Alekseyev I-215
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The Alekseyev I-215 was a Soviet jet interceptor fighter from the late 1940s, a development of the I-211 prototype, modestly redesigned to incorporate the more powerful centrifugal-flow Rolls-Royce Derwent in place of the Lyulka TR-1 axial turbojet originally planned.
Largely identical to the I-211 with the exception of its redesigned engine nacelles and some associated wing structure, the I-215 made its first flight on 31 December 1947. Fatigue cracking in the structure of the wing centre section early in the test programme necessitated a strengthening scheme which also resulted in a change to the undercarriage layout. The first aircraft had its main wheels in wing wells; the second prototype (first flown in spring 1948 designated I-215D, the 'D' signifying dubler - 'double') used wider-diameter paired wheels in a bicycle arrangement, retracting into the fuselage, along with small outrigger wheels under the engine nacelles which retracted into fairings. Following testing, the Ministry of the Aviation Industry recommended that the I-215D enter series production.
A tandem two-seat version of this design, with a larger wing and more powerful Rolls-Royce Nene turbojets, was developed as a night fighter under the designation I-212. During preparations for flight testing of this design, Joseph Stalin ordered the disbanding of the Alekseyev OKB-21, ending work on the I-212 and -215. It has been suggested that a comment about the I-212 being a copy of the Messerschmitt Me 262, made by Aleksandr Yakovlev during a meeting at the Kremlin, may have influenced this decision (naturally, Me 262 was a completely different design, while a resemblance in general layout can be found between I-215 and Gloster Meteor). On the other hand, a design of straight-wing two-engine fighter would be obsolete with an advent of new generation swept-wing fighters, being developed in MiG and Lavotchkin bureaus.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 11.54 m ()
- Wingspan: 12.25 m ()
- Height: 3.68 m ()
- Wing area: 25 m² ()
- Empty weight: 4010 kg ()
- Loaded weight: 6890 kg ()
- Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Derwent V , 1590 kg () each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 970 km/h
- Cruise speed: 720 km/h
- Range: 1700 km ()
Armament
3 cannons 37 mm N-37 with 30 rounds each
[edit] References
- Green, W.; Swanborough, G. (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. London: Salamander Books. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.
- I-215 at Ugolok Neba site (in Russian)
[edit] Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
See also
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fighter/i215.html
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