DESCRIPTION

Alexeyev I-211 1947 Year 

1/72 Scale 

Plastic Model Kit 

Amodel 72251

Manufacturer: AMODEL

Material: Plastic

Condition: New in original packaging

Historical reference

I-211 is an experienced fighter-bomber with two engines created by OKB-21 under the leadership of S. M. Alekseev. Built in one copy.

One of the main problems of the first jet fighters, both Soviet and foreign, was a very short flight range. In response to the need to create a long-range interceptor, OKB-21, under the leadership of S. M. Alekseev, began to develop such an aircraft. The first project, the I-210, was supposed to have two RD-20 (BMW-003) engines, their thrust was clearly not enough, the RD-10 (YUMO-004) was considered as a replacement, but in the end it was decided to build a fighter with two engines A. M. Cradles TR-2 with a thrust of 1350 kgf.

The single-seat fighter received the designation I-211, the layout of the aircraft resembled the Su-11 of the Sukhoi Design Bureau with the same power plant. The engines, as on the Su-11, were located in the plane of the wing. The wing itself is straight, trapezoidal. The I-211 had aerodynamic brake flaps that automatically opened when critical speed was reached, with manual control for maneuvering in flight and reducing landing speed. The tail is cruciform when viewed from the front. The cabin is sealed. Tricycle landing gear with twin wheels of all racks retracted into the fuselage. A powerful headlight was installed in the forward fuselage to facilitate interception or landing at night.

Very powerful armament consisted of three 37-mm H-37 cannons, while the guns could be replaced with a pair of 57-mm H-57s right on the airfield. In addition to cannon armament, nodes were provided for suspension of bombs and reconnaissance equipment.

The radio equipment complex was standard for that time and included the RSI-6 radio, the RPKO-10M radio semi-compass and the SCH-3 "friend or foe" radio transponder

The project was approved, and at the end of 1946, the construction of a glider for static tests and a flying prototype began at the plant number 21. Meanwhile, the development of the TR-2 engine was delayed and in the end, Alekseev decided to fit the engine nacelles under the TR-1, whose static tests began in July 1946. According to the established schedule, the prototype was to be manufactured by June 28, 1947, on July 10, the aircraft was to be transferred for flight tests, which were supposed to be completed by August 1. This schedule was connected with the tradition of demonstrating new fighter prototypes at the air parade in Tushino in honor of the USSR Air Force Day, which fell on August 18th.

However, it was impossible to keep this schedule. I-211 did not take part in the 1947 air parade, and made its first flight under the control of test pilot A. A. Popov in the autumn of that year.

With love from Ukraine