Alexander S. Yakovlev was a rather sub-par aerodynamics engineer but first rate Apparatchik. He used his connections within the Communist party to win the favor of the party elites. He was the proverbial yes man. Mr. Polikarpov due to his faith and independent streak gave his opinion without fear of reprisal. Ed this was a really good mini documentary. Thank you so much.

I always wondered why the MiG-3 had a rounded Polikarpov tail fin. Now I know.

Yakovlev got his when the MiG bureau became the number one in the jet age, and his bureau ended being relegated to secondary types in civilian aviation and other small production military aircraft.

A gem of an episode.

TLDR: Polikarpov had more drive than Howard Hughes, more genius than Kelly Johnson, and more backstabbers than Julius Caesar.

Polikarpov, Kartveli and Seversky That would have been a terrifying combination

I alwaya wondered were Polikarpov went after the I16. Now i know, thanks. The conection between the Mig design bureau and Polikarpov wasn't known by me. Also the connection between Sikiorski and Polikarpov is new to me. Thanks again for this episode.

Well done Ed! This is another top-notch video. The death of Valeriy Chkalov, one of the most famous test pilots in the world, was never properly explained. I have heard an alternative version: far from taking the I-180 prototype without authorization, he was pressurized into flying it on that day. There are suggestions of foul play: Chkalov was a real gentleman of impeccable integrity and his uncompromising stance on corruption and cronyism earned him several high-ranking enemies. So there might have been more to the accident than met the eye. However, the evidence is not clear.

Beside Igor Sikorsky there were Alexander Nikolaievich Prokofiev de Seversky and Alexander Kartveli who fled to the USA and made their name via the Seversky and Republic aircrafts - notibly the P-47 Thunderbolt which was an important and iconic aircraft of the conflict.

My favorite russian aircraft designer. I have never tried to imagine what he would have done, if he accepted Sikorsky's proposal to come with him... That could have been something, indeed!

Such a fine aircraft. I love the Polikarpov's designs. Can we hope a video about the Lagg-3/La-5 saga?

Another great story Ed! Your presentation, level of research and well-timed touches of humor always make for a great view! This one is a topper! Not surprised, but always intrigued, at the stories of life in the USSR under Josef Stalin. I love the zinger Polikarpov gave Uncle Joe regarding their individual experiences in seminary! A brave man indeed! The I-185 would make for an awesome model kit, very sleek and clean lines. Thanks again and as always I look forward to your next video! Cheers!

As a big fan of Soviet aviation history, I’m glad that you're enlightening your audience about ‘lesser known types’! But Polikarpov’s story is a bit more complicated than just simple ‘unrecognized genius’ vs. ‘the evil tyrant and his minions’ The story you told in this video is quite widespread even among Russian audience and mostly based on the article ‘Polikarpov. I-185 - speed, maneuver, fire. The tragedy of the designer.’ But recent archives studies show that things were a bit different. Just a list of considerations worth mentioning: ‘King of the fighters’ didn’t put any new type into mass production since I-16. Only upgrades and modifications of previous types. Meanwhile the country desperately needed new fighters cause Spanish Civil War demonstrated that new German Bf.109 is on the next level. But what do we have in the plan of Polikarpov’s OKB dated 1935? TCKB-19 (I-17), 3 versions of TCKB-19 (I-19), TCKB-28 (I-20), TCKB-33 (I-18), TCKB-43 (I-17/I-18) - eight different projects! Eight! By 1939 none of them and also I-180 didn’t make it to production lines. 4 years of work of country’s best fighter’s bureau - and zero result. Imagine you’re a CEO of a holding and one of your companies shows zero results for several years meanwhile spending 100% of the budget. What would you do? I guess you’d like to audit and reorganize it. That’s exactly what was done and that’s why Mikoyan’s OKB was created - in an attempt to bring at least one of Polikarpov’s project to mass production. Btw, this idea was not pushed by Yakovlev, it was pushed by Voronin - director of the Factory №21. Initial version of I-185 circa 1940 was planned with M-90 engine (further development of disastrous M-88) which also appeared to be a failure. And that was a design choice made by Polikarpov. Head of NKAP Shakhurin offered to Polikarpov other engines to install on I-185 - M-71, M-81 and M-82. All of them Polikarpov received ‘first in line’ without any delays. M-71 and M-81 had poor quality barely passing 50-hour test, so everybody focused on installing M-82. By 1941 Polikarpov’s OKB had 10 (!!) parallel projects: TiS-2, ITP M-107, 4 variants of I-185, I-190 etc Instead of focusing on one super important project - let’s spend time and money on 10. Seeing that Polikarpov is systematically missing deadlines with I-185 with M-82 NKAP ordered all other OKB’s to install M-82 on the already available types such as LaGG-3, MiG-3, Yak-1 and Su-2. And so began the story of the La-5. After another six months of polishing and finishing, the I-185 with M-71 and M-82 engines finally entered the state tests, which took place from November 1942 January 1943. And only in 1943 I-185 M-82 demonstrated speed and climb rate advertised in 1941! By March 1943 La-5 with forced M-82F passed the tests demonstrated exactly the same characteristics. With one important nuance - La-5 was already mass produced type with mostly wooden airframe. So, no ‘VVS with superb I-185 from the first day of war’, it just was not possible. Before 1941 M-82 didn’t exist and all other Soviet air-cooled engines ended up being failure. Polikarpov could install water cooled M-105 on airframe of I-16 and put it into mass production by 1937-38 but he didn’t mange to, spending 5 pre-war years on a dozen of projects with 0 outcome. Even factory №21 made such project on their own and was ready to build it in numbers, but no. And a final word on ‘Evil Apparatchik’ Yakovlev. Yakovlev wrote 3 memorandums to Shakhurin asking him to start the production of I-185 M-71: 23/12/1941, 6/5/1942 and on 4/8/1943. For 3 years Yakovlev was trying to start I-185… That combined gives a bit different outlook on the whole story, isn’t it?

