Polikarpov I-15
 Polikarpov I-15. Photo: SDASM Archives, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
| |
| Make | Polikarpov |
|---|---|
| Model | Polikarpov I-15 |
| Type | Fighter |
| Country |  Soviet Union
|
| First flight | October 1933 |
| Built | 1934–1937 |
| Status | Retired |
| Number built | 3,313 (plus 3,437 I-153) |
| Registered in the US | 2 (FAA register, October 30, 2026) |
| Seats | One |
| Engine | Shvetsov M-25, 700 hp |
| Cruise speed | 285 km/h (I-15 M-25)
|
| Developed from | Polikarpov I-5 |
| More aircraft · For sale | |
The Polikarpov I-15 is a Soviet biplane fighter of the 1930s, nicknamed Chaika ("gull") for its gull-shaped upper wing.[1] With the Polikarpov I-16 it was one of the standard fighters of the Spanish Republicans in the Spanish Civil War, where it was called Chato ("snub-nose").[1] In all, 3,313 I-15s were built, plus 3,437 of the later I-153.[1] In the U.S. there are 2 with a valid registration.[2]
History
The airplane began as a backup. Andrei Tupolev was developing an advanced monoplane fighter, the I-14, and ordered two biplane designs in case it failed.[1] Nikolai Polikarpov, just released from prison in August 1932, was given one of them.[1] His design first flew in October 1933 and entered service in 1934.[1] It fought in China, Mongolia and Spain, and in the early part of World War II.[1] It was developed into the I-153.[1]
Registered in the United States
The FAA register lists 2 of these airplanes with a valid U.S. registration. Here they are by the model name the FAA uses.[2]
| FAA model name | Registered |
|---|---|
| I-153 | 1 |
| I-15 BIS | 1 |
Specifications (I-15 M-25)
| Item | I-15 M-25 |
|---|---|
| Crew | One |
| Length | 6.10 m |
| Height | 2.20 m |
| Fuel | 260 L |
| Engine | Shvetsov M-25, 700 hp (9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine) |
| Propeller | variable-pitch propeller |
| Maximum speed | 367 km/h |
| Cruise speed | 285 km/h |
| Range | 510 km |
Figures as given in the Wikipedia article and its sources.[1]
Photos
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Polikarpov I-15. Photo: SDASM Archives, No restrictions -
Polikarpov I-15. Photo: SDASM Archives, No restrictions -
Polikarpov I-15. Photo: SDASM Archives, No restrictions -
Polikarpov I-15, nicknamed Chaika at the Barcelona International Comic Fair 2017. Photo: Ferran Cornellà, CC BY-SA 4.0
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons; click a photo for its full credit and license.
Buying a Polikarpov I-15
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Wikipedia, "Polikarpov I-15", read November 1, 2026. Airplane Wiki's text is written in its own words; facts are checked against this article and its sources.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Federal Aviation Administration, Releasable Aircraft Database, file dated October 30, 2026. Valid registrations of fixed-wing airplanes whose FAA maker and model names belong to this family. Airplane Wiki uses only counts from this file, never owner names or addresses.