Polikarpov ITP
Polikarpov · Soviet Union · first flew 1942 · fighter
The Polikarpov ITP was a Soviet single-seat heavy fighter prototype of 1942, designed around a 37 mm hub-mounted cannon and featuring an unusual moulded birch-plywood monocoque fuselage paired with a metal wing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Moulded birch-ply monocoque fuselage with metal wing |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Heavy cannon fighter with radiators faired into wing roots
- Moulded birch-ply monocoque fuselage with metal wing
- Leading-edge automatic slats on the low tapered wing
Distinguished by prominent wing-root radiator inlets on an otherwise clean low-wing monoplane. The mixed wood-metal construction and leading-edge slats set it apart from contemporary Yakovlev and Lavochkin fighters.
Specifications
- The Polikarpov ITP has a length of 9.2 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10 m (33 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Two prototypes were flown, the first (M-1) powered by a Klimov M-107P and the second (M-2) by the more powerful Mikulin AM-39. Development continued despite the rapidly obsolescing Polikarpov bureau, but the Yakovlev and Lavochkin families had already outpaced it; the programme was cancelled without a production order.
Variants
Two distinct prototypes, M-1 and M-2, differed primarily in engine type; no production variants followed.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; evaluated by the Soviet Air Force before cancellation.
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