IL-400b

From OnAirpower.org

IL-400b

Designation:	IL-400b
Manufacturer:	Polikarpov
Nationality:	Soviet
First Flight:	July 18, 1924
Remarks:	Refined version of the IL-400 prototype monoplane fighter created by Nikolai Polikarpov
See Also:	IL-400, I-1

[edit] Notes

After the crash of the IL-400 prototype during its first flight, the project was reviewed by the Scientific-Technical Committee of the Soviet Air Force which decided on March 27, 1924 to continue development of the aircraft. This resulted in the development of the IL-400b prototype, whose design was considerably different from the original IL-400. Its center of gravity was moved to 30% of mean aerodynamic chord rectifying the static instability problem experienced by its predecessor, the relatively new Soviet-produced kolchug-aluminum was adopted for part if its construction, and the large nose-mounted radiator was replaced with radiators under the engine and between the fixed landing gear struts^[1].

On July 18, 1924, the IL-400b prototype made its first test flight, piloted by K. K. Artseulov. Factory testing began in October, 1924, by pilots A. I. Zhukov and A. N. Ekatov. The aircraft performed well during the testing and exceeded the Air Force's requirements but some deficiencies were noted, including the fact that during advanced maneuvers the pilot had to exert an unusually high amount of physical force. Thirty-three aircraft were ordered, entering series production at the beginning of 1926 under the designation I-1^[1].