POLIKARPOV

Nikolai Nikolayevich Polikarpov was, with Tupolev, most prolific, most senior and most famous designer before 1941. Handled first major programme by turning D.H.4 and later D.H.9a into R-1, over 2,800 built. I-1 monoplane fighter was failure, and several other early prototypes failed series adoption, but U-2 light biplane (February 1927, improved U-2 7 January 1928) sustained production of believed 41,000 in countless versions to 1953 (after Polikarpov’s death 1944 called Po-2 in his honour). Another giant programme was R-5 biplane (1928) with 680- or 715-hp engine, 4,995 of basic version plus 32 other variants, often conversions. Biplane fighters included I-3 (400), I-5 (800+), I-15 (733), I-15bis/152 (2,408) and I-153 (3,437), followed by tricky I-16 monoplane (7,005 single-seat and 1,639+ 2-seat trainers). At least 32 prototypes built of other Polikarpov designs, ending with BDP assault glider (and MP powered version) and outstanding NB bomber (23 May 1944). Nikolai Nikolayevich collapsed at his desk 30 July 1944.

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