Technical data | |
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Type | TsKB-12, I-16-M-22 |
Function | Fighter |
Year | 1933 |
Crew | 1 |
Engines | 1*480hp M-22 |
Length | 5.9m |
Wingspan | 9.0m |
Wing area | 14.5m2 |
Empty weight | 934kg |
Loaded weight | 1312kg first
1345kg series |
Wing Load (kg/m2) | 92.8 |
Power load (kg/hp) | 2.80 |
Speed at 0m | 359km/h 306km/h with fixed skis |
Speed at 3000m | 325km/h |
Landing Speed | 95km/h |
Landing Roll | 230m 16sec |
Takeoff Roll | 220m 12sec |
Turn time | 14.3sec |
Range | 720km |
Flight Endurance | 2h |
Ceiling | 7310m |
Climb | |
5000m | 9.4min |
Armament | |
Guns | 2*7.62mm PV-1 900rpg |
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The TsKB-12 project emerged from Summer 1932 modern fighter drawings by N.N.Polikarpov. The original layout had Townend ring covering the engine.
After mock-up tests in the wind tunnel and several structure improvements, question of mass production was raised even before completion of a prototype. Two prototypes were built - TsKB-12 (with M-22 domestic analog of the Bristol Jupiter VI engine) and TsKB-12bis for tests with US built Wright-Cyclone SGR 1820-F-2.
Mixed design plane, using wing spars made of chrome-molibdenium steel alloy, duralumin ribs, and mixed D1 aluminum alloy/fabric skin. Fuselage was built of pine spars and frames, covered with birch cross-grain glued strips 4.0mm-2.5mm thick. Tail plane and ailerons had duralumin frame and fabric cover. Gear retraction system employed cables, since hydraulic systems were not in wide use yet. Enclosed cockpit with forward-sliding canopy was a novelty, and later pilots often flew the TsKB-12, I-16 Type 4 and 5 with open canopy.
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Number of problems were revealed during flight tests (December 30, 1933 - Spring 1934), specially with landing gear (to be cranked up and down manually) and airplane stability. Short fuselage, together with excellent maneuverability provided serious handling complicity, and test-pilot's (V.F.Chkalov, V.K.Kokkinaki, V.A.Stepanchenok) conclusion was that this is a fighter for skilled pilots only.
In early tests prototype was unarmed, it carried dummy barrels in wings. During trials rudder area was increased and Hamilton-Standard 3-blade propeller was replaced by domestic V-22 two-blade unit. In early 1934 engine cowling was redesigned to solve overheating problem.
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The TsKB-12 went into production in mid 1934, and few hundred of this aircraft were built with the M-22. TsKB-12 was followed by the I-16 Type 4 with several design changes. Despite outstanding performance of the aircraft, N.N.Polikarpov started to work on the second prototype ('Dubler' TsKB-12bis) with more powerful engine even before the first TsKB-12 took off.
Predecessors | Modifications | ||
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None | TsKB-12bis | I-16 Type 4 | TsKB-18 |
References | Links |
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Created August 08, 1996
Modified August 18, 1998 |
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