Tupolev I-12
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1931 · fighter
The Tupolev I-12 (ANT-23) was a prototype Soviet fighter of unconventional design that never reached production, with twin booms carrying recoilless rifles and two engines in a push-pull configuration.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin booms made of water pipes, each containing a recoilless rifle
- Two engines in a push-pull arrangement, with tractor and pusher propellers
- Pilot sat ahead of the rear propeller arc, so could not bail out without hitting it
A twin-boom monoplane with a central nacelle carrying a tractor engine at the front and a pusher engine behind the pilot, and twin tail surfaces.
Specifications
- The Tupolev I-12 has a length of 9.5 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.6 m (51 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 300 km/h (186 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It first flew in 1931 but did not enter production because of disappointing performance and operational difficulties, such as the pilot's inability to escape without hitting the propeller arc behind him. It was armed with two 76.2 mm APK-4 recoilless rifles. A second prototype, the ANT-23bis, was never completed.
Variants
A single prototype only. It is not to be confused with the VEF I-12 from Latvia.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service.
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