Alekseyev I-215
OKB-21 · Soviet Union · first flew 1947 · fighter
The Alekseyev I-215 was a Soviet single-seat twin-jet fighter prototype of 1947, rebuilt from the I-211 with imported Rolls-Royce Derwent V engines, a pressurised cockpit, ejection seat, and airborne radar. It represented a significant capability step over earlier Soviet jet prototypes.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.54 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Cruciform |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin Rolls-Royce Derwent V turbojets in under-wing nacelles on a straight wing
- Radar in nose — among the first Soviet fighters fitted with airborne radar
- Broad straight laminar-flow mid-wing resembling early British jets of the same era
Straight-wing twin-jet with under-wing nacelles and a radar nose — superficially resembling the Gloster Meteor or early de Havilland Venom but with a broader, more rounded fuselage.
Specifications
- The Alekseyev I-215 has a length of 11.54 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.25 m (40 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 935 km/h (581 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
OKB-21 under Semyon Alekseyev rebuilt the I-211 airframe after the indigenous Lyul'ka TR-1 engines proved unreliable, substituting British Derwent Vs acquired as part of the 1946 engine export deal. The rebuilt aircraft flew in late 1947 with markedly improved performance. Despite its promise, the straight-wing design lost out to the swept-wing MiG-15 and La-15, which offered superior transonic characteristics.
Variants
The I-215D tested a bicycle undercarriage configuration. The base I-215 was itself a rebuild of the I-211 rather than a new airframe.
Where you'll see it
Never entered production or service; the programme was terminated as swept-wing fighters entered development. The type is sometimes listed under the Alekseyev I-21 family designation.
Related aircraft
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