Polikarpov ITP
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The Polikarpov ITP (Istrebitel Tyazholiy Pushechniy; Russian: Истребитель Тяжелый Пушечный; Heavy Cannon Fighter) was a Soviet fighter aircraft prototype designed in 1941.
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[edit] Development
In November 1940, Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov proposed a heavy cannon-armed fighter for bomber escort and interception, and ground attack against armored vehicles. The new ITP was designed around either the Klimov M-107P engine with projected 1,230 kW (1,650 hp) or the Mikulin AM-37, and armament consisting of 1x 37 mm and 2x 20 mm cannons. The aircraft drew on Polikarpov's earlier work, particularly the Polikarpov I-185 and Polikarpov I-200 completed by Mikoyan-Gurevich as MiG-1 and MiG-3).
The first ITP prototype (M-1) was completed in October 1941. Due to German attacks, the aircraft was evacuated that month along with the rest Polikarpov's No.51 factory to Novosibirsk, where the factory was deployed in a circus building. ITP M-1 first flew on February 23, 1942. The Klimov M-107P engine proved unreliable and in late 1942 it was changed to a Klimov M-107A, with the armament was reduced to three 20 mm cannons. Flight testing was not finished because the airframe was used for ground static testing.
The second ITP prototype (M-2) was built in 1942 and fitted with a Mikulin AM-37 engine which proved unreliable and was replaced with 1,345 kW (1,800 hp) Mikulin AM-39 in December[1]. It first flew on November 23, 1943, reaching a maximum speed of 600 km/h (373 mph) near the ground and 655 km/h (407 mph) at 2,500 m (8,200 ft). This was below the projected performance as the engine had not been fully perfected.
Early trials demonstrated that a skilled pilot in ITP M-1 had a better chance of destroying German light and medium armor than the legendary Ilyushin Il-2. Unfortunately, problems with the M-107 and AM-39 engines resulted in very protracted development and all work on ITP was stopped after Polikarpov's death in July 1944.
[edit] Specifications (ITP M-2)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 9.20 m (30 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 10.0 m (32 ft 10 in)
- Height: 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 16.50 m² (177.5 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,910 kg (6,400 lb)
- Loaded weight: 3,570 kg (7,854 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Mikulin AM-39 liquid-cooled V-12, 1,345 kW (1,800 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 655 km/h (407 mph)
- Range: 980 km (610 mi)
- Service ceiling 11,500 m (37,720 ft)
- Rate of climb: 13.9 m/s (2,735 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 216 kg/m² (44 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 380 W/kg (0.23 hp/lb)
Armament
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Gordon and Khazanov 1998, p. 116.
[edit] Bibliography
- Abanshin, Michael E. and Gut, Nina. Fighting Polikarpov, Eagles of the East No. 2. Lynnwood, WA: Aviation International, 1994. ISBN 1-884909-01-9.
- Gordon, Yefim and Khazanov, Dmitri. Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Volume One: Single-Engined Fighters.Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Publishing Ltd., 1998. ISBN 1-85780-083-4.
- Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: Soviet Air Force Fighters, Part 2. London, Macdonald and Jane's Publishres Ltd., 1978. ISBN 0-354-01088-3.
- Kopenhagen, W. (ed.). Das große Flugzeug-Typenbuch. Transpress, 1987. ISBN 3-344-00162-0.
[edit] External links
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