M-5

The Grigorovich M‑5 was a single‑engine, two‑seat biplane flying boat developed in the Russian Empire shortly after World War I. Designed by the renowned naval architect Dmitry Pavlovich Grigorovich, the M‑5 first flew in 1919 and entered service with the Soviet Naval Aviation in 1920. Its wooden hull, covered with plywood and reinforced with waterproof varnish, gave the aircraft excellent buoyancy and allowed operations from open water and frozen rivers. Powered by a 260 hp Sunbeam Crusader V‑12 engine mounted in the nose, the M‑5 drove a two‑bladed wooden propeller and achieved a maximum speed of about 130 km/h, a range of 500 km, and a service ceiling of 3 500 m. The aircraft’s open cockpits accommodated a pilot and an observer who could also operate a forward‑firing machine gun and a flexible rear gun for defensive protection. The M‑5 proved highly adaptable, serving as a reconnaissance platform, a trainer, and a light bomber capable of carrying up to 100 kg of ordnance. Its straightforward construction and reliable performance made it a cornerstone of early Soviet seaplane fleets, influencing later designs such as the Grigorovich M‑9 and establishing the Soviet Union’s capability to project air power over its extensive coastal and riverine territories.

Dmitry Pavlovich Grigorovich

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Design & Classification