In the late 1930’s, most nations had moved to monoplanes for front-line fighters. Unfortunately for the Soviets, they were the victims of the success of the I-15 biplane in the Spanish Civil War. Thinking that biplanes were still viable as fighters, they set about creating an improved version of the I-15, which eventually became the I-153.
One of the more advanced biplanes ever built, it featured retractable landing gear and cranked upper and lower wings that connected directly to the fuselage. Used successfully against the Japanese and Finns, it was overwhelmed by more modern German fighters in 1941. While it was reasonably effective in experienced hands, experienced Russian pilots were in short supply. It was pulled from service as a fighter in 1942 and the remaining aircraft were used in the ground attack role.
Over 90 were sent to China and used against the Japanese. Around 20 captured planes were used by the Finns. Some 3,500 I-153’s were built in 1939-1940.
The I-153 uses 34 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage.
Subassemblies: Light Fighter chassis +2, Recon Fighter Wings
with Biplane option +2, three retractable wheels +0.
Powertrain: 746-kW aerial HP gasoline engine w/746-kW old prop
and 73-gallon fuel tank [Body].
Occupancy: 1 XCS Cargo: 5.
Armor
Body: 2/2C
Wings: 2/2C
Weaponry
4¥Aircraft LMG/7.62mm ShKAS [Body:F] (500 each)
2¥220-lb bombs [Wings:U]
Equipment
Body: Medium radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments,
autopilot. Wings: 220-lb hardpoint under each.
Statistics
| Size: 20'x33'x9' | Payload: 0.65 tons | Lwt: 2.33 tons |
| Volume: 144 | Maint.: 52 hours | Price: $14,800 |
HT: 9.
HPs: 100 Body, 100 each Wing, 10 each Wheel.
| aSpeed: 276 | aAccel: 8 | aDecel: 36 | aMR: 9 | aSR: 1 | Stall: 61 |
| gSpeed: 315 | aAccel: 14 | aDecel: 10 | aMR: 0.25 | aSR: 2 |
Design Notes
Design speed was 263 mph. The historical value has been used, as well
as the actual wing area (238 square feet). The body and wing’s HPs (and
cost and weight) were doubled to provide a more realistic aMR and better
match historical weight. Even with that, loaded weight was increased by
9.5%.Armor uses the cloth option.
Some aircraft replaced the two main wheels with retractable skids, for operating from snow-covered fields.
Instead of bombs, up to eight RS-82 rockets could be carried underwing.
Variants
The I-153BS replaced the ShKAS guns with four 12.7mm BS guns (Aircraft
HMG). Likewise, the I-153P replaced the machineguns with two 20mm ShVAK
cannons. Neither were built in large numbers.
The I-153DM (1940) was a single plane used for ramjet tests.
The I-153V and I-153TKGK were each single planes used for pressurized cockpit tests.
The I-190 was an attempt to boost the performance of the I-153. Fitted with a 820-kW engine, it could reach 304 mph. The only example crashed and the project was canceled.