AK-1

The AK‑1 was the first powered fixed‑wing aircraft produced by the Soviet plant GAZ‑5, a facility originally dedicated to heavy‑duty truck and engine fabrication. Development began in late 1937 under the direction of chief designer Alexei Kharitonov, who adapted the plant’s proven inline‑six engine to an all‑metal low‑wing monoplane intended for liaison and observation duties. The prototype flew on 12 May 1939 from the Moscow‑Khimki airfield, demonstrating a maximum speed of 310 km/h, a service ceiling of 7 500 m, and a range of 1 200 km. Key features included a semi‑monocoque fuselage, retractable split‑type landing gear, and a fully enclosed cockpit with dual controls, a rarity for Soviet utility aircraft of the period. Armament was limited to a single forward‑firing 7.62 mm machine gun and a flexible dorsal gun for the observer. Although only 112 AK‑1s were built before production shifted to the more powerful AK‑2 in 1942, the type proved valuable during the Winter War and the early stages of the Great Patriotic War, providing reliable short‑range transport and artillery‑spotting capability. Its successful integration of automotive manufacturing techniques into aircraft production marked a pivotal step in expanding the Soviet aeronautical industrial base.

GAZ-5

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification