Tupolev I-4

I-4

Role: Fighter
National origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Tupolev
Designed by: Pavel Sukhoi
First flight: 1927
Primary user: Soviet Air Force
Number built: 369

The Tupolev I-4 was a Soviet sesquiplane single-seat fighter. It was designed in 1927 by Pavel Sukhoi, his first aircraft design, and the first Soviet all-metal fighter.

Design and development

After the first prototype (under the development name ANT-5), the I-4 was redesigned with a new engine cowling to decrease drag, added rocket launchers on the upper wing, and a larger tailfin. The lower wing was nothing more than an attachment for the wing struts; it was (almost) removed in the second series (I-4bis).

Operational history

The I-4 was used as a parasite fighter in experiments with the TB-3 bomber. The aircraft was in Soviet service from 1928-1933. A total of 369 were built.

Variants

ANT-5 : Prototype.
I-4 : Single-seat fighter aircraft.
I-4bis : Monoplane version.
I-4P : Floatplane version.

Operators

Soviet Union

Soviet Air Force

Specifications (I-4)

General characteristics

Crew: 1, pilot
Length: 7.27 m (23 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 11.42 m (37 ft 5 in)
Height: 2.82 m (9 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 23.8 m² (256 ft²)
Empty weight: 978 kg (2,156 lb)
Loaded weight: 1,430 kg (3,153 lb)
Powerplant: 1x— M-22 (Bristol Jupiter) piston radial, 343 kW (460 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 257 km/h (160 mph)
Range: 840 km (524 mi)
Service ceiling: 7,655 m (25,100 ft)
Rate of climb: 555 m/min (1,820 ft/min)
Wing loading: 60 kg/m² (12 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.25 kW/kg (0.15 hp/lb)

Armament

2 x— 7.62 mm machine guns

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Source: WikiPedia