FG-62

From OnAirpower.org

FG-62

Designation:	FG-62
Manufacturer:	Farman Aviation Works
Nationality:	Soviet (purchased from France)
Remarks:	Soviet version of the F.60 Goliath, which was purchased in small numbers from France and served in the mid-1920s as the USSR's first "heavy bomber" after the retirement of the Ilya Muromets

[edit] Notes

The Soviets purchased a total of four Farman F.62 Goliaths powered by Lorraine-Dietrich 12Eb engines, which they designated the FG-62. The Soviets were attracted to the aircraft because it was inexpensive and of relatively simple construction that was easy to repair. The aircraft were built in France and then shipped to Leningrad in crates in the Fall of 1925. By April 21, 1926, testing of the first two FG-62 was completed at Komendant Airfield in Leningrad and the aircraft flew to their home base at Trotsk (Gatchina) airfield near Moscow. The remaining two aircraft followed shortly thereafter^[1]

The aircraft were operated by the 1st Heavy Squadron, which had been formed specifically for that purpose and was headed by A. K. Tumanskii, a former commander of the squadron that operated the Ilya Muromets bombers^[1].

The FG-62 proved to be unreliable and required frequent repairs. There were rarely more than two FG-62 serviceable at any given time. By winter of 1926 the aircraft had accumulated a total of only 240 hours of flight time. Overall, the aircraft were never considered capable of serious use in combat but they did provide useful training for the Soviet bomber crews^[1].