Small biplane fighter, development of 2I-N1 and
I-3 with radial
Gnome-Rhone Jupiter VI engine. Engine cradle (precisely calculated by engineer
I.A.Tavastersihn) it was much lighter than on other contemporary aircraft without giving up strength.
N.N.Polikarpov was assigned to develop the I-6 (primarily wooden monocoque)
fighter (delivery July/August 1930) under provisions of the Five Year Plane for
experimental aircraft design (starting 1928). Construction started in May
1929 and was ready (two aircraft) early Spring
1930. It was planned to present new aircraft to public and leadership during
May 1st parade. But since September 1929 jobs were carried out without
Designer General...
When the unrealistic Plane was obviously failed, N.N.Polikarpov
and other ~450 aircraft designers and engineers were arrested by the NKVD as saboteurs.
Some 300 survived, and were arranged to work in the police supervised design bureaus and experimental factories (dubbed
Sharashkas). N.N.Polikarpov was working there on very similar
I-5 aircraft with metal/fabric fuselage skin.
For 1930 I-6 was one of the World best fighters. But during flight
tests pilot A.D.Shirinkin suddenly bailed out from aircraft... I-6
flew for some time unattended, then crushed. Pilot complained that engine vibration forced him to abandon aircraft. But
investigation proved that engine cradle was perfectly intact.
Comparison with I-5 revealed that I-6 is faster, but
I-5 has better climb rate and 1 sec shorter turn time. I-6 carried two
machineguns, I-5 was planned to carry four (later it was done on 10 aircraft
only). As a result I-6 was rejected in favor of I-5.
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