The Polikarpov I-15 is a Soviet biplane fighter designed by Nilolai Polikarpov.
The upper wings are ‘gulled’ with smaller lower wings both made from wood and fabric covered.
The fuselage is of mixed steel and duralumin construction with the rear fabric covered.
The upper gulled wing was unpopular with its pilots due to reduced visibility, so a larger un-gulled upper wing was added to the later I-15bis.
PRODUCTION
The Polikarpov I-15 was produced from 1934 to 1937, with 3,313 built.
ENGINE
Shvetsov M-25B, producing 750 hp.
Press play to hear the I-15
ARMAMENT
4 x 7.62mm machine guns
The Polikarpov I-15 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 Republicans during the Spanish Civil War.
More than 1,000 Polikarpov I-15’s were still in Soviet use during World War II when the Germans invaded and were used in the ground attack role. By late 1942, all I-15’s were relegated to secondary duties.
