The initial version of the line to appear was the I-210 and this was fitted with 2 x Tumansky RD-20 turbojets, Soviet copies of the German wartime BMW 003 turbojet which were temperamental offerings limited in power. This model was not furthered as Lyulka finally released their TR-1 series engines for use and this produced the I-211 designation which made its maiden flight during the fall of 1947. However it was soon found that the TR-1 turbojets were under-performing which, in turn, made for a very heavy aircraft - particularly for one earmarked as a dogfighter - although handling was found to be sound despite the limited power available.
To offset the TR-1's limitations, Lyulka moved on their TR-1A turbojet which promised 3,318 pounds of thrust but before these could be used, Alekseyev had secured a pair of British Rolls-Royce "Derwent V" turbojets to begat the I-215 designation. Other variants of the line included the I-211S which featured swept wing and tail surfaces for improved aerodynamics. The I-215D was an I-215 offshoot ordered by OKB-1 and featured a "bicycle" undercarriage. The I-216 was a proposed heavy fighter offshoot based on the I-215 and armed appropriately with 2 x 75mm autocannons, these fitted to slightly modified wings.
As the TR-1A engines were ultimately discontinued due to high fuel consumption, Alekseyev sought to further the I-215 along its own lines. However, Stalin forced Alekseyev OKB to be disbanded following comments made during a Kremlin meeting. This ended all work on the I-211 and the related I-215 products - as such, neither aircraft was ever formally flight-tested en route to possible serial production.
Dimensions of the original I-211 included an overall length of 38 feet and a wingspan of 40.2 feet. Loaded weight was 15,200 pounds. Performance estimates were a maximum speed of 524 miles per hour, a range out to 962 miles, a service ceiling of 44,620 feet, and a rate-of-climb nearing 5,415 feet per minute.
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