The pusher biplanes (designed by Grigorovich and produced at Schetinin's factory, made of wood and fabric)
were to capable of operating both at seas and rivers alike and were used in world war I and Russian civil war.
These flying boats were armed with a turreted machinegun and bombs; some M-9 were outfitted with the 37mm gun.
The M-11 flying boats were the 1-seater fighters, armed with a fixed MG and partially armoured (4-6 mm).
The M-15 was the winter flying boats, it could be mounted on the skis.
The M-16 was the hydroplane.
Specifications of WW1 Russian Flying Boats
name
year
built
engine
crew
empty weight
ready weight
max speed
climb to 1km
climb to 2km
ceiling
flight time
M-5
1915
~ 200
100 hp
2
660 kg
960 kg
105 kmph
9.9 min
25.5 min
3300 m
4 hours
M-20
1916
~ 80
125 hp
660 kg
960 kg
115 kmph
9 min
22 min
3500 m
4 hours
M-9
1915
~ 500
140 hp
3
1060 kg
1610 kg
105 kmph
13 min
35 min
3000 m
5 hours
1916
150 hp
1060 kg
1540 kg
110 kmph
12 min
30 min
3000 m
3.5 hours
M-11
1916
61
110 hp
1
676 kg
926 kg
148 kmph
11 min
25 min
3000 m
2.7 hours
M-12
1916
2
620 kg
870 kg
140 kmph
6 min
12 min
4000 m
2.7 hours
M-15
1916
54
140 hp
2
840 kg
1320 kg
125 kmph
8.5 min
20 min
3500 m
5.5 hours
M-16
1916
40
150 hp
2
1100 kg
1450 kg
110 kmph
15 min
4 hours
M-24
1923
40
260 hp
2
1280 kg
1740 kg
160 kmph
4 hours
Grigorovich M-5 flying boat. WW1 foto.
Grigorovich M-5 flying boat. WW1 foto.
The towing M-9 flying boats. Click to enlarge the picture.