Grigorovich DI-3
Dmitry Pavlovich Grigorovich · Soviet Union · first flew 1931 · fighter
The Grigorovich DI-3 was a Soviet two-seat escort fighter biplane, intended to give bomber formations long-range fighter protection.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.8 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay biplane with twin fins and rudders on a variable-incidence tailplane
- Long inline liquid-cooled engine nose with a prominent radiator
- Open tandem cockpits for pilot and gunner behind the wings
Identify it by the twin-rudder tail on a single-bay biplane, unusual among Soviet fighters of the period which mostly used a single fin.
Specifications
- The Grigorovich DI-3 has a length of 7.8 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.8 m (39 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 256 km/h (159 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in August 1931 as a development of Grigorovich's earlier DI-2, the DI-3 paired a BMW VI engine with twin rudders in a distinctive single-bay biplane structure. Flight tests showed performance close to the contemporary Polikarpov I-5 single-seater, but adding the intended armament and equipment degraded it enough that the type was not put into production.
Variants
The sole prototype was later reworked with an enclosed cockpit and used as a VIP transport rather than as a fighter.
Where you'll see it
The DI-3 never reached squadron service and no example survives; it is known only from Soviet test records and photographs.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.