Polikarpov I-15 (Russian: И-15)
Chaika (Russian: И-15 Чайка, "Seagull")
CFS3 - V4.00.169

This aircraft was built by Gregory "Sarge" Pierson using version 4.00.169 of the AvHistory 1% Assembly Line process. It is based on the outstanding visual created by Greg Law. John BRAVO/4 Whelan based this skin on an I-15 of the Red Army VVS, 1935.

Rene 'Greycap' Leppä of Steve's "O-1 Driver" effects team installed the lights & exhaust flames.

Additional data was compiled by Andrzej Fitt.



The Polikarpov I-15 (Russian: И-15) was a Soviet biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930's.

Nicknamed Chaika (Russian: И-15 Чайка, "Seagull") 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.



The most distinctive features were gulled upper wing and very clean fixed landing gear, often covered with fairing. Roots of the upper wing were included into fuselage structure. Upper wing shape improved pilot view and reduced drag.



Front section of the fuselage from engine to cockpit was covered with duralumin sheets, the rest of aircraft - with fabric. Wheels were equipped with disk brakes. First aircraft was equipped by imported 630/715hp high altitude Wright-Cyclone SGR-1820 F-3 engine.

Early series were powered by Wright-Cyclone engine. Planned production of its license version M-25 was delayed, and during 1934-36 few hundred of I-15 were equipped with M-22. Interestingly, low altitude performance did not suffer despite less powerful engine was used. Since 1936 all production aircraft had M-25 engine, demonstrating improved performance at high altitudes. Production aircraft carried four PV-1 machineguns or (in 1938) pair of 12.7mm BS heavy machineguns.



The I-15 was used in combat in Spain and proved to be one of the best fighter biplanes of its time. Performance was high enough to force pilots of early Bf-109 to avoid close combat with more agile and well-armed 'Chato'. But biplane era was already fading, and in 1939 during clashes with Japanese I-15 was already obsolete.



It was flown by Spanish Civil War ace, Frank G. Tinker, who became the first American to shoot down Messerschmitt Bf-109.

BEAR
http://www.avhistory.org