Polikarpov I-185

Polikarpov · Soviet Union · first flew 1941 · fighter

The Polikarpov I-185 was a Soviet single-seat fighter prototype that demonstrated exceptional performance during World War II, outpacing most contemporary fighters but never entering mass production.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	Short barrel fuselage with large radial cowling
T — Tail	Conventional

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Soviet WWII radial-engine fighter prototype with outstanding performance
Short barrel fuselage with large radial cowling
Considered one of the fastest piston fighters of its era

A compact, barrel-bodied low-wing monoplane with a large radial engine and clean lines; resembles contemporary Soviet fighters but with a notably wider, more powerful cowling.

Specifications

The Polikarpov I-185 has a length of 7.77 m (25 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.8 m (32 ft).
Its maximum speed is 680 km/h (423 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed by Nikolai Polikarpov, the I-185 first flew in 1941 and in trials with the Shvetsov M-71 engine achieved speeds around 680 km/h — superior to many aircraft then in service. Despite overwhelming pilot praise, production difficulties with the M-71 engine and institutional factors led to cancellation in favour of established types.

Variants

Several prototypes were tested with different engines including the M-82 and M-71; the M-71-powered version gave the best performance.

Where you'll see it

Never entered series production or front-line service; a handful of prototypes conducted combat evaluation trials.

Related aircraft

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