72290 ZVENO 1A (TB-1 & I-5 )

The Polikarpov I-5 is a mixed Soviet biplane fighter with a fixed landing gear and a classic tail. The flight of the prototype took place in 1930, and in the years 1931-1934 mass production was carried out, during which about 800 aircraft of this type were produced. In the years 1933-1936 the I-5 was the main fighter of the Red Army. Series-produced aircraft were powered by the Szwecow M-22 engine with a capacity of 480 HP. These planes were used in the "Zveno" project where they were mounted on TB-1 and TB-3 heavy bombers and during the I-5 flight they "took off" from the air to defend the bombers. One TB-3 bomber could carry up to three I-5 machines (2 on the wings and 1 on the fuselage) and "release" them during the flight. Although the plane was withdrawn from service in 1939, it was put back into service due to the enormous losses at the beginning of the war with the Third Reich. During the German invasion of Russia, I-5 was used in ground air raids in the Crimea and in the night raids of the Battle of Moscow. In addition to the hunting version (I-5), there is also a training and training version (I-5UTI). Technical data: length: 6.78 m, wingspan: 10.24 m, maximum speed: 278 km / h, practical ceiling: 7500 m, maximum range: 660 km, armament: fixed - 2 machine guns PV-1 cal 7.62 mm, suspended -up to 20 kg of bombs.The Tupolev TB-1 was a heavy Soviet metal bomber in a low wing configuration. The drive was provided by two motors Napier Lion or BMW VI or M-17 with power from 480 to 680 HP each . The flight of the prototype took place in 1925, and in the years 1929-1932 serial production was carried out, which led to the creation of 216 aircraft of this type. The armament was 6 7.62 mm DA machine guns and a load of up to 1000 kg of bombs. The Tupolev TB-1 was created in response to the demand reported in 1923 and 1924 by the Soviet military aviation for a heavy strategic bomber. While the hull itself and the overall structure were developed relatively quickly, it took a long time to select the appropriate propulsion units. The BMW VI engines, which were licensed in the USSR under the name M-17, were finally approved. In the course of serial production, one very important development version of the aircraft was created, designated as TB-1P (originally: TB-1a), which had a float landing gear and was a sea bomber-torpedo plane. The TB-1 was the first all-metal twin-engine bomber to be produced in the world. Also in the aviation of the USSR, it meant significant changes - from its introduction, the birth of the Soviet strategic aviation dates back. However, the machine was quickly replaced by a new bomber - TB-3. The process of withdrawing TB-1 from the line began at the turn of 1932/1933. These machines were transferred to civil aviation, where they served as transport machines until 1947.