Fighter I-180. Continuing to improve their fighters, N, N-. Polikarpov was well aware, that in order to achieve better flight data, a more powerful engine. Fighter I-16, standing in the Air Force, developed in the 1932 city, five years later, no longer corresponded to modern requirements. The designer still 1936 g. He advocated modifying deep-16 engine M-62. Soon, however, at the Zaporozhye plant number 29 completed testing of the new engine M-88, whose power was close to the desired.
So there were fighters projects with the designation of I-164 and I-165 to M-88, develops the theme of I-16. Screw factory were instructed to design a variable pitch propeller All work carried out on its own initiative, without the approval of the job. Air Force leadership is not to treat them with great interest. After the transfer of the plant number KB 156 N, N-. Polikarpov received from the First Chief of the Commissariat management, headed by SV. Ilyushin, permission for the design of a new fighter. Project, were designated I-180, It was completed in February 1938 g. The whole construction-180 was close to the design of I-16, but with slightly larger dimensions. Arm-180 assumed ShKAS four guns with their further replacement with heavy machine guns or gun. Aircraft Construction began in July 1938 g. unhealthy situation, developed around OKB Polikarpov, the plant number 156, not contributed to the rapid production of quality parts and. enterprise, Straw earlier mainly large aircraft, difficult to give a small fighter production technology.
Release of the first I-180 took control of the Chief of SI management. Belyaykin. He constantly urged to the end of the assembly, sometimes directly intervened in the proceedings, which introduces additional nervousness work OKB and plant. A significant role in advancing the works played and the director of the plant number 156 MA. Usachev. The plane was built in the end of November 1938 g. 2 December, following inspection of the machine was found 190 defects, of them 40 in motooborudovanii. But with so many defects, true, We have eliminated most of the shops in, the aircraft was taken to the airport. Polikarpov protested against the unnecessary race in preparing I-180 to the first flight, as a consequence, he was dismissed from this work. The first taxiing aircraft, piloted by test pilot VP. Chkalov, revealed the engine to overheat and bad acceleration. Chkalov had to make only the first flight, but further testing had to spend SP. Suprun. 15 December the first flight of the prototype I-180 crashed, Chkalov died.
Scheme I-180 fighter
Work on the plane I-180, despite the catastrophe, continued. The second prototype machine was built in February 1939 g. Compared with the first machine wingspan and its square were increased, on it stood a motor M-87A, less powerful, but more driven. The first flight on it made a test pilot SP. Suprun 27 April 1939 g. Flight tests took place without serious remarks. Increased confidence in the aircraft, and 1 May it showed over Red Square. But 5 September 1939 g. aircraft, piloted by test pilot TP. Susie, crashed. Meanwhile, the factory number 21 We started to produce a series of military aircraft-180 engine M-88. Then, the third experimental machine-180 was built. During state testing when performing aerobatics plane was broken, test pilot NII VVS AG. Proshakov left the machine on a parachute. The first production fighters started producing in December 1939 g. However, by that time there were other types of fighters, which surpassed the I-180, so their production was discontinued. There were built 15 machines, including experienced.
The performance characteristics of I-180
– chief designer: Polikarpov n. n.
– First flight: 15 December 1938 of the year
– Status: adopted was not accepted
– years of production: 1938-1940
– units produced: 3 experienced, 10 serial
I-180 Crew
– 1 pilot
Dimensions-180
– Length: 6,88 m
– Wingspan: 10,09 m
– wing area: 16,11 m²
– Wing loading: 151 kg / m
Weight-180
– empty weight: 2 020 kg
– Normal takeoff weight: 2 429
– Maximum takeoff weight: 2 638 kg
– Mass fuel in internal tanks: 200 kg
Engine-180
– 1 × radial M-88R
– engine power: 1 × 1 100 HP. (1 × 809 kW (takeoff))
– thrust-to-weight ratio: 332,8 W / kg (2,21 kg / hp.)
Speed-180
– Maximum speed at height: 575 km / h on 7 000 m
– Maximum speed at ground: 455 kmh
– landing speed: 130 kmh
– Skoropodъёmnost: ~ 15 m / s
– set the height: 5000 M 5,6 min
– time bend: 19-20 from
– The length of the run: 240 m
– path length: 200 m
Range of flight-180
– 900 km
Practical ceiling-180
– 11 050 m
Armament-180
Small-pushechnoe:
– 2 × 7,62 mm machine gun ShKAS
– 2 × 12,7 mm machine gun BS
bombs: 200 kg
Photo I-180
fighter Model-180
