russian long range escort fighter prototype soviet fighter aircraft world war service designation reserved production version aircraft intended develop reconnaissance bomber versions plans disrupted german invasion june project failure intended engine performance disappointing second prototype built later radial engines cancelled prototypes built design development requested october factory later design bureau begin work twin engined long range single seat escort fighter intended use engine development requested specifications model ready discussed november year days later ordered produce prototypes undergo state acceptance trials august september november meeting roles include bombing torpedo attack reconnaissance low wing twin engined twin tailed mixed construction section built middle section wooden rear section steel tubes covered skin twin tails wooden electrically operated variable horizontal elevators frames covered fabric wing pieces center section metal outer panels wooden fabric covered covered flaps wing leading edge thirds length main retracted rear engine retracted rear fuselage engines underneath wings engine oil mounted outer wing panels air engine located wing leading edge pilot provided glass panel underside nose improve downward visibility protected armor millimetres thick rear sides underside seat fuel capacity litres imp gal gal protected tanks pilot wings intended armed cannon rounds pod beneath nose preferred carry rounds gun proved failure aircraft reverted original cannon wing root synchronized machine gun rounds mounted pair machine guns rounds gun gun pod removed bombs torpedo carried instead flight testing prototype internal designation flight june initial flight tests conducted manufacturer july october disappointment reach speed mph metres mph slower estimated bladed metre propellers exchanged bladed metre propellers engine installation redesigned wind tunnel tests central revealed poorly designed engine accessories major cause excess drag modifications aircraft reached mph altitude metres time metres minutes improvements recommend production recommended development testing continue german advance moscow october forced institute evacuate factory went failure enter production doomed project albeit temporarily aircraft designers directed use radial engine backup engine products evacuation disrupted production version known internally built autumn aside engines differed small respects split vertically use air brake armament revised consist cannon pod rounds machine guns mounted wing roots flight january demonstrated speed mph time meters minutes flight testing stopped february sent central institute aviation motors adjustment continuous problems delayed entire project cancelled october service designation reserved production version aircraft demonstrated order october instructed begin manufacture completion state acceptance tests known designations aircraft include factory designation bomber version entered production known prototypes known built records suggest built original order called aircraft amended later additional aircraft engines sources quote dates version flight january october indication version completed simply clerical errors specifications data gordon history characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area weight fuel capacity powerplant liquid cooled engines propellers bladed diameter performance maximum speed mph range nmi service ceiling time altitude minutes wing loading armament guns cannon machine guns machine guns comparable aircraft lockheed lightning
Mikoyan-Gurevich DIS