Polikarpov I-180
Polikarpov · Soviet Union · first flew 1938 · fighter
The Polikarpov I-180 was a Soviet single-engine fighter prototype of the late 1930s, designed as a high-performance successor to the famous I-16. Development was plagued by accidents including the fatal crash of celebrated test pilot Valery Chkalov in December 1938.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Soviet late-1930s biplane-era monoplane fighter
- Radial-engine successor to the I-16 Ishak
- Fatal crash killed test pilot Chkalov during early testing
Resembles a refined I-16 with a more streamlined fuselage and a fully enclosed cockpit; the large radial engine cowling and stubby proportions recall its I-16 heritage.
Specifications
- The Polikarpov I-180 has a length of 7 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.09 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 585 km/h (364 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Design of the I-180 began in 1937 as Polikarpov attempted to move beyond the I-16 with a more refined monoplane fighter. The first prototype crashed fatally on its third flight, killing Chkalov. Subsequent prototypes achieved good performance but political fallout from Chkalov's death and competition from the Yak-1, LaGG-3 and MiG-1 programmes led to cancellation in 1940.
Variants
Three prototypes were built (I-180-1, I-180-2, I-180-3) with progressively refined engine installations.
Where you'll see it
The I-180 never entered operational VVS service.
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- Polikarpov I-15bis
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- Breguet 690
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