Polikarpov I-5
The sesquiplane Polikarpov I-5 (Russian Поликарпов И -5, also Grigorovich I-5) emerged in the early 1930s and until 1936, the standard fighter aircraft of the Soviet Air Force. Until 1934 803 copies were made , including the prototypes.
Development
In December 1929 we put together specifically a small working group with the two shortly before arrested designers Nikolai Nikolayevich Polikarpov and Dmitry Pavlovich Grigorovich for development. The work was carried out under guard in the aircraft factory No. 39. The construction was rapidly promoted, so that the first prototype WT -11 could start already on 29 April 1930, test pilot B. L. Buchholz on its maiden flight. It was powered by a French Gnôme -Rhône Jupiter VII engine. The abbreviation stands for WT Wnutrennaja Tjurma ( Вңутренная тюрьма, internal prison ) and refers to the conditions under which the airplane was.
It was followed by two prototypes, the " Klim Voroshilov " (Russian Клим Ворошилов ) with a Jupiter VI and the " Podarok XVI. Partsjesd " ( Подарок XVI. Партсъезд, gift for 16th Congress ) with a local M -15 engine. Number 3 first flew on 1 July 1930 and had been provided with a Townend ring to ensure a better air cooling.
The first seven series machines were produced No. 21 in August / September 1930 in the factory and were equipped with a more powerful M -22 engine, which was also maintained. The Air Force received the I-5 in 1933 and flew it for almost nine years, although last only as an exercise machine. With her flat spin, thanks to the good-natured flight characteristics are investigated for the first time in the Soviet Union by the pilot W. A. Stepantschonok.
1934 appeared a two-seat training version, but this was only built twice. A small number of I-5 is equipped with two instead of four 7.62mm MG PW -1. The Soviet Black Sea Fleet in 1940 used some aircraft Erdkampfversion I- 5LSch ( LSch Russian for light attack aircraft ). When testing the Sweno projects, the I- 5 also was used.
Technical Description
The I-5 was held in composite construction. The fuselage consisted of a welded tubular steel construction, which was clad with metal front and back covered with fabric. The wings were made of a timber, the said control unit from a lightweight metal frame. The entire structure was braced and also covered with fabric. The chassis was rigid and had a solid axle with a tailwheel.