Polikarpov I-5
Polikarpov / Grigorovich · Soviet Union · first flew 1930 · fighter
The Polikarpov I-5 was the primary Soviet fighter of the early 1930s, a compact single-seat biplane that served in large numbers until superseded by monoplane types later in the decade.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.78 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet biplane fighter of the early 1930s
- Single radial engine in ring cowling on staggered biplane
- Open cockpit with fixed undercarriage and wheel fairings
A compact staggered biplane with a prominent radial engine, open cockpit, fixed undercarriage, and no streamlining — virtually indistinguishable from Nieuport–Delage NiD 29-family fighters at a distance but identifiable by Soviet markings.
Specifications
- The Polikarpov I-5 has a length of 6.78 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.24 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 278 km/h (173 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed under difficult circumstances — Polikarpov was working under detention in a NKVD prison design bureau — the I-5 first flew in April 1930 and entered service the same year, remaining the VVS's main fighter until the I-15 appeared in 1934.
Variants
Several production batches with minor engine and equipment changes; the I-5 was followed by the sesquiplane I-15 and then the monoplane I-16.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Soviet Air Forces and exported to Republican Spain and China; obsolete by the start of World War II but widely used in training roles.
Related aircraft
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