An aside: Valerie Chkalov was honoured by Stalin by having a Project 68 Light Cruiser named after him. Being built in Leningrad, in a strange twist of fate, it was the ship of the class chosen to mount German guns & directors, made available by the same agreement that sent Polikarpov to Germany himself. Thanks Ed, another great episode.

Poor Polikarpov. I like flying the 185 in WT, it is very fast and well-armed.

Fascinating aircraft. I don't know where you find these hidden gems.

even Pokryshkin in his memoirs doesn't mention Yakovlev favourably, having met him in person to discuss the qualities of Yak that Pokryshkin had evaluated.

Explains why migs and I-16s share the same tech tree on war thunder lol. I was always fascinated by the I-17. Id love to hear about that design!

Polikarpov in the US in the lead up to WW2. Now that would have been interesting.

The M-71 was an absolute beast of an engine, comparable in performance to the Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp yet 220 pounds lighter. And it seemed to have no particularly significant reliability problems either. It got cancelled because the Soviets' production capacity was insufficient to even meet the demands for existing engines, let alone also creating a production line for a new one.

I ran across the Polikarpov I-185 when looking up information on later versions of the I-16. I always wondered if the I-185 was as good as it looked in drawings. So, the Soviets could have fielded a much better fighter aircraft in the Summer of 1941? Stalin's testy relationship with aircraft designers is well-known, but what happened to Polikarpov was a mystery until now. Looking at the Lavochkin 5 design and comparing it to the LaGG, I wondered how they got to such an advanced design so quickly. The early MiG designs seemed to be amazing for newbies, but the truth is enlightening. Stealing another designer's homework seems like "the Soviet thing to do."

Amen! An excellent documentary on Polikarpov and the I-185. Great depth. Too bad so little exists for a photographic record of the aircraft.

Another great day when uncle Ed posts an aircraft history lesson.👍👍👍

Exceptional video Rex , have followed and studied war aircraft since a young boy in the sixties . Only in the past few decades has much been Available on Soviet Air machines . Have been very impressed with their accomplishments .

Thanks for a great documentary, one of your best. Well researched, and the second story explains why I read that the MiG-1 started as the I-200. Thanks so much for a fascinating treatise.

Thank you for presenting info on the 1930’s and 40’s Russian aircraft. The I-16 was a trend setting machine. Had many firsts. Please present more on the amazing machines from Russia.

Great work Ed, A good book about Chkalov... “The Russian Lindbergh”

I truly enjoyed this episode and I think this is your best yet. Excellent!

Amazing, I have not heard of this aircraft. Lots to learn from history... thank you for the information and keeping history alive.

Another terrifically researched and illustrated video, with a great narration. Thank you Ed!

Another excellent example of why I have enjoyed subscribing to Ed Nash's channel for a while now.

What an amazing story - really excellent script! I really enjoyed this. Definitely one of the best aviation channels on YT - long may it reign!

I saw the Polikarpov fly at warbirds over Wanaka 98 I think there were 5 of them. They were an impressive little plane and the noise of their radial was outstanding. I still rate it as the best sounding radial.

Brilliant channel Mr Nash, you're getting better and better in my humble..

A great very interesting video about an aircraft and a piece of history I knew nothing about Mr.Nash.Have a good one.

You've done it again, Ed. I knew nothing of this aircraft. Thank you. ☮

Fascinating, looked a winner, cheers Ed!

Thanks. Excellent, as usual. Always been a fan of the 16 (I love the sound of the single row Shvetsov). Never knew about the 185. I like your speculative last point.

