Polikarpov I-187 and I-188 fighter projects

Hi, do you know some informations and pictures or 3-views of the projects I-187? I know only that it was a development of the fighter I-185...

Here...

Another drawings, Rusavia "N.N.Polikarpov's Aircraft", 2004 dated

...

Surely was an interesting fighter !
The URSS had a great engineers !

Wow! Thank you very very much! Do you know also some informations about the project? Very interesting fighter

There are 2 full pages in the Fench book Docavia "Les chasseurs Polikarpov" (Polikarpov Fighters) about the 3 versions of I-187 and 2 versions of the derivative I-188 (pages 214-215). But as this book is currently sold (see in UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/276-3588145-4140223?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Les+chasseurs+Polikarpov ), I will not scan it, I may only answer a few precise questions.

But as this book is currently sold

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Unfortunately it is extremely expensive :'(

pometablava said:

But as this book is currently sold

Click to expand...

Unfortunately it is extremely expensive :'(

Click to expand...

Agree :'( :'( :'(
@Tophe: can you tell me some information about the I-188? I don't know anythig about that projects. Thanks in advice!

Hi!

I-188 here

M-90 versus M-95 comparative drawings

According to Herbert Leonard's Docavia great book, the I-188 was a pure interceptor project, with 2 versions:
- 1 looking like the I-187 with a total vision canopy and either a M-90 engine (2,080hp) or else its derivative M-95 (3,300hp for reaching 800km/h speed).
- 1 looking like the I-185/M-71 with a "faired" (?) canopy but with a M-90 engine.
Both were cancelled in February 1943 (together with I-185 and I-187) under Yakovlev pressure.

I. 188

I-180 series

Damn it , surely I-185 and I-188 could be been surely two good fighters with good performance ! :

Thank you very much for your precious informations! The I-187 / 188 should be a very promising aircraft.

Justo Miranda said:

M-90 versus M-95 comparative drawings

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Dear Justo! This "I-188 M-95" drawing is a What-if, nothing more. And it even isn't very well-done. The M-95 engine (existing only as a project, with 3300 hp estimated power) was 27-cylinder 3-row radial, indeed a M-90 with additional third row. You understand that it would weigh about 1.5x more than original M-90, and it's absolutely impossible to replace the last with M-95 without lengthening the fuselage and/or other major changes, keeping the center of gravity in acceptable position. Also, if the wing would remain, the wing loading would achieve terrible 300 kg/m2 or even more... Absolutely unpractical. Only as a racer / speed record breaker, maybe.

Topic split from the Polikarpov projects thread.

I'm reattaching here a plan of the I-187-M-71 project from Krylia Rodine, August 1990:

Hi! I-187 M-71's engine cooling air intake area is variable.

I-185 M-71 etalon
First flight: June 1942
Delivery into squadron service: Never
Number built: 1
Power plant: Shvetsov M-71
Armament: Three synchronized 20 mm ShVAK cannons (total of 500 rounds)
Dimensions: Wingspan - 32' 13/4"; Length - 26' 5"
Wing area: 15.53 m2 (167.1 ft2)
Empty weight: 3,130 kg (6,900 lbs)
Loaded weight: 3,735 kg (8,234 lbs)
Top speed at sea level: 600 kph (372.8 mph)
Top speed at altitude: 680 kph (422.5 mph) at 6,100 m (20,013 ft)
Time to climb to 5,000 m (16,404 m): 4.7 minutes
Service Ceiling: 11,000 m (36,089 ft)
Virage Time: 22.5 seconds

History
Produced in April of 1942, the I-185 etalon (or 'standard settler') was the version of the Polikarpov I-185 that was designated to become the final production variant of the I-185. This I-185 underwent manufacturer's flight tests in June-October and was submitted for State acceptance trials at NII VVS on the 18th of November.

The aircraft weighed in at a total of 3,629 kg, 144 kg more than the the 1941 produced prototype of the I-185 M-71, but it differed from all the other I-185s in having the engine cowling's external and internal aerodynamics improved, resulting in a substantial reduction in drag. The aircraft was found to be extremely maneuverable, and at the time of testing, surpassed all other Soviet and German designs in overall performance. However, the design was certainly not without its flaws.

From the 17th of December 1942 to the 26th of January 1943, testing on the aircraft was interrupted by the need to replace the M-71 engine, owing to frequent failures. Shortly afterwards, the new engine failed after less than 24 hours of running. On January 27th, the fighter crashed due to an in-flight engine failure. Then, on April 5th, the aircraft suffered another in-flight engine failure, and the prominent test pilot Vasiliy Stepanchonok was killed when when attempting a deadstick landing. It was later decided to stop production of the I-185 because of its unreliable engine. like the aircraft's 1941 produced prototypes, this version of the I-185 never got to see use in service tests with the 728th
Sources:
Soviet Air Power in World War 2 - Yefim Gordon
https://forum.warthunder.com/index....5-m-71-etalon-39standard-settler39-in-detail/

Hi!
https://naukatehnika.com/istrebitel-polikarpov-i-185-2.html