Polikarpov BDP S-1

Overview

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 Due to the advance of German forces, only seven were built until the factory was moved, and production was shifted to powered aircraft.