I've noticed that there was a common theme of favoring politically acceptable aircraft designers in both Nutzi Germany and the Soviet Union. In both countries these decisions to blacklist unfavored designers cost their respective airforces dearly.

Thanks one of your best episodes ever!

The I-16 has always been a favorite ever since I was a kid and had a 1/72 scale die cast model with skis. The I-185 is quite an impressive machine.

Thanks Ed! What a bitchin' airplane I had never heard of. Hope you have a great weekend amigo...

I thought of Charlie as soon as I read the title, then I saw you put him in the the thumbnail too :) great episode

Another intelligent peice of work. Thanks for posting.

A stateside Polikarpov 'bureau' could well have given the early MiG-15 drivers a bit of a shock over Korea : )

Another BRILLIANT video!!! 🤝🏼

Another Man that never got his day. Maaaaany of those throughout history.

Great video, Ed.

Awesome video thank you

Great video, well done.

Very impressive information as always Ed. I thought the entire Polikarpov range was outdated. Apparently not, as you always teach me so much, Cheers mate. It is a very rakish looker I must admit, and looks eminently chuckable about the sky in manoeuvres.

great topic and fair treatment of Mr. Polikarpov.

Interesting video, love your channel.

Clear, concise telling. Thanks.

It was more like bureau was hot-potatoed to Artem "here, else it's going to be dissolved". In the 90's interview with MiG designers who worked with him, they said Artem was visiting Polikarpov when he was basically in house arrest for consultations on I-200. Yakovlev was pariah, as was Tupolev. Yakovlev was after Lavockin's factories (in the midst of the war!) and Tupolev managed to imprison his former designer of record ANT-25 (Pavel Osipovich Sukhoi) in 50's.

Interesting story. As to what might have happened had Polikarpov gone to the States with Sikorsky, well, there was this other Russian gent named Seversky and, ultimately, an airplane called the Thunderbolt...

Thank you, this man and this aircraft deserved better.

Great video, i never knew about this fighter , it looked like a larger I-16, with whopping radial and spitfire's thin wings. What a combination ! Sad when talented people miss out showing what they have because of HACKS in power.

What a pity. I heard it suggested in another video that Stalin was disappointed in the performance of the numerous I-16s that were in Soviet service at the outbreak of Operation Barbarrosa. Not exactly fair if true, given how the plane dated back to the early 1930s, making it innovative when it came out but somewhat outdated by 1941.

Great video,thanks

1. The quote from Yakovlev's memoirs was mispresented, I'll give the straight one: «...Сталин прочел вслух письмо конструктора Н.Н. Поликарпова, в котором тот докладывал о новом быстроходном истребителе, проходившем заводские испытания и показавшем большую скорость. Он спросил: - Что знаете об этой машине? Я отвечаю: - Хорошая машина, скорость действительно большая. Сталин сразу же: - Вы бросьте свою корпоративную мораль. Не хотите обидеть конструктора - хорошо отзываетесь! Как беспристрастно? Мы с наркомом постарались объективно оценить машину и дать ей возможно более исчерпывающую характеристику. Но так как самолет прошел только часть заводских летных испытаний, дать окончательное заключение было невозможно. Между прочим Сталин заинтересовался дальностью полета этого истребителя, заметив, что одна скорость без необходимой дальности еще мало о чем говорит. Мы назвали цифру дальности. - Проверено в полете? - Нет, дальность еще не проверена в полете. Это расчетные данные. - Я словам не верю. Сперва проверьте в полете дальность, а потом будем решать, как быть с этой машиной. Сейчас решать рано. И отложил письмо Поликарпова в сторону» Google Translate makes it clear enough to get the proper context. 2. There are multiple letters from Yakovlev to Shakhurin regarding the start of I-185's production, just a few to mention: 1) Memorandum dated May 6, 1942: "I consider it expedient to launch in series up to 100 single-seat I-185 fighter aircraft under the M-71 engine" 2) Letter, dated March 4, 1943: "It is necessary to immediately begin mass production of I-185 fighters... ...I emphasize the urgent need to report this issue to the State Defense Committee"

Thanks another good, interesting video. When there are so many that are cut and paste copies of existing videos, your productions demonstrating research on unique topics are exceptional. Moscow charging designers with treason when their weapon systems don't match their promotional brochure claims, sounds familiar...

Hello! I built a 1/72 scale model kit of this aircraft several decades ago. Nice looking kite. I always wondered what it was exactly. Now i know. Thanks.

Very interesting indeed. Great Stuff.

A man after my own heart. He stood up for what he believed.

Very interesting background information.

Poly I-16 was huge for them and I am surprised this didn't get further. I mean the 185 essentially looks like a longer and wider I-16. Maybe that is why the famous pilots tested it so hard because you could really throw that one around. That and maybe the COG wasn't right or didn't have enough wing loading, IDK. But this was a good look at this plane, thanks!

Thank you for a very informative video. I noticed that this aircraft looks a lot like the Mikoyan-Gurevich I-211. Given they had the designs of the I-185. I guess this should not be that surprising.

The Polikarpov I16 was one of the first all metal monoplane fighters with a retractable undercarriage. It was the world's most advanced fighter when it came out but the Bf 109 with its superior supercharger and better armament outclassed it during the Spanish civil war.

This was great! So sad when designers are treated like Polikarpov.

...good vid, solid conclusions!!!

Oh, what a tangled web we weave. This is a fascinating video for the politics as well as the aircraft of the location/era. But I dare say that similar situations could be described even now if one were to be privy to true political/industrial machinations.

Thanks!

This looks more like radial engined Mig-3 rather than anything by Polikarpov. It also resembles LaG-5 .

Great video. A few notes: The test pilot who crashed the I-180 prototype. One could think he was just a propaganda bufoon favored by Stalin. But it seems that he was with Polikarpov since the beginning of the I-16 days. He proved that it had good spin recovery. A personal tragedy besides the political and technical setback. American Aces In Communist Planes?!?!?!?! - Some american gun for hire pilots during the Spanish civil war claimed ace status flying the Polikarpov machines. Unfortunately verifying those claims was even harder in that conflict for the lack of camera guns. Inspired Hayao Miyazaki's Porco Rosso anime movie!?!?! One of these american aces got challenged by Mussolini's nephew who had just gotten a new Fiat G.50 monoplane. Their fight lasted several minutes, both survived barely landing their aircraft: flying wrecks riddled with bullets. Miyazaki would have changed nationalities and settings around for his movie. Instead of an american mercenary ace flying a communist machine agaisnt an italian adversary, an italian veteran of WWI versus an american mercenary working for pirates. 'Better a rat than a fascist'.

A lot of the Polikarpov fighters remind me of the Gee Bee racers...

TY 🙏🙏

Incredible History..

What a place to work in. Literally 'under the gun' your entire career.

It kind of looks like a p35 or p36 up engined with a big radial of twice the original power and a bigger tail. Or a buffalo. You know... that short squat late 30s radial fuselage, but here carried to its final iteration.

Such an interesting story🤔

... DITTO... WELL DONE ✅👍

Great ASIP reference

Yes, and I often wonder what the future would have looked like had Heinkel decided to stay in the U.S.A.

I15s and I16s also fought,the Japanese with Soviet Pilots and maintenance on behalf of the Chinese Nationalists from the Battle of Shanghai in 1937 until being recalled to the Soviet Union in 1941. I 16s were also used in the 1938 Battle of Khalkhin Gol Manchuria.

When multiple egos clash...

It’s too bad there aren’t more photographs available, the 185 looks pretty easy on the eyes.

I guess that the job of aircraft designer under Stalin may well have been even more dangerous than being a test pilot. All major WW2 era Soviet aircraft designers had occasionally have to endure Stalin's fury. Except Yakovlev, that is.

Imagine if this 'king of the fighters' had found himself in the Vought design bureau in the 1920s and 30s! There would have been no Vought V-141 or 143. Instead it would have been a Polikarpov. Indeed there may never have been a Curtiss P-36....

The I-185 and the Mig-3 are the best looking fighter planes in soviet ww2, they aren't brilliant in war thunder, but i play them for the looks :D

Cheeky boys, those Mikoyan and Gurevich.

Looks like a chonky prettier La-7. The La-9/11 were the real lookers. Great video Ed. Poor Polikarpov. Russians have been A-holes since records began.

Artem Mikoyan of MiG fame had brother Anastas of Politburo fame. Basically, Anastas was Stalin's trusted go-to man for anything technical.

Production GeeBee fighter😮

So...I googled "king of Rats" just to see a bunch of entangled rodents.

Anyone notice the CC cameras on the gulag photo at 5:18 ?

Great ending to this film. I imagine two American brutes coming from both Seversky and Polikarpov stables that would have had similar characteristics. Maybe Polikarpov would have been a navy fighter supplier besting Grumman at their game early on. The I-185 would have walked all over the F4F in most performance areas (except pilot protection) leaving Brewsters efforts lame on the ground, and without the Russian nepotism sabotaging his efforts his fighter would have been ready before 1940.

It’s amazing Polikarpov didn’t end up in the Gulag or dead, but maybe he was kept alive just so in favor design bureaus could benefit from his work?

Thes were really cool in IL2 '46

It's also interesting that Yakovlev went on to design the best WW2 fighter....................the YaK-3. I hear the gasps & denials etc but your enemy is the best person placed to make a determination of you capability no matter what your own data says. The YaK-3 is THE only WW2 fighter where the Luftwaffe issue direct orders to it's pilots not to engage this plane below 5000m................your enemy always knows what you are good at and what you are not.