Gribowski G-30

The Gribowski G‑30, designed and built by Russian engineer‑entrepreneur Vladislav Gribovsky in the late 1930s, was a pioneering low‑wing monoplane that demonstrated the potential of light, all‑metal construction for both civilian and military roles. First flown on 12 September 1939 at the Nikolayevka airfield, the G‑30 stemmed from Gribovsky’s earlier experimental series, but featured a fully stressed‑skin duralumin fuselage and tapered wings equipped with slotted flaps. Powered by a 260 hp Shvetsov M‑11R radial engine, the aircraft could reach 320 km/h at sea level and sustain a range of 1,200 km, making it suitable for reconnaissance, courier service, and training. Its retractable main gear, side‑by‑side cockpit with dual controls, and provision for optional armament (a single forward‑firing 7.62 mm machine gun) set a new benchmark for versatility in the Soviet light‑aircraft sector. Though only a small production run of fifteen units was completed before World War II halted further development, the G‑30’s emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency and structural integrity influenced later Soviet designs such as the Yak‑18 and the Lisunov Li‑2 conversion programs. The aircraft remains a testament to Gribovsky’s innovative approach and the broader shift toward modern, metal‑airframe aviation in the pre‑war era.