Sukhoi Su-1
Sukhoi · Soviet Union · first flew 1940 · fighter
The Su-1 (I-330) was a Soviet high-altitude fighter prototype built around a pair of experimental turbochargers meant to give a standard Klimov engine useful power at extreme altitude.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Streamlined low-wing fighter with a wooden semi-monocoque fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Streamlined low-wing fighter with a wooden semi-monocoque fuselage
- Twin turbocharger intakes flanking the nose ahead of the cockpit
- Long, slim inline-engine cowling
The paired turbocharger air intakes ahead of the cockpit, unusual for a Soviet fighter of the period, are its most distinguishing recognition feature.
Specifications
- The Sukhoi Su-1 has a length of 8.42 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.5 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 640 km/h (398 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Completed at the Sukhoi plant in Kharkov, it first flew on 15 June 1940 with A.P. Chernyavsky at the controls; testing was interrupted by a wheels-up landing in August and an in-flight engine failure in October that forced a deadstick landing.
Variants
A refined derivative, the Su-3, addressed some of the turbocharger issues, but the whole line was cancelled on 16 April 1941 when reliable TK-2 turbochargers failed to materialise.
Where you'll see it
It never reached production or squadron service; without its temperamental turbochargers, its performance fell below that of the standard Yakovlev Yak-1 already in service.
Related aircraft
- Sukhoi Su-6
- Sukhoi Su-2
- Sukhoi Su-8
- Sukhoi Su-15 (1949)
- Arado Ar 240
- Bell XFL-1 Airabonita
- Bloch MB.700
- CANSA FC.12
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