Polikarpov BDP S-1

The BDP S-1 (Boyevoi Desantnyi Planer – troops assault glider) was a military glider of the Soviet Union. It was produced by the Bureau of Special Construction (Osoboe Konstruktorskoe Buro) in 1941 as a glider infantry troop transport. It accommodated 20 troops plus one pilot, and had gun ports for defense. Of wooden construction, the glider featured a high aspect ratio, high-cantilever wing and trailing flaps, utilizing a wheeled-carriage for takeoff and landing on plywood runners ^[1][2] Due to the advance of German forces, only seven were built until the factory was moved, and production was shifted to powered aircraft.^[3]

Technical data

• Type: Battle glider^[2]
• Crew: Pilot
• Payload: 20 soldiers, equipped, or equivalent weight in other cargo.
• Towing speed: 100 mph (maximum)
• Wingspan: 65.7 ft
• Wing area: 481 sq ft
• Empty: 5,070 lb
• Cargo: 2,630 1b
• Total with cargo: 7,700 lb
• Maximum airspeed: 100 mph