science

Korolyov RP-318

Korolyov RP-318 is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Korolyov RP-318 rather than just read about it. In short: The RP-318 or RP-318-1 was USSR's first rocket-powered aircraft or Rocket Glider (Rocketny Planer or Raketoplan) which "RP" stands for in Russian language. Beginning in early 1936, it was first known as RP-218-1 or "Objekt 218" before it was renamed to RP-318-1 in 1938 due to inner reforms of the Rocket Science And Research Institute.

Key takeaways

Korolyov RP-318 belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Korolyov RP-318 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Korolyov RP-318 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The RP-318 or RP-318-1 was USSR's first rocket-powered aircraft or Rocket Glider (Rocketny Planer or Raketoplan) which "RP" stands for in Russian language. Beginning in early 1936, it was first known as RP-218-1 or "Objekt 218" before it was renamed to RP-318-1 in 1938 due to inner reforms of the Rocket Science And Research Institute. Built at the Reactive Scientific Research Institute in 1936 by Sergei Korolev as an adaptation of his SK-9 glider, the RP-318 was originally designed as a flying laboratory to test rocket engines and ORM-65 designed by Valentin Glushko was the one selected to be used. In 1938, when both Korolev and Glushko were arrested in suspicion of Anti-Soviet activity, development of the RP-318-1 was continued by Alexei Scherbakov (Щербаков, Алексей Яковлевич) and Arvid Pallo (Палло, Арвид Владимирович), culminating in the first powered flight on Feb. 28, 1940. Test pilot V. P. Fedorov (Владимир Павлович Фёдоров) was towed to 2,600 m and cast off at 80 km/h before firing the rocket engine and accelerating the aircraft to 140 km/h and an altitude of 2,900 m. In all, the RP-318 flew nine times before World War II ended its development.

Specifications Data from The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995General characteristics Crew: one Length: 7.44 m (24 ft 5 in) Wingspan: 17.0 m (55 ft 9 in) Wing area: 22.0 m2 (237 sq ft) Empty weight: 570 kg (1,257 lb) Gross weight: 700 kg (1,543 lb) Powerplant: 1 × RDA-1-150 rocket, 0.98 kN (220 lbf) thrust 100 kgf Performance

Maximum speed: 140 km/h (87 mph, 76 kn)

References

Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Korolyov RP-318

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Korolyov RP-318 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Korolyov RP-318 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Korolyov RP-318 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Korolyov RP-318

In research: Korolyov RP-318 appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Korolyov RP-318 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Korolyov RP-318 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1930s aircraft stubs, 1940s Soviet aircraft, Rocket-powered aircraft, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Korolyov RP-318 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Korolyov RP-318 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Korolyov RP-318 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Korolyov RP-318 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Korolyov RP-318 in simple terms?

Why does Korolyov RP-318 matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Korolyov RP-318?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Korolyov RP-318.