The Grigorovich MR-2 was a long-range reconnaissance flying boat designed by the Grigorovich Design Bureau for the Soviet Navy in the late 1920s.
Design
The MR-2 was similar to the MRL-1 but had a more powerful engine and larger upper wing, while the hull design was improved and less expensive materials used in its construction. Flights beginning in September 1926 impressed the MR-2's designers, and state acceptance trials were carried out by VVS pilot F.S.Rastegaev. One flight on October 19, however, ended in disaster when the MR-2 lost stability, and longitudinal oscillations with increasing amplitude resulted in steep dive, causing the aircraft to crash into the water up-side-down.[1]
Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in 7.0 minutes
Wing loading: 49.0 kg/m2 (10.0 lb/sq ft)
Armament
Guns: 1-2 x machine guns
References
^Shavrov, Vadim Borisovich (1988). Istorii︠a︡ konstrukt︠s︡iĭ samoletov v SSSR do 1938 g. (in Russian) (Izd. 5-e, ispr ed.). Moscow: Mashinostroenie. ISBN5-217-03112-3.
Kulikov, Victor (December 1996). "Le fascinante histoire des hydravions de Dimitry Grigorovitch" [The Fascinating History of the Seaplanes of Dimitry Grigorovitch]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (45): 20–33. ISSN1243-8650.