Polikarpov I-5

The Polikarpov I‑5 was a Soviet single‑seat biplane fighter that entered service in the late 1920s. Designed by Nikolai Polikarpov and built at the Sokol plant in Nizhny Novgorod, the aircraft first flew in 1927 and was adopted by the Red Army Air Force in 1929. Powered by a 450 hp Mikulin M-17F water‑cooled V‑12 engine, the I‑5 could reach 260 km/h (162 mph) and featured a wooden wing structure with fabric covering, a welded steel tube fuselage, and a fixed, split‑axle landing gear. Its armament consisted of two 7.62 mm PV‑1 machine guns synchronized to fire through the propeller arc. The I‑5 represented a significant step forward for Soviet aviation, being one of the first domestically produced fighters capable of competing with contemporary foreign designs. Over 800 examples were built, serving as the backbone of Soviet fighter units throughout the early 1930s and providing invaluable experience in mass production techniques and combat tactics. Although quickly superseded by more advanced monoplanes, the I‑5’s operational record helped shape the development of later Soviet aircraft such as the Polikarpov I‑16. Its relatively simple construction also allowed many regional factories to produce licensed copies, further extending its influence.

Sokol

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification