Tupolev I-8
| Company type | Experimental aircraft project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Founder | V. M. Rodionov (lead engineer) |
| Headquarters | Soviet Union |
Key people | V. M. Rodionov, M. M. Gromov (test pilot) |
| Products | Experimental interceptor aircraft |
The Tupolev I-8, also referred to as the ANT-13, represented an experimental interceptor aircraft developed in the Soviet Union during the early 1930s.
Design and development
The I-8 marked a milestone as the first Soviet plane to surpass 300 km/h (190 mph; 160 kn) in straight and level flight.[1] This aircraft emerged as a refinement of the Polikarpov I-5 blueprint, undertaken by a team led by V. M. Rodionov, with each engineer contributing approximately 70 hours of voluntary work.[1]
Its maiden flight took place on 28 October 1930, piloted by M. M. Gromov. Although the prototype demonstrated encouraging performance figures, development ceased after the prototype stage due to the unavailability of the Curtiss V-1570 engine for procurement and the absence of a suitable domestic substitute.[1]
Specifications (I-8)
References
Template:Tupolev aircraft Template:Soviet fighter designations