The Polikarpov I-15 was a Soviet biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s.
Nicknamed Chaika because of its gulled upper wings, it was operated in large numbers by the Soviet Air Force, and together with the Polikarpov I-16 monoplane, was one of the standard fighters of the Spanish Republicans during the Spanish Civil War, where it was called Chato.
I-153
The Polikarpov I-153 Chaika was a late 1930s Soviet biplane fighter.
Developed as an advanced version of the I-15 with a retractable undercarriage, the I-153 fought in the Soviet-Japanese combats in Mongolia and was one of the Soviets major fighter types in the early years of the Second World War.
Variants
TsKB-3bis
Prototype.
TsKB-3ter
Prototype fitted with the more powerful M-25V radial piston engine.
I-15
First production series.
I-15bis
Single-seat fighter biplane, armed with four 7.62 mm (0.30 in) PV-1 or ShKAS machine guns, plus up to 150 kg (330 lb) of bombs.
The I-15bis was powered by the more powerful 570 kW (760 hp; 770 PS) Shvetsov M-25V radial piston engine.
It had a straight upper wing.
A total of 2,408 machines were built.
I-152
Modernised version of I-15bis.
One built in 1938.
Series production was not undertaken, since it was decided to build I-153 instead.
I-152GK
(Pressure cabin)
One aircraft fitted with a pressure cabin.
I-152TK
(Turbo-charged)
One aircraft fitted with two turbochargers.
I-15ter (I-153)
Development of the I-15 with retractable landing gear.
UTI-1
(Fighter trainer)
Factory-built two-seat trainer version, front cockpit moved forwards, dual controls fitted, 20 built in 1934 but not used by VVS
Specifications
Crew
One
Length
6.10 m (20 ft 0 in) (tail up)
Upper wingspan
9.75 m (32 ft 0 in)
Lower wingspan
7.50 m (24 ft 7 in)
Height
2.20 m (7 ft 3 in) (tail down)
Wing area
21.90 m2 (235.7 sq ft)
Airfoil
Clark YH
Empty weight
1,012 kg (2,231 lb)
Gross weight
1,385 kg (3,053 lb)
Max take-off weight
1,689 kg (3,724 lb)
Fuel capacity
260 L (57 imp gal; 69 US gal)
Powerplant
1 × Shvetsov M-25 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 520 kW (700 hp) at 2,300 m (7,500 ft)
Propellers
2-bladed variable-pitch propeller
Performance
Maximum speed
367 km/h (228 mph, 198 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
Cruise speed
285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft) (max. continuous cruise)
