Technical data
Type I-180S
Function fighter
Year 1939
Crew 1
Engines 1*1100hp Tumansky M-88R
Speed 585km/h
Ceiling 11600m
Range 900km
Armament 2*mg12.7mm
2*mg7.62mm

I-180, N.N.Polikarpov

The I-180 was a wooden monoplane fighter, developed from the I-16. After a few prototypes, the aircraft was redesigned and became the I-180S.

Powered by the M-87 radial engine. During test flights in 1938 plane crashed, killing national hero test pilot Valery Chkalov. There is a lot of controversy around this story. What is clear that shortly after takeoff engine started to loose power and plane hit the roof of a building. Pilot was thrown from the cockpit and could survive (altitude was low and the plane was almost gliding), but neck (or head) wound turned deadly.

Some articles pointed that access of cooling air to engine remained blocked after engine start and plane took off, what caused a fatal overheat.

Performance and handling problems led to the program being abandoned in favor of the I-185.

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Modified January 25, 1996 Back to
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