Tsybin Ts-25

Designed by Pavel Tsybin to a 1944 specification,{{cite book |last1=Gunston |first1=Bill |title=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995 |date=1995 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0760300275 |page=375 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oPgfAQAAIAAJ&q=Ts-25 |access-date=8 December 2024}} the Ts-25 was of a high-wing design, with a box-shaped fuselage featuring a hinged nose for ease of loading the aircraft's cargo. The aircraft had a fixed tricycle landing gear, with skids to aid in landing, and was of steel-tube-braced wooden construction with the nose covered in fabric. The fuselage was otherwise covered in plywood; the wing was tapered, with its spar being steel-tube strut braced. The intended load of the aircraft consisted of a jeep-type vehicle and a {{convert|57|mm|abbr=on}} anti-tank gun.{{cite book |last1=Zaloga |first1=Steven J. |title=Inside the Blue Berets: A Combat History of Soviet and Russian Airborne Forces, 1930-1995 |date=1995 |publisher=Presido |location=Novato, CA |isbn=978-0891413998 |page=122}}

Following flight tests that completed in 1948, the Ts-25 was accepted for production; it is regarded as the first domestically produced glider to be built in significant quantities for the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV).{{cite book |last1=Weeks |first1=John |title=Airborne Equipment: A History of Its Development |date=1976 |publisher=Hippocrene Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0882544014 |page=135 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ICQyAQAAIAAJ&q=Tsybin+Ts-25 |access-date=8 December 2024}} It was first publicly displayed at the 1948 Tushino Air Display.{{cite book|last=Mrazek|first=James E.|title=Kampfsegler im Zweiten Weltkrieg|date=1981|location=Suttgart|publisher=Motorbuch|page=180|isbn=3-87943-829-3}} Eventually up to 480 of the aircraft were built at the Chkalovsk manufacturing plant between 1948 and 1954. Some were used by the VDV in training maneuvers. One was modified with 25 passenger seats for evaluation for potential civilian use on routes including Moscow, Gorki, and Novosibirsk. Two were supplied to the Czechoslovak Air Force in 1952 and given the designation NK-25; the Yakovlev Yak-14 was preferred by the Czechs.

In 1950 two Ts-25s, towed by Ilyushin Il-12 transports, were used to resupply Polar Station SP-2.{{cite journal |last1=Kasakow |first1=Wladimir Borissowitch |title=Der Flug zum Pol |journal=Fliegerrevue |date=1958 |volume=383 |issue=1 |pages=18–22}}

;Ts-25: Main production version, 480 built.

;Ts-25M: Powered version; one built. Powered by two Shvetsov M-11FR-1 radial engines each producing {{convert|165|hp|abbr=on}}.{{cite journal |last=Wood |first=Allen |title=Soviet Military Gliders |journal=The Bulletin of the Military Historical Society |date=1993 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=36MrAAAAYAAJ&q=Tsybin+Ts-25 |access-date=8 December 2024}}

;NK-25: Czech designation for Ts-25.

;{{CZS}}:

• Czechoslovak Air Force

;{{USSR}}:

• Soviet Air Forces

{{Aircraft specs

|prime units? = met

|ref=

|crew=two pilots

|capacity=25 troops or {{convert|2500|kg|lb|abbr=on}} cargo

|length ft=52

|length in=11.8

|length sigfig=4

|length m=

|span ft=79

|span in=11.875

|span sigfig=4

|span m=

|height ft=

|height in=

|height m=5

|wing area sqft=

|wing area sqm=75.0

|empty weight lb=

|empty weight kg=1787

|gross weight lb=

|gross weight kg=

|max takeoff weight lb=

|max takeoff weight kg=4200

|more general=

|max speed mph=

|max speed kmh= 230

|max speed note= in tow

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed note=

|stall speed mph=

|stall speed kmh=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed mph=

|never exceed speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|wing loading lb/sqft=

|wing loading kg/m2=

|glide ratio=

|more performance=*Landing speed: {{convert|90|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on}}

}}

{{aircontent|

|related=

|similar aircraft=

• Chase XCG-20
• General Aircraft Hamilcar
• Gotha Go 242
• Gribovsky G-11
• Yakovlev Yak-14

|lists=

• List of Russian/USSR gliders

|see also=

}}

{{reflist}}

{{Tsybin aircraft}}

{{Czech gliders}}

{{USAF/DoD reporting names}}

Ts-25

Category:1940s military gliders

Category:1940s Soviet military transport aircraft

Category:High-wing aircraft

Category:Glider aircraft

Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear