Specifications
Year: 1923
Manufacturer(s): Polikarpov OKB - Soviet Union
Production: 35
Capabilities: Fighter; X-Plane;
Manufacturer(s): Polikarpov OKB - Soviet Union
Production: 35
Capabilities: Fighter; X-Plane;
Crew: 1
Length: 27.23 ft (8.3 m)
Width: 35.43 ft (10.8 m)
Weight (Empty): 2,458 lb (1,115 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 3,329 lb (1,510 kg)
Length: 27.23 ft (8.3 m)
Width: 35.43 ft (10.8 m)
Weight (Empty): 2,458 lb (1,115 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 3,329 lb (1,510 kg)
Power: 1 x M-5 water-cooled engine (Liberty L-12) developing 400 horsepower and driving a two-bladed propeller at the nose.
Speed: 165 mph (265 kph; 143 kts)
Ceiling: 22,146 feet (6,750 m; 4.19 miles)
Range: 404 miles (650 km; 351 nm)
Ceiling: 22,146 feet (6,750 m; 4.19 miles)
Range: 404 miles (650 km; 351 nm)
Operators: Soviet Union (cancelled)
The wooden aircraft was powered by an American "Liberty" L-12 water-cooled engine of 400 horsepower driving a two-blade propeller at the nose. The pilot sat in an open-air cockpit ahead of midships and the fuselage was given a well-tapered form with slab sides. The wing mainplanes were straight in their general design and featured clipped tips. The tail unit was traditional with a sole vertical fin and fuselage-mounted horizontal planes. The undercarriage was wheeled (under center mass) and incorporated a tail skid at the rear.
During its initial flight, IL-400 showcased such longitudinal instability that it led to a crash. This forced a major reworking of the design both internally and externally. Wooden construction still prevailed but thinner wings were implemented as well as a corrugated dural skinning technique. This revised form became IL400b (IL-2) and achieved its own first flight on July 18th, 1924. It was envisioned that the finalized military product would carry a pair of 7.62 machine guns set to fire over the nose and through the spinning propeller blades by way of interrupter gear.
Soviet authorities liked what they saw in the Polikarpov product and, after completing state trials, an order for eight aircraft was placed. This was then followed by an order for twenty-five more though completed to an all-wood construction standard. The finalized fighting model, I-1M-5 (IL-3), achieved a first flight on March 16th, 1926. This was powered by the local, license-produced copy of the Liberty engine designated "M-5".
Including the two prototypes, only 35 I-1 series aircraft were completed in all. The design was still found to be inherent unstable in certain envelopes and generally underpowered for a fighting type. Additionally, quality control from the Polikarpov facility brought the series down further and restricted its official deployment to Soviet aviation units. The first Soviet "exit-by-parachute" from an aircraft was done by Mikhail Gromov, this by necessity when his I-1 could not be recovered from a spin (June 1927).
As completed, the I-1 exhibited a length of 8.3 meters, a wingspan of 10.8 meters and a gross weight of 3,330 lb. Maximum speed attainable from the fuselage/engine mating was 165 miles per hour while a range of 404 miles was met. The aircraft's service ceiling reached 22,150 feet.
Armament
2 x 7.62mm machine guns over the nose set to fire through the spinning propeller blades by way of interrupter gear.
Variants / Models
• I-1 - Base Series Designation
• IL-400 - Initial all-wood prototype; Liberty L-12 engine of 400hp.
• IL-400b (IL-2) - Second prototype with metal skin; revised thinner wing sections; redesigned internally and externally.
• I-1M-5 (IL-3) - Revised IL-400b with all-wood construction; M-5 400hp engine; 33 examples completed.
