Ilyushin I-21
Ilyushin · Soviet Union · first flew 1939 · fighter
The Ilyushin I-21 was a Soviet single-seat fighter prototype developed in the late 1930s, representing Ilyushin's only serious attempt at a pure fighter aircraft before the bureau focused on ground-attack types. It featured a clean low-wing monoplane configuration with retractable landing gear.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.37 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet pre-WWII high-speed fighter prototype
- Clean low-wing monoplane with retractable undercarriage
- Ilyushin's sole dedicated fighter design
A sleek low-wing monoplane fighter with a liquid-cooled inline engine and retractable undercarriage; it closely resembles other Soviet fighter prototypes of the 1938–1940 generation.
Specifications
- The Ilyushin I-21 has a length of 8.37 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 620 km/h (385 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Sergei Ilyushin designed the I-21 to compete with other Soviet fighter prototypes of the late 1930s. Although it demonstrated competitive performance, the Soviet Air Force ultimately selected Yak and LaGG designs over the I-21. Ilyushin subsequently concentrated on what became the legendary Il-2 Shturmovik attack aircraft.
Variants
A single prototype was tested; no production variant followed.
Where you'll see it
The I-21 never entered VVS service.
Related aircraft
- Il-2 Sturmovik
- Ilyushin Il-4
- Ilyushin DB-3
- Ilyushin Il-6
- Arsenal VG-33
- Avia B-135
- Beriev MBR-7
- Bisnovat SK-1
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.