Polikarpov PM-1

Dux Factory · Soviet Union · first flew 1925 · transport aircraft

The Polikarpov PM-1 was an early Soviet twin-engine biplane transport designed by Nikolai Polikarpov at the Dux Factory in Moscow and first flown in 1925, representing one of the USSR's early attempts to build a domestic air transport capability rather than relying solely on foreign types.

Recognition (WEFT)

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Spot it by:

• Early Soviet biplane transport designed by Nikolai Polikarpov
• Twin-engine biplane with enclosed passenger cabin for Soviet domestic routes
• One of the first indigenously designed Soviet transport aircraft

A conventional twin-engine biplane with an enclosed cabin section between the wing bays, two tractor engines on the lower or upper wing, and fixed undercarriage — typical of mid-1920s European transport biplanes.

Specifications

• The Polikarpov PM-1 has a length of 11 m (36 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 15.5 m (51 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).
• Typical crew: 2 crew, ~4 passengers.

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

History

The Soviet Union in the mid-1920s was building its civil aviation infrastructure from scratch, and the PM-1 was part of the effort to produce domestic designs. However, imported Junkers and Fokker aircraft proved more capable and the PM-1 saw limited use before more advanced Soviet designs appeared.

Variants

The PM-1 appears to have been a single or very small-series aircraft; Polikarpov's subsequent work focused primarily on fighters.

Where you'll see it

Used briefly by Soviet domestic airlines (Dobrolet) in the mid-1920s; rapidly superseded by more capable imports and later Soviet designs.

Related aircraft

• Polikarpov I-6
• Aero A.23
• Amiot 120
• Boeing Model 40
• CANT 6

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