Polikarpov ITP

The Polikarpov ITP (Istrebitel Tyazholiy Pushechniy; Russian: Истребитель Тяжелый Пушечный; Heavy Cannon Fighter) was a Soviet fighter aircraft prototype designed in 1941.

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 [Gordon and Khazanov 1998, p. 116.] . 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.

pecifications (ITP M-2)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=One
length main=9.20 m
length alt=30 ft 2 in
span main=10.0 m
span alt=32 ft 10 in
height main=2.65 m
height alt=8 ft 8 in
area main=16.50 m²
area alt=177.5 ft²
empty weight main=2,910 kg
empty weight alt=6,400 lb
loaded weight main=3,570 kg
loaded weight alt=7,854 lb
engine (prop)=Mikulin AM-39
type of prop=liquid-cooled V-12
number of props=1
power main=1,345 kW
power alt=1,800 hp
max speed main=655 km/h
max speed alt=407 mph
range main=980 km
range alt=610 mi
ceiling main=11,500 m
ceiling alt=37,720 ft
climb rate main=13.9 m/s
climb rate alt=2,735 ft/min
loading main=216 kg/m²

loading alt=44 lb/ft²
power/mass main=380 W/kg
power/mass alt=0.23 hp/lb
more performance=
armament=
*3x 20 mm ShVAK cannons, 200 rounds/gun
*4x 100 kg (220 lb) bombs "or" 8x RS-82 unguided rockets

ee also

aircontent

sequence=

related=
* MiG-1
* MiG-3
* Polikarpov I-185

similar aircraft=
* Yak-9T

lists=

see also=

References

Notes

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.

External links

* [http://www.airwar.ru/other/draw/itp.html Line drawings]
* [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/itp.html Information on Polikarpov ITP]