortar shall,
was carried by two struts fitted to the cockpit canopy. Estimated diameter
about 25 cm, highest poiAt about 1-j meters above the fuselage, length about
1.8. meter slightly protruding over leading and trailing edges of cockpit,
a w indoor each, about eight inches trlde, at both sides.
h. Le g ;h and span of plane: 7 to 8 meters.
4., Additional, flying activity- Four to five four-engine planes made a few
flights. once a week in the surer months. Five to six bi-planes from which
individual parachute jumps were practiced took off every day.
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5. A4 fl..i ars, including- many women, wore only civilian clothes.
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a, Marta valuable reports on the Moscow-Zhiinki V--weapons plant wore received
but contained only little detailed information on flying dth rocket-driven
planes or planes equipped with jatos.
b. Report describes in detail test flights with rocket engines. A conven-
tional fighter was apparently used as a carrier plane. The purpose of the
cigar shaped body above the cockpit is not known. The statement that the
flying time from, take-off to landing was from 20 to 30 minutes is not worthy.
Prom this fact it can be assumed that the Soviet ' devveloznent apparently did
not much a :ceod the operating time of the former Walter power plant equipped
with a t Mrschofont, i.e. a special combustion chamber for idling speed and
an operating time of 14+ minutes.
: 1. Airfield of Mosamr-Khimki.
2, Rorkcet-driven Aircraft Observed at .the FHoscrnx-Xhimki Airfield.
SRCR T 25X1
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Approved For Release 2004/04/15 : CIA-RDP82-00457R004700200004-1