Despite being serving in the “Lenin” squad, Tijonrarov did not cease his constructive activity. During 1928, together with VS Vaxmistrov and AA Dubrovin, two new gliders were created, called “Gamayún” (Russian: Тихонравов / Дубровин / Вахмистров «Гамаюн») and “Skif”, both produced as a development of the “Zhar-Ptitsa”.
The “Gamayún was designed as a record-setting single-seater glider and was obtained as a development of the “Zhar-Ptitsa” glider and was generally similar to it. The main difference of the “Gamayún” consisted in the increase of the wingspan. Other minor modifications included changes in the fuselage structure and variation in the centering to overcome the difficulties of the “Zhar-Ptitsa”. These modifications hardly brought improvements in the results.
These skills developed in Koktebel between 23 September and 2 October 1928 as 10 gliders were presented in the V National Sailing Competition. The “Gamayún” was one of the copies that were released in this contest. Already during the development, it was clear that the main results of the contest would be distributed between the “Zhar-Ptitsa” and the “Gamayún” gliders.
The “Gamayún” piloted by test pilot, major general of aviation, Andrei Borisovich Yumashiev, made several flights. In the competition he showed the best results, setting two national records: the one for a straight-line range of 14 km and the one for height above the take-off point of 375 meters. This flight lasted 1 hour and two minutes on the Uzun-Syrt path to Sorogol (near Feodosia). The landing at Sorogol was carried out in a small space between the coastline (one wing of the glider was left in the water) and some railroad warehouses. Yumashiev tried to fly in the opposite direction without success, but was forced to land in the market place to the great rejoicing of the local population.
With this flight the record attempts of that year would end.
The “Gamayún” participated in the VI edition of the national glider competitions. Piloted by Sergueyev, it was approaching landing when a gust of wind threw it abruptly upwards. As a result of these abrupt manoeuvres, the wings were detached from the fuselage. The fuselage fell to the ground, but the pilot was unharmed.
Gamayún
Wingspan: 16.0 m
Wing area: 17.0 m²
Aspect ratio: 15
Empty weight: 153 kg
Horizontal plane surface: 2.3 m²
Empennage surface: 0.85 m²
Ailerons area: 2.10 m²
Wing loading: 13.4 kg / m²
Accommodation: 1
All Aero 