Designed by Pavel Tsybin to a 1944 specification, 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 57 mm (2.2 in) anti-tank gun.

Following flight tests that completed in 1948, the Ts-25 was accepted for production;[1] it is regarded as the first domestically produced glider to be built in significant quantities for the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV). It was first publicly displayed at the 1948 Tushino Air Display. 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 desigation 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.

Variants

Ts-25
Main production version, 480 built.

Ts-25M
Powered version; one built. Powered by two Shvetsov M-11FR-1 radial engines each producing 165 hp (123 kW).

NK-25
Czech designation for Ts-25.

Wingspan: 24.38 m (79 ft 11.875 in)
Length: 16.15 m (52 ft 11.8 in)
Height: 5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 75.0 m2 (807 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,787 kg (3,940 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,200 kg (9,259 lb)
Maximum speed: 230 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn) in tow
Landing speed: 90 km/h (56 mph; 49 kn)
Crew: two pilots
Capacity: 25 troops or 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) cargo