Grigorovich I-Z
KhAZ / Moscow Aviation Plant No.39 · Soviet Union · first flew 1931 · fighter
The Grigorovich I-Z was a Soviet single-seat interceptor fighter of the early 1930s, notable for its experimental armament of recoilless guns. It represented an attempt to mount heavy-calibre weapons on a lightweight monoplane airframe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.65 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat Soviet monoplane interceptor of the early 1930s
- Tapered low wing with spatted fixed undercarriage
- Armed with recoilless APK-4 guns firing through propeller arc
Low-wing monoplane with spatted fixed undercarriage and a rounded nose cowling housing a single radial engine; the tapered wing and conventional tail give it a clean if unspectacular profile.
Specifications
- The Grigorovich I-Z has a length of 7.65 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.5 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 259 km/h (161 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Dmitry Pavlovich Grigorovich and built at Kharkov Aviation Plant, the I-Z first flew in 1931. Small numbers entered limited service with the Soviet Air Forces, but performance proved only modest and the type was quickly superseded by more capable designs. The recoilless gun experiment provided useful data for future Soviet armament development.
Variants
Only one primary production variant was built in limited numbers; no major sub-variants are recorded.
Where you'll see it
Operated in small quantities by Soviet Air Forces in the early-to-mid 1930s before rapid obsolescence; no foreign operators.
Related aircraft
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