Borovkov-Florov I-207
Borovkov-Florov (GAZ-21) · Soviet Union · first flew 1937 · fighter
The Borovkov-Florov I-207 was a Soviet biplane fighter designed at the GAZ-21 plant at Gorky by Borovkov and Florov. It aimed for the smallest possible airframe with the most powerful engine then available.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Small Soviet biplane fighter with fully cantilever outer wings and no interplane struts
- Upper centre section carried on four cabane struts
- Radial engine in a close cowling; later prototypes had an enclosed cockpit and a large spinner
A dart-like small biplane with a tightly cowled radial and no interplane struts between its cantilever wings, which are held by cabane struts at the centre.
Specifications
- The Borovkov-Florov I-207 has a length of 6.35 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7 m (23 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 486 km/h (302 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Work began in 1935. The first prototype, No. 7211, was an M-85 radial biplane with fully cantilever outer wings; it flew on 1 June 1937 but crashed on take-off after engine failure. Further prototypes had 900 hp M-62 and 1,000 hp M-63 radials and flew from April 1939.
Variants
Prototypes differed in engine and details: M-85, M-62 and M-63 versions, one with retractable gear that improved top speed by about 32 km/h, and a fourth with an enclosed cockpit and a large spinner.
Where you'll see it
Never accepted for production, and testing ended with the German invasion in 1941. Two aircraft reputedly saw combat in Finland, with little evidence.
Related aircraft